We at ChicaLogic love cookies. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin—we all have our favorites. But we often talk ourselves out of having one for a number of reasons: We want to eat better, we don’t want to gain weight, we don’t need the sugar, blah, blah, blah. Well, as far as we’re concerned, cookies have gotten a bad rap for far too long, and we want to set the record straight once and for all. Because the truth is that a cookie every now and then isn’t so bad—in fact, it can be really good! And so can computer “cookies.”

In computer speak, a “cookie”—which has often been associated with all things bad in the land of the Internet—is simply a file that is stored on your computer every time you visit a website. Cookies contain information that allows a website to identify your computer each time you visit that site. Examples of information include a username, password, site preferences, shopping cart info, and other types of information designed to streamline your interactions with these sites.

Whenever you register with a website or create an account—such as with Amazon.com, for example—that website’s server “gives” you a cookie. (Well, it actually gives the cookie to your computer!) The next time you visit that site, your computer will then “serve” the cookie to the site; the site, in turn, uses the cookie to verify your computer’s identity and retrieve your information. This process eliminates the need for you to re-enter new information—or re-register—every time you visit a site.

Some cookies also help sites identify your personal preferences so that they can customize content specifically to you—the user. For example, Amazon.com might use cookies to store your searches so that the next time you log in, Amazon can “suggest” new titles and products that you might enjoy. But this is also where the cookie often gets its bad reputation. Because in order to perform this function, it must track your online activities so that it can identify your personal preferences and online habits. This is why it’s important to be wary of questionable sites and to only sign up and/or register for sites that will truly be useful to you.

Most reputable sites that use “tracking” cookies will tell you upfront that they do so. But you can also choose to disable cookies and/or change your cookie preferences on your computer. This process differs from Web browser to Web browser, but look for your browser “options” or “preferences” tab to adjust your cookie and other Internet security settings.

Lastly, it’s a good practice to delete your browser history, including cookies, about once a month. This will help your computer run faster and keep cookie intrusions to a minimum.

And that, dear Chicas, is how the cookies crumble.