Cookies- Types- How cookies work. Settings and delete cookies.

Cookies- Types

Advice: How cookies are used?

Cookies can store personally identifiable information, such as types used to identify or contact you, such as your name, e-mail address, home or work address, or telephone number. However, a Web site can only have access to the personally identifiable information that you provide. For example, a Web site cannot determine your e-mail, address, or name unless you type it in. Cookies cannot gain access to other information on your computer. Once a cookie is saved on your computer, only the Web site that created the cookie can read it.

Clearing Cookies: In Internet Explorer 7, you can select:
Tools> Internet Options> General. The second item is Browser History. Under Delete which can be used selectively to clear all cookies. See more details. In addition, Under the Settings feature- consider limiting disk Temporary Internet File space use to 100 MB or less and under History- 7 to 14 days. Unless, you manage your cookies well, you will find your computer will become sluggish over time. More browser info..

In Internet Explorer 8, Select Tools> Delete Browsing History> Check mark Cookies and Delete.

Types- Session cookies
A session cookie is stored only for your current browsing session. It is deleted from your computer when you close Internet Explorer. Most on-line ordering site require session cookies to conduct a transaction to help ensure both parties safety. You can activate session cookies while in Internet Explorer- see below:

1. In the Tools menu, select Internet Options.
2. In the Privacy tab, click on the Advanced button.
3. Select the Override automatic cookie handling option.
4. Select the Always allow session cookies option.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Privacy tab window, click OK again.

You can do the reverse the settings after your purchase and the download is complete.

Persistent cookies
A persistent cookie is one stored as a file on your computer, and it remains there when you close Internet Explorer. These cookies can be read by the Web site that created it though they cannot retrieve information from your hard-drive. In other words, no one who might examine your cookies would be able to use them to perform transactions on a Web site as you.

Internet Safety software

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First-Party vs. Third-Party cookies
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, for example sponsored links in Google, MSN & Yahoo. 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.

Unsatisfactory cookies
Unsatisfactory cookies are cookies that can allow access to personally identifiable information from the internet or your own network. They could be used for a secondary purposes with or without your consent. Some keyloggers and monitoring software programs use cookies. Should this be a concern, you should delete your cookie file periodically.

Choices in working with cookies
Internet Explorer (IE) allows the use of cookies; however, you can change your privacy settings to specify that IE prompts you before placing a cookie on your computer (this enables you to allow or block the cookie); or you can prevent Internet Explorer from accepting any cookies. Some web sites will not allow you to continue without accepting their cookie- as a verification method- banks, credit card companies, insurers, pay for use sites. You have to make an individual judgment. For example, your bank may need it to do transactions and provide you with confirmations, as part your accounts audit trail.

You can use Internet Explorer- (Tools> Privacy> Advanced) to specify how you want Internet Explorer to handle cookies from individual Web sites or all Web sites. We check mark Override and Select First and Third - accept and allow Session cookies. Should we become concerned about being overwhelmed with cookie trash, we clear all cookies.
You can also customize your privacy settings by importing a file containing custom privacy settings, or by specifying custom privacy settings for all Web sites or individual Web sites. Privacy settings only apply to Web sites in the Internet zone.
To help decide which ones are acceptable and how to eliminate the bad ones see: Cookies-Friend or Foe?