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In previous articles, we covered the first four points of the 10-step program to Computer Happiness.
In this article, we will discuss cookies, their attributes and potential hazards and how to remove them, if desired, using Microsoft Internet Explorer. The complete 10 steps - "Cleaning the Crud from your Computer" can be downloaded from our Web site, www.gcclc.org.
About cookies
Some Web sites store information in a small text file on your computer. This file is called a cookie. It stores information on your computer, such as your preferences when visiting that site. For example, when you revisit a site like Amazon.com, recommendations based on previous purchases may appear. Or you might create a personalized page at Yahoo, and those preferences will be stored as a cookie.
Cookies can store personally identifiable information that can be used to identify or contact you, such as your name, e-mail address, home or work address, or telephone number. However, a Web site only has access to the information that you provide. A Web site cannot determine your e-mail name unless you provide it. Also, a Web site cannot gain access to other information on your computer.
Cookies are subject to a number of misconceptions, mostly based on the erroneous notion that they are computer programs. In fact, cookies are simple pieces of data unable to perform any operation by themselves.
In particular, they are neither spyware nor viruses, despite the detection of cookies from certain sites by many anti-spyware products.
Internet Explorer allows the use of cookies, but you can change your privacy settings to specify that Internet Explorer prompt you before placing a cookie on your computer.
Then, you can decide whether to allow or block the cookie. You can also change your privacy settings such that Internet Explorer will accept cookies from individual Web sites or all Web sites or will block cookies from Web sites of your choosing.
Keep in mind some Web sites might not work properly, e.g. on-line purchasing, if you block all cookies.
Step 5 - To delete unneeded cookies
Some people go so far as to delete all cookies from their computer each time they leave the Internet. Web sites such as Hotmail or Yahoo! E-mail store your member name and password or other personally identifiable information about you in a cookie; therefore, if you delete their cookie, you would need to re-enter your information the next time you visit their site.
To delete cookies:
Open Internet Explorer.
Click on Tools on the Menu Bar and click on Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Settings in the middle of the page.
Click the View files button
A window opens displaying all the cookie files.
Click on any cookie you wish to delete and press the Delete key on the keyboard.
(Hint - Use the Ctrl Key to select multiple cookies, before pressing the delete key)
To delete all cookies, click on the General tab of the Internet Options window and click the Delete Cookies button.
To change your settings for how Internet Explorer handles cookies, click on the Privacy tab of Internet Options. You can slide the slider to adjust the degree of acceptance or rejection of cookies. Medium is the recommended setting.
While on the Privacy tab you can block or allow cookies from any Web site by clicking on Sites and typing or copying the address of the Web site in the space provided and click on Block or Allow.
ooo
Roger Thornburn is a volunteer with the Gold Country Computer Learning Center. For information about computer classes or The Learning Center, go to www.gcclc.org or call 273-0497
In this article, we will discuss cookies, their attributes and potential hazards and how to remove them, if desired, using Microsoft Internet Explorer. The complete 10 steps - "Cleaning the Crud from your Computer" can be downloaded from our Web site, www.gcclc.org.
About cookies
Some Web sites store information in a small text file on your computer. This file is called a cookie. It stores information on your computer, such as your preferences when visiting that site. For example, when you revisit a site like Amazon.com, recommendations based on previous purchases may appear. Or you might create a personalized page at Yahoo, and those preferences will be stored as a cookie.
Cookies can store personally identifiable information that can be used to identify or contact you, such as your name, e-mail address, home or work address, or telephone number. However, a Web site only has access to the information that you provide. A Web site cannot determine your e-mail name unless you provide it. Also, a Web site cannot gain access to other information on your computer.
Cookies are subject to a number of misconceptions, mostly based on the erroneous notion that they are computer programs. In fact, cookies are simple pieces of data unable to perform any operation by themselves.
In particular, they are neither spyware nor viruses, despite the detection of cookies from certain sites by many anti-spyware products.
Internet Explorer allows the use of cookies, but you can change your privacy settings to specify that Internet Explorer prompt you before placing a cookie on your computer.
Then, you can decide whether to allow or block the cookie. You can also change your privacy settings such that Internet Explorer will accept cookies from individual Web sites or all Web sites or will block cookies from Web sites of your choosing.
Keep in mind some Web sites might not work properly, e.g. on-line purchasing, if you block all cookies.
Step 5 - To delete unneeded cookies
Some people go so far as to delete all cookies from their computer each time they leave the Internet. Web sites such as Hotmail or Yahoo! E-mail store your member name and password or other personally identifiable information about you in a cookie; therefore, if you delete their cookie, you would need to re-enter your information the next time you visit their site.
To delete cookies:
Open Internet Explorer.
Click on Tools on the Menu Bar and click on Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Settings in the middle of the page.
Click the View files button
A window opens displaying all the cookie files.
Click on any cookie you wish to delete and press the Delete key on the keyboard.
(Hint - Use the Ctrl Key to select multiple cookies, before pressing the delete key)
To delete all cookies, click on the General tab of the Internet Options window and click the Delete Cookies button.
To change your settings for how Internet Explorer handles cookies, click on the Privacy tab of Internet Options. You can slide the slider to adjust the degree of acceptance or rejection of cookies. Medium is the recommended setting.
While on the Privacy tab you can block or allow cookies from any Web site by clicking on Sites and typing or copying the address of the Web site in the space provided and click on Block or Allow.
ooo
Roger Thornburn is a volunteer with the Gold Country Computer Learning Center. For information about computer classes or The Learning Center, go to www.gcclc.org or call 273-0497
