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| Thread ID: 38400 | 2003-10-06 06:52:00 | Cookies anyone? | Kiwitas (514) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 180843 | 2003-10-06 06:52:00 | This is an extract(as long as it is!;-) from an article on the latest "Langalist"newsletter, If you want to read the rest and other geeky odds and ends,go to Fred Langa's site and navigate to where the free newsletters are linked! http://www.langa.com/ some people still (totally mistakenly) believe that Cookies somehow actively "track" them around the web, and so use Cookie-stopping settings or add-ins. But Cookies aren't programs; they're inert, static text files that just sit on your hard drive. They have no active element whatsoever and are 100% incapable of any form of active tracking or snooping. In fact, Cookies generally know only what you tell them. Yes, some limited and generally nonprivate and impersonal information (OS type, browser type, etc.) can be pulled from your browser directly. But normally, the only way a Cookie can get truly sensitive or personal information (credit card numbers, home address, phone number, bank name, etc.) is if you actively and voluntarily enter that information by filling out forms on a web site that then stores that info in its Cookie. If you don't enter sensitive information on any given web site, then the Cookies created by that web site simply *cannot* contain any truly private information. So, if you're on a web site that looks iffy or doesn't have a good privacy policy, or that raises any red flags for you whatsoever, don't provide that site with sensitive information. That site then has nothing sensitive about you to store in its Cookie, or anyplace else. Simple. There are a lot of users surfing the Net(particuarily noobies,that have heard about Cookies,but don't understand what they are,or more importantly what they do,or what they don't do! Cheers,Kiwitas,;-) Cheers,Kiwitas,;-) |
Kiwitas (514) | ||
| 180844 | 2003-10-06 07:04:00 | And if you believe that you must beleive in tooth fairies as well. It is well known that cookies can hold any sort of information that anyone wants to put in them so can be used for all sorts of things. They are able to grab all sorts of data that might be of interest latter. Things like IP addresses and all sorts of other goodies. Sure they are not actively doing this but anything that is run from IE is capable of putting data in them and the default security settings in IE allow this. I always stay on the safe side. I allow session cookies, not allow third party cookies, and prompt for normal. This way I know what is going into my cookies and block those who I don't need and allow those I do. |
Big John (551) | ||
| 180845 | 2003-10-06 07:37:00 | Just try using the internet without giving out any IP addresses. | -=JM=- (16) | ||
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