Cookies to Crumbs - Internet Cookies

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Cookies to Crumbs - Internet Cookies
by Mark Sidman

To put it simply, a cookie is a small text file that is saved on your hard drive by a Web server. It cannot be executed as code or deliver viruses. It can only be read by the server that gave it to you. A cookie can save you time by personalizing pages, or remembering information that you enter when you register for products or services. The next time you return, we can guide you toward content of interest to you based on what you have looked at previously. When you register for another product or service, we can automatically fill in any questions you've previously answered. Of course, if you never submit any personal information, the server only knows that someone with your cookie has returned to the Website. It is up to you 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.

Sound Spooky? Exciting? Perhaps a little of both?

On-Line storefronts or e-commerce sites are a good example of cookies in action: You search through web pages for items to buy, and when you find something you want, you add it to your shopping cart by clicking a button on the page. The information about what you have ordered is written to a cookie on your computer. When you view your order, the web server simply reads the information from the cookie. When you complete your order, the shipping address and other information are written to your cookie as well, so that when you return again, you don't have to fill all of the information out again.

Some cookies have expiration dates. When a cookie expires, your browser will simply erase it from your hard drive. Depending on where it came from, a cookie may expire tomorrow, next week, or the year 2010. Cookies with an expiration date are generally known as "persistent cookies," meaning they stick around for a while. A cookie that doesn't contain an expiration date will only last as long as your browser stays open. These are called "session cookies." When you close your browser, all session cookies silently disappear.

When should I toss my cookies?

Cookies are generally harmless. I recommend keeping them and turning off the "Always confirm before setting a cookie" feature in your browser. Cookies are very popular these days. Some sites will set several cookies on each page. It would be really annoying to confirm each and every cookie you receive. Many sites won't work properly without cookies.

If you are trying to clean out unwanted and unneeded files and want to delete cookies, stop and think about each cookie before deleting it. Think to yourself, "did I submit information on that site that I do not want to submit over again when I return?" If you use on-line banking, stock sites, or even use sites with personalized pages, such as your favorite search engine or on-line sweepstakes sites, you will want to leave these cookies on your system.

For sensitive information, use the golden rule: If everyone can see what's being sent, then anyone can find that information by looking at your cookie file or by filtering through the traffic in your vicinity on the Net. However, if the information is encrypted, then it's probably o.k. You can tell if the page you are submitting information from is sending the data in encrypted form by looking for a small lock (Explorer) or a key (Netscape) in your browser window.

If You Want to Control Which Cookies You Accept...
You can set your browser options 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 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 5.0
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.

If you're using Internet Explorer 4.0
On your task bar, click:
1. View, then
2. Internet Options.
3. Under the tab General (the default tab) click
4. Settings, then
5. View Files.

Internet Explorer 3.0
On your Task Bar, click:
1. View, then
2. Options, then
3. Advanced, then
4. View Files.

Netscape Communicator 4.0:
Netscape bundles all cookies into one file on your hard drive. You'll need to find the file, which it calls Cookie.txt on Windows machines.

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