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About Computer Cookies
When you think of cookies, you probably think of delicious oven-baked bits of goodness. But as you may also be aware, your computer likes cookies too! Internet cookies, or computer cookies, are small files that websites generate which can contain all sorts of information. How do websites use cookies? Cookies are sent by web servers to your internet browser, which saves them on your computer, and sends them back to the server each time it attempts to access the web page. This interaction between web site servers and your browser allows for a variety of functions. Internet cookies can be used to enhance the user experience on a web page by maintaining user data during site visits, by remembering user customizations to a site, or even by remember how a user interacts with a site (for instance, Google uses cookies to remember search options, such as the number of results displayed per page).
Unfortunately, there are also malign uses for cookies. Tracking cookies are internet cookies that can be used to trace a persons web browsing habits. They can store information such as the addresses of sites that a user has visited, or what links the users clicks. They are generally used to generate internet usage statistics, and can be used by adware designers and advertising companies to "profile" users, and then target specific advertising to that user. There are two main classes of cookies, First-party cookies are internet cookies that are delivered to your browser directly from the website you are visiting. These are often safe, if coming from a trustworthy website. Third-party cookies are delivered to your browser from a source other than the website you are visiting, usually through advertisements or widgets. These cookies are more likely to contain a threat of some sort, though many do not. Most modern web browsers allow cookies of all sorts, so as not to hinder the performance of legitimate websites and cookie use. However, these browsers all offer settings to change the way they use cookies, disable them completely, or delete existing cookies. In the next section we will talk about how to change cookie settings, and how to delete cookies, in a couple of the most common web browsers.
The first browser we will cover is Internet Explorer. Deleting cookies in IE is quite simple, first, go to the Tools menu, and select Internet Options. On the tab labeled General, under the Browsing History sub-heading, click Delete. this will open the Delete Browsing History window. Make sure the box labeled Cookies is checked, and click the Delete button. Changing browser cookie settings in IE is slightly more complicated, but again, starts by opening the Internet Options window from the Tools menu. In this options window, click over to the Privacy tab. In the first section of this tab, click on the button labeled Advanced. Check the box labeled Override Automatic Cookie Handling. This will enable you to set the permissions for both first and third party cookies. It is also possible to enable cookies.
Next, we will go over the steps for deleting cookies and changing cookie settings in Firefox. Deleting cookies in FireFox is just a couple of simple steps. First, click on the Tools menu and click on Clear Recent History. In the next window, you will see a dropdown box that allows you to choose a time range to clear, click on it and choose Everything. Next, click the arrow button labeled Details, which will expand a list of options. make sure that the checkbox labeled Cookies is marked, then click the Clear Now button. Your browser cookies have been deleted. Setting cookie options in Firfox is slightly more complicated, but still worth knowing how to do. Start by going to the Tools menu, and selecting Options. In the options menu, click the Privacy logo at the top of the window. The first item in this window is a dropdown menu, labeled Firefox Will: Remember History. Click the dropdown, and change the setting from Remember History to Use Custom Settings for History. This will present you with a variety of options relating to how Firefox saves information. You can un-check the box labelled Accept Cookies From Sites to disable browsing cookies completely, or just un-check the box labelled Accept Third-Party Cookies in order to turn off those. Firefox also offers you an option to turn off cookies in general, but still accept them from certain trusted sites. You may configure this by un-checking the Accept Cookies From Sites option, and then clicking the button labeled Exceptions. This will let you make a list of trusted sites to accept internet cookies from.
Hopefully you now know a bit more about internet cookies, their use, and the inherent security risks involved. We have armed you with the information neccessary to control how your browser uses cookies, and to delete them when neccessary. If you are having problems with internet cookies, or suspect that there is something wrong with your computer, dont forget to call the Support.com Personal Technology Experts, we can have you up and running in no time.
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