Google has said it is to overhaul the lifespan of cookies, resulting in the auto-delete function of files changing to two years, the search engine has announced.Cookies are files that remain stored on a computer detailing which websites an internet user has visited and, under Google's new security provisions, each cookie is given a two-year lifespan, only altered if a web user goes back to a specific website which would reset the timer to the most recent visit.
At present, Google's cookies are due to delete after 2039 but privacy campaigners have stressed that they believe this is too long a time period and want users to gain more rights over what information is held by the search engine.
In a statement, Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel, said: "After listening to feedback from our users and from privacy advocates, we've concluded that it would be a good thing for privacy to significantly shorten the lifetime of our cookies."
Web users are still able to manually delete most cookies from their computer free of restriction and some tools are available on the internet that enable the web user to prevent cookies from appearing on their system.
"Users who do not return to Google will have their cookies auto-expire after two years. Regular Google users will have their cookies auto-renew, so that their preferences are not lost," added Mr Fleischer.
