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NOTE: There is a more
comprehensive Cookie FAQ at SurferBeware.com
Cookies.
What are cookies?
Cookies are text files stored on your computer by sites
that you visit. The cookies are used to
"customize" your web experience for the site you
are on. For instance, take the example of
using a vending machine. the vending machine doesn't
remember you before or after you purchase something.
Even if you buy the same crackers everyday for the past
year the vending machine has no idea what you will buy or
what you have bought. Contrast this with a coffee
shop you might visit everyday or another frequently
visited hangout. After awhile you might here someone
asking you if you want your usual. Why? because this
is what you have bought over and over and the coffee shop remembers
your preferences. This remembering in
Internet/Computer Science terms is called a cookie.
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How do
cookies affect privacy?
We have many conveniences today that make life
"easier"; Credit cards, EZpass, Navigation
systems, etc. All of these conveniences come with a
price which is our privacy, or what I like to call
"Freedom of Movement". There is an
automatic and inherent tracking system built into each of
these technological advances which compromises ones
privacy. Cookies
are no different. Before cookies you could surf the
web and there wouldn't be any way for someone to know
where you had been, but since the advent of cookies
tracking your movements is child's play. What sites you
visited, how long you stayed, what you bought, even
passwords. Probably
the most famous cookie that employs this tracking is the
DoubleClick cookie. DoubleClick and its advertisers
create a profile for users and track their
"click" habits in order to deliver targeted
advertisements.
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Why use cookies?
Cookies are not inherently bad or evil. For
instance, websites that you buy products from tend to use
shopping carts. These shopping carts are only
functional based off of cookies. This is how the
site knows what you are purchasing. There
are certain sites that require its visitors to login to a members
area or restricted area. These sites can
automatically log you in by your request. this is
only done through the use of cookies. NOTE:
Using cookies to automatically log you in to sites is not
recommended but I understand sometimes there are more passwords
to remember then your brain will allow. Norton has a
password manager coming out which I have not been able to
review yet. Once I have reviewed it, I will post my thoughts
here. So what
am I saying? Cookies need to be managed on a per
site basis not simply because they are cookies. If you
reject all cookies, you might be "Cutting off your
nose to spite your face".
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How
can I manage cookies?
Cookies should be managed
on a per site basis and not with overall policies. I
bring this up because in Internet Explorer (IE) 6
Microsoft has added a privacy option to handle
cookies. The feature the way it is now is a waste of
time. Why? Because it groups all cookies
together regardless of the site that generates them and in
order to use sites that you want to use cookies you also group
in sites that you want to reject cookies. The
privacy option in IE6 should be incorporated into the
security option which allows you to designate trusted and restricted
sites.
Cookie Wall to the
rescue!!! Cookie Wall allows you to configure cookie
creation for each site you visit. I have used this
product and it can be annoying for the first couple of
days because you will get asked what to do for each site
you visit that tries to create a cookie, but eventually
you will have a comprehensive cookie control system.
NOTE: Despite
the shortcomings of the cookie control privacy option in
IE6 it shouldn't be ignored. this should be set at medium-high.
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Cookie
management software recommendations
Cookie Wall is the
only product you need. You can download it for free
on our free downloads page.
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