Cookies
About Cookies
A Cookie is
A very small text file placed on your hard drive by a Web Page server. It is essentially your identification card, and cannot be executed as code or deliver viruses. It is uniquely yours and can only be read by the server that gave it to you.
A Cookie's Purpose is
To tell the server that you returned to that Web page.
How a Cookie Helps You
It saves you time.
If you personalize pages, or register for products or services, a cookie helps Microsoft remember who you are.
Next time you return, we know to show you the information you requested. Or, when you register for another product or service, all you need to do is type in your e-mail address and a password. We then fill in any questions you've already answered. Of course, if you never register or leave personal information with Microsoft, then the server only knows that someone with your cookie has returned to the Web site. You are in charge of deciding whether we know anything about you. But the more you tell us about yourself, the more we can help you find information or products you want.
Remember: you can always edit any personal information you give Microsoft by stopping at the Profile Center.
How a Cookie Helps Microsoft
It allows us to be more efficient. We can learn what information is important to our visitors, and what isn't. We can discard Web pages you don't use, and focus our efforts on information you need.
If You Want to Control Which Cookies You Accept
You can order your browser to accept all cookies or to alert you every time a cookie is offered. Then you can decide whether to accept one or not.
If you're using Internet Explorer 6.0
1. Choose Tools, then
2. Internet Options.
3. Click the Privacy tab,
4. Default setting is medium. Move the slider to determine which setting you prefer.
5. You can also click on Advanced for specialized cookie treatment.
About Cookies
A Cookie is
A very small text file placed on your hard drive by a Web Page server. It is essentially your identification card, and cannot be executed as code or deliver viruses. It is uniquely yours and can only be read by the server that gave it to you.
A Cookie's Purpose is
To tell the server that you returned to that Web page.
How a Cookie Helps You
It saves you time.
If you personalize pages, or register for products or services, a cookie helps Microsoft remember who you are.
Next time you return, we know to show you the information you requested. Or, when you register for another product or service, all you need to do is type in your e-mail address and a password. We then fill in any questions you've already answered. Of course, if you never register or leave personal information with Microsoft, then the server only knows that someone with your cookie has returned to the Web site. You are in charge of deciding whether we know anything about you. But the more you tell us about yourself, the more we can help you find information or products you want.
Remember: you can always edit any personal information you give Microsoft by stopping at the Profile Center.
How a Cookie Helps Microsoft
It allows us to be more efficient. We can learn what information is important to our visitors, and what isn't. We can discard Web pages you don't use, and focus our efforts on information you need.
If You Want to Control Which Cookies You Accept
You can order your browser to accept all cookies or to alert you every time a cookie is offered. Then you can decide whether to accept one or not.
If you're using Internet Explorer 6.0
1. Choose Tools, then
2. Internet Options.
3. Click the Privacy tab,
4. Default setting is medium. Move the slider to determine which setting you prefer.
5. You can also click on Advanced for specialized cookie treatment.
If you're using Internet Explorer 5.0
1. Choose Tools, then
2. Internet Options.
3. Click the Security tab,
4. Click Internet, then Custom Level.
5. Scroll down to Cookies and choose one of the two options.
If you're using Internet Explorer 4.0
1. Choose View, then
2. Internet Options.
3. Click the Advanced tab,
4. Scroll down to the yellow exclamation icon under Security and choose one of the three options to regulate your use of cookies.
In Internet Explorer 3.0, you can View, Options, Advanced and click on the button that says Warn Before Accepting "Cookies."
If you're using Netscape Communicator 4.0
On your Task Bar, click:
1. Edit, then
2. Preferences, then
3. click on Advanced.
4. Set your options in the box labeled "Cookies".
How to See Cookies You've Accepted
If you're using Internet Explorer 6.0
On your task bar, click:
1. Tools, then
2. Internet Options.
3. Under the tab General (the default tab) click
4. Settings, then
5. View Files.
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From http://cookiescache.tripod.com/
What are web cookies?
Web cookies are simply bits of software placed on your computer when you browse websites. Not all websites have these, but many do, especially the large well-known websites. Websites use cookies so they can track what you are viewing, and although they won't necessarily know you by name (lets hope it never gets to that point), the website will recognize your computer when you come back to visit again.
What good are cookies?
Cookies have some beneficial things. For example, when you log on to certain sites, did you ever notice that when you return again you do not have to sign on the next time? Thats because it stored your password and id on your machine in a cookie. The same holds true when you purchase goods online, you can return later and your goods are still in your shopping cart (in a cookie!).
Cookies are also very beneficial to websites trying to market to you. (Some consider this bad for the consumer as many do not want websites tracking what you like to view online!). For example, if you go to one of the major search engines, like altavista.com, excite.com, search.aol.com, etc. and search for "sex", the next time you come back to the website to search again, you may see a large porno picture or sex advertisement at the top of your screen. This is NOT what everyone sees, only you! They know you like porn alot because you searched for it last time you were there, so they now show you advertisements because it may be something targeted towards your buying habits.
