Cookie Guidelines

D) Additional Background

D1) Other similar technologies:

Cookies are not the only technology that can store information provided by Web site visitors. Web beacons, also known as "web bugs," are files embedded in graphics that can monitor visitor behavior. Since beacons and bugs raise serious legal and policy issues, they are not found on government Web sites.

Some of the other technologies used in the on-line environment as alternatives to cookies include cold fusion, server-side databases, hidden frames, hidden form fields and extended path information. You should be aware that these technologies may pose greater privacy, security, accessibility and technological implications than cookies. For these reasons, the Government of Canada does not recommend that departments and agencies use alternative technologies at this point in time.