Final answer:
Cookies are used to track web browsing habits by storing data on a user's computer. They track activities such as site visits and clicks, different from Incognito mode, Firewalls, and VPNs, which serve other privacy and security functions. Option b is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maria is at home shopping for shoes on Amazon.com and purchases footwear from several other websites. To track Maria's web browsing habits, cookies can be used. Cookies are small pieces of data sent from a website and stored on the user's computer by the user's web browser while the user is browsing. They are designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember information or to record the user's browsing activity. This can include clicking particular buttons, logging in, or recording which pages were visited in the past.
Options such as Incognito mode, Firewalls, and VPNs have different functionalities. Incognito mode is a privacy feature that prevents the browser from storing browsing history, cookies, and site data. Firewalls protect against unauthorized access to a network, and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) secure the connection by encrypting data, helping to maintain online privacy and anonymity. However, only cookies are used to actively track and record browsing habits.