Everything you ever wanted to know about "cookies"

Cookies are small text files stored on the hard disk of your personal computer. When you visit a Web site, the server for that site may check to see if you have a cookie on your computer’s hard disk from a previous visit. If you do, it retrieves the cookie and reads it. If you don’t, it may place one on your computer’s hard disk.

The main purpose of cookies is convenience and personalization. Placing cookies on your computer helps you avoid having to re-enter information or customize a Web site every time you visit it. It’s similar to visiting your neighborhood diner - everyone knows your name and preferences.

Some of the most common uses for cookies are:

• Personalize a Web site
  Some customizations include entering a list of stocks you want to follow, a special color scheme for the Web page, or your zip code so you can get local weather information.
• Store your User ID and Password
  Some Web sites offer to “remember” your User Name and Password for that Web site.
• Online Shopping
  Many online shopping Web sites store your billing and shipping address, items placed in their “shopping cart”, and other information.

So, what is in a cookie?

Take a look for yourself. In most versions of Microsoft Windows, cookies are in the \Windows\Cookies folder. Open Windows Explorer to the \Windows\Cookies folder. Double-click the cookie file you want to read. The contents of cookies are nearly indecipherable. The domain name of the Web site that sent the cookie is recognizable, but the rest of the cookie is a random collection of numbers, characters and symbols. That’s because cookies are created and read by computer scripting languages. Each Web site uses the scripting language to write its own script to create and read cookies. Without knowing the scripting language and the actual script a Web site uses, it’s difficult to tell what the contents in a cookie mean. Plus, some Web sites encrypt their cookies to secure them.

Cookies cannot:

• Scan a Computer
  Cookies don’t have the capability to find passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal information stored on your computer. They also can’t catalog the computer programs and files on your computer.
• Run Programs or Send Computer Viruses
  Cookies can’t take control of your computer. There is also little risk of a computer virus being sent in a cookie. Computer viruses are most often sent via e-mail attachments.
• Be Read by Another Web Site
  Cookies are uniquely assigned to you. So they can only be ‘read’ by the Web site that sent them to you. So other Web sites can’t find out what Web sites have sent you cookies.

There is a caution about the use of cookies. A Web site can track your movements around that particular site and which banner ads you click. An advertising profile can be built based on this information. Then, whenever you visit that Web site, ads targeted to your interests are displayed. Cookies alone don’t tell a Web site very much. But if you choose to share personal information with the Web site, that can be a little more worrisome. In general, always be cautious about giving out your personal information online.

Most Web browsers have settings on how cookies are handled which allow you to have control over the cookies sent to and stored on your computer.

There are usually three settings to choose from:

• Enable
  Cookies are accepted and retrieved automatically. Your browser is probably on this setting.
• Disable
  No cookies are accepted.
• Prompt
  Every time a cookie is sent to you from a Web site, a message appears on-screen asking if you want to accept or reject the cookie.

If you are concerned about cookies, it might seem that the solution is to have your browser prompt you each time a cookie is sent. That way you have the option to accept it or not. However, you might find that it becomes annoying to accept or reject each cookie. Also, if you choose not to accept cookies from a Web site, you might not be able to use certain features of that Web site.

Dealing with cookies

Regularly delete unwanted cookies on your computer
Take the time to routinely delete cookies from Web sites you’ve identified as undesirable. In most versions of Microsoft Windows, cookies are in the \Windows\Cookies folder. To delete a cookie file:

• Open Windows Explorer. To open Windows Explorer, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
• Click the cookie file you want to delete.
• On the File menu, click Delete.

Remember that you may lose customizations and features at your favorite Web sites if you delete their cookies!

Read the Privacy Policy at Web sites where you enter any personal information
See what information they collect, if they use cookies, and how they intend to use your personal information. If any of their policies make you uncomfortable or if they don’t have a Privacy Policy, don’t enter your information.