Blocking trackers

Cookies can be proprietary or third-party (these are called trackers).

First-party cookies are small files that the browser uses to record data about the sites you've visited. Websites use cookies for “recognizing” individual users (for example, to avoid asking for their username and password every time they go to the site).

Trackers (or third-party cookies) are small pieces of the website software code. When you open a site, the tracker loads automatically, collects information (such as location, device type, or IP address), and sends it back to its owner. A tracker can be hosted both by the site administrator and by site partners. For example, the site that you're viewing has an ad banner from http://www.example.org. This banner sends your browser a cookie that stores information about your activity on the site. If you visit another site with an ad banner from http://www.example.org, the ad network makes a connection between these visits.

Why are trackers useful?

• Site owners can use trackers to estimate how many visitors visit the site, where they're from, and what devices they use. This data can help them optimize the site for audience needs.
• Trackers let you use the same login or social network widget on multiple sites. For example, you can register on Yandex with the same username and password that you use for VK. When you log in to Yandex, you'll automatically log in to all its services.

Trackers from sites that you visited yourself (such as social networks) are most likely used in good faith.

Examples of malicious use

Malicious tracker owners may collect the personal data that you enter on a website, such as your phone number or email address, and sell it to third parties. As a result, you may receive emails with unwanted ads or get annoying calls from advertisers who you never gave your phone number to.

Malicious data tracking is considered to be a violation of your privacy. To protect you, Yandex Browser has developed a special YTP technology that's part of the Protect security system.

Your Tracking Protection (YTP) is a technology that restricts third-party cookies and allows you to choose which resources can be trusted with your data.

YTP has a simple underlying principle: only the websites that you've visited before are allowed to run trackers. Only these sites can transfer your data from site to site and show you relevant ads. If you haven't visited a website for 45 days, Yandex Browser starts blocking its trackers.

Advertising allows site owners to receive income, and you don't have to pay for viewing their sites. Yandex aims to find a balance between free services and unobtrusive ads.

This way, you can continue using the internet in a way that's convenient for you (for example, use the same login on different sites), while websites can support themselves financially without using irrelevant ads that annoy users.

Pages where trackers are blocked load much faster.

You can also use the YTP technology to find out what trackers are running on a page and block the ones that you don't trust.