The Hidden Risks of Web Cookies
We often click “accept cookies” without thinking, but that convenience can cost us our privacy. A NordStellar study analyzed 93.7 billion stolen cookies found on the dark web, revealing how they’re taken and the risks they pose. Here’s what it means for your security and how Soaring Towers will help to protect yourself.
A Quick Look at Internet Cookies
We click “Accept cookies” without thinking, but cookies can store more than just your shopping cart. They’re small files that remember your activity, logins, and preferences. While they make browsing easier, they can also track you for ads or even expose sensitive data.
Types of cookies
1. First-party:
Set by the site you visit; store logins and preferences.
2. Third-party:
Track you across sites for ads.
3. Super cookies:
Hard to detect or delete; sometimes added by ISPs.
4. Zombie cookies:
Reappear after deletion.
How they’re stolen
Hackers use malware hidden in pirated software or fake downloads to grab cookies, logins, and passwords—then sell them online. Some stolen cookies stay active for months, giving attackers access to accounts even without passwords.
Where Stolen Cookies Come From
Most stolen cookies came from major platforms. Google services (Gmail, Drive, etc.) led with 4.5B cookies, while YouTube and Microsoft each had 1B+.
These platforms are prime targets because one stolen session cookie can unlock email, files, calendars, and linked accounts, bypassing passwords and even two-factor authentication.
The risk
Most cookies are harmless, but stolen ones can reveal your digital footprint. A NordStellar study found 93.7 billion stolen cookies for sale on the dark web, mostly taken by malware like Redline, Vidar, LummaC2, and CryptBot.
Bottom line
Cookies aren’t always sweet, Soaring Towers will help clear them regularly, to avoid risky downloads, and we use security tools to protect your data.
Soaring Towers is your frontline defense against cyber threats like cookie theft. Our advanced tools and monitoring protect your devices from hackers, block malicious sites, secure connections, and stop attacks before they happen. Keep your business and personal data safe, make Soaring Towers your trusted IT solution against malware and stolen cookies.