What is bad about cookies?
As stated above, people do not like being tracked. Even if some companies mean no harm, people still do not like the fact they are being monitored while they browse. Cookies can also show links in them if someone happens to look at them on your pc. For example, if you wife is on the pc and happens to browse any cookies (they are just viewable text files with other mumbled garbage which the websites can interpret), she may not like the fact that you have been viewing sex sites (or vice versa). Most of the websites that store the cookies, will have the site name or link visible in the cookie on your machine, so its normally easy to tell where the cookie came from.
What are cache files? Are these related to cookie files?
Cache files help your browser go faster since it caches the files to be used. These are also left behind on your pc and includes everything, including pictures, sound files, video files, and text that you have browsed. If you share your pc in any way, you probably want to keep these cleaned when you get done browsing (see previous paragraph for removing these).
Is it safe to buy stuff online? Are cookies used for this?
I personally do almost all my shopping online, for clothes, cd's, books, and I have even bought groceries with my credit card online. I have never had a problem, and I personally feel it is safer than handing the credit card to a waiter at a restaurant. Now that I have gotten used to online shopping, I have a hard time believing I will ever shop another way. I can get clothes that are always my size, I never have to search through aisles for my size, I just select it. I also never wait for parking spots, stand in line, or waste an afternoon. Instead it takes about 15 minutes of my time (the high speed connection helps also! :-). Sometimes I have to send an item back for exchange, but driving a few minutes to mail something is still better than spending 4 hours on saturday afternoon going back to a mall or store. Of course, you will always hear about some story where someone had their card stolen, but that will always happen at sometime or another, whether you are at a restaurant, on a payphone, or shopping on the net.
Cookies are used alot during internet shopping also, but in a good way. They often are used to store (for example, your clothes you have added to the shopping cart) your order on your machine. If you logoff and back on, your order is still there and you can continue shopping. They can of course, be used to market banners and advertisements towards you based upon what you were shopping or looking for.
I often have people ask me the question "Do you save that much money that you do all your shopping online??". This is an easy answer for me. My answer is usually "How much is your time worth?". It may not be cheaper at all, in fact when I buy groceries I actually pay more then going to the store, but it is "deceivingly cheaper". What I mean by that is I don't spend any gas money when I shop online, I don't have to worry about bad weather, I don't waste alot of my time, etc. Not only do I save driving time, but all the time it takes to look for items is eliminated, and I can search, sort, etc. all the items on the websites I shop at. Although I definitely save money shopping online for clothes, I am willing to pay some extra on groceries for the convenience of delivery and time. ! If you are wondering what stores to shop at (as alot of people have asked), just go to one of the main shopping sites and you can pull up many online stores on their site. For example, anyone can go to www.aol.com and then click the tab that says "shopping" (you don't have to be an AOL member, just go to the website from any browser). You will see many sites to shop at, and you will find stores that carry almost any item you are looking for!
What is the best way to keep my information private? How do I keep my email from getting spammed?
Most websites today that sell anything online are pretty good about keeping your information confidential (obviously not all of them though). Many even state this when you are ordering, as there is normally a link saying that they keep information private. You can help limit your information by not filling in information on sites that are NON-ordering sites. For example, you know those sites that want to send you a free magazine by just filling in your information and clicking ok? Many of those sites are giving you free stuff so they can get your information. If you wish to keep the cookie and history information left behind on your pc cleaned up, then you can use the software that I listed above in the previous paragraphs above. If you would like to keep you email from getting spammed, you can do a few things. First, send them a nice email and tell them not to email you again, or if you have an AOL account, there is blocking features on the email that you can set to block specific emails, or only allow specific emails.
This can save you the trouble of even asking someone to stop, just simply shut them off! You can also get one of many free email services if you don't want to give anyone your main email, so there is alot of options for you to choose.
Is it safe to store password information on my computer?
I would recommend NOT storing passwords on your computer, mostly because your computer can be stolen, or you could have someone hack your pc online. These are rare situations, but its not worth the risk of having your passwords taken for banks, brokers, online accts, and many other personal sites!
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A first-party cookie either originates on or is sent to the Web site you are currently viewing. These cookies are commonly used to store information, such as your preferences when visiting that site.
A third-party cookie either originates on or is sent to a Web site different from the one you are currently viewing. Third-party Web sites usually provide some content on the Web site you are viewing. For example, many sites use advertising from third-party Web sites and those third-party Web sites may use cookies. A common use for this type of cookie is to track your Web page use for advertising or other marketing purposes. Third-party cookies can either be persistent or temporary.
A persistent cookie is one stored as a file on your computer, and it remains there when you close Internet Explorer. The cookie can be read by the Web site that created it when you visit that site again.
A temporary or session cookie is stored only for your current browsing session, and is deleted from your computer when you close Internet Explorer.
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