Understanding Cookies
By Sandy Berger
If you are concerned about accepting cookies, you can change
the settings in your browser regarding cookies. Look through the
menus and find the "Preference" or "Options" choice to change the
setting. Most versions of Netscape Navigator and older versions of
Internet Explorer have three different settings. You can disable
all cookies, accept all cookies, or have the browser warn you
before accepting a cookie.
Newer versions of Internet Explorer, like Version 5.0 and 6.0
go one step further. They allow you to specify different settings
for different security zones. For example, you might want to allow
Web sites to create cookies if they are in your Trusted sites, but
prompt you before creating cookies if they are in your Internet
zone, and never allow cookies if they are in your Restricted sites
zone. While this approach is more complicated for the end user, it
does give you more control over the use of cookies. So if you are
concerned about cookies, using one of these newer browser versions
may be helpful to you.
How to Delete Cookies
You can also delete all of the cookie files that are already on
your hard disk. In most versions of Windows, the cookies are found
in a folder titles Cookies inside the Windows folder. If you are
using Windows XP you will find the Cookies folder in the main hard
drive, usually C: inside of the Documents and Settings folder,
inside of a folder with the user's name.
Most versions of Netscape keep cookies in a file in the
Netscape folder called cookies.txt or magiccookie on the Mac. This
file is where all the cookie entries are found. You can delete the
contents of this file regardless of the warning at the top of the
page. If you cannot find the cookie files or folders use the find
or search option on the Start Button in Windows or use Finder on
the Mac to locate the files. Just search for files/folders named
Cookie.
Once you have found the Cookie folder, you can delete
everything in the cookie folder without harming anything else in
your computer. Be advised though, that if you delete all the
cookies, no Web site will remember who you are and you may have to
re-enter name password, and other information. This can be
especially problematic for Web sites where you may do banking or
investments since you may have to re-enter account numbers as well
as simple name/password information.
Many, many Web sites are using cookies today. If you want to
see just how many cookies are being used, set your browser to warn
you before cookies are set. I guarantee you that you will quickly
tire of seeing these notices. Also, be advised that if you refuse
to accept cookies, some sites will not allow you access.
Using Software to Stop Cookies
If you are really concerned about cookies you can stop them
with software made especially for that purpose. A few of the good
cookie gobbling programs available are: Cookie Cruncher, Cookie
Cutter, and PGPcookie.cutter.
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