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How The Cookies Crumble
Cookies Are Tools
How do certain web-sites remember your your information such as passwords, login names, etc.? Simply put, Cookies are tools used my
sites to work behind the scenes. These Cookies are pretty much straight-to-the point codes that programmers of Web Servers send to your browser to use later (usually the next time you return ).
In this article, I will attempt to de-mystify this subject with a minimum of technical terminology. Thanks for returning!
Cookie Recipe?
Cookies tend to work in this way...- You visit a Web site that asks you to fill out information about yourself (name, password, etc. ). This information is then bundled up into...A Cookie! Then the Web Server sends that Cookie to your hard drive where it hangs out in a special folder with the rest of your Cookies.
- The next time you go to that particular site, your Web Browser sends that Cookie back from your file to the Web Server.
- Thus, you'll not need to re-enter the prior information as the Cookie has already done this for you. The Web site now "recognizes" you.
Cookies are not programs. They are data. They do not carry virus. Since it is not a program, the Cookie can do no harm to your system. It will not search your PC for data you have not provided. Therefore you e-mail address and credit card info are safe. Cookies cannot be read by every other site that you visit as they are site-Specific in nature ( only the Web site that sent it can read it ).
Cookies do not generally pose a security threat but with changing technology and the evolution
of the Internet, that could change.
Cookies Are Convenient?
Anyone who's created an on-line account knows how time consuming that can be. Imagine if that needed to be done every time that you went back to that e-commerce or auction site? Some Cookies ease frustration and actually serve a good purpose. Most sites though, will require some info from you to further verify your identity. These Cookies are your friend.
Not so friendly Cookies are the one's that track your on-line activities by telling the Web site which Ad Banners you've seen ( so that it can rotate them for more viewing ) or
that identify you as a unique user for site tracking.
Change Your Cookie Settings
Most Web Browsers pass Cookies from servers to browsers without notification to you, the user, by default. However, you can change this in your settings so that you have more control over how Cookies are transmitted.
NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR
Open your browser. Click on Edit>Preferences. You will then have a box displayed that will allow you to select the Advanced option under Category on the left hand side. Then locate the Cookies box at the bottom and choose the appropriate button ( accept all cookies, etc. ) and place a check mark in the warning box ( if that's your choice ) and then click OK.
INTERNET EXPLORER
Click on Tools>Internet Options, and when the Internet Options dialog box opens, make sure that the Internet Icon or Globe is selected under the Security tab. Then, click the Custom level box and scroll down through the settings to the Cookies section where you will be able to
enable, disable or set to prompt for your PC to accept or reject a Cookie each time a Web site offers one.
You will then be presented with this pop-up after you change the setting. Click Yes if you are sure or No and return the settings to previous.
If you do choose to enable the Prompt radio button, the you will be subjected to the pop-up box below each time a Cookie is offered.
It will then be your choice to accept or reject the potential Cookie. You may also use the More Info option as well.
OPERA BROWSER
The easiest way I've found is...go to C:\PROGRAM FILES\OPERA and double-click on the Help Folder. Inside, you will find Prefmenu...double-click on it and it will open PREFMENU.HTM. Scroll down to the Cache Link and the information you need is clear and concise. Much better than I can do here.
Also in this folder are the Security help and some tips to look at.
Viewing All Your Cookies
In Netscape Navigator, you will find your stored Cookies files in PROGRAM FILES/NETSCAPE ( usually in the USERS Folder ). There is a text document titled Cookies that you can double-click to open. There you'll see the entire collection of Cookies placed there over time. You can delete these files if you desire by highlighting the entire file and then press the DELETE key on you keyboard.
In Internet Explorer, you can find the file under C:\WINDOWS\COOKIES. Double-click on the folder to open it and delete it in the same way as above, if that is what you desire. Notice these files have been given long names to identify each one. You can double-click on any one to view it's contents. Interesting reading. As you will see..it's all code.
In Opera Browser, you can go to the file under C:\Program Files\Opera. Double-click on the Cache Folder to open it and delete these Cookies the same manner as with Navigator & Explorer.
Cookie Management
It is a complex and time consuming effort to manage all the incoming Cookies on your system. There are a few software programs created to assist in this task, thus making it easier. Many people prefer them to the alternative of trying to remember to maintain an empty Cookie Jar ( Cookie Folder ), dealing with the Warning Pop-up or manually deleting them.
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