Internet Cookies

Internet Cookies

Cookies are text files that a Web server can store on a user's hard disk. Cookies allow a Web site to store information (sites visited or credentials for accessing the site) on a user's machine and later retrieve it. The pieces of information are stored as name-value pairs. Cookies are designed to be readable only by the Web site that created them. A name-value pair is simply a named piece of data. It is not a program, and it cannot "do" anything. A Web site can retrieve only the information that it has placed on your machine. It cannot retrieve information from other cookie files or any other information from your machine.

Most cookies are harmless and do not affect your computer in any way.  They will expire (delete themselves) when you leave the website, in a few hours, days, months, or in some cases years.

However, some websites that are installing cookies on your hard drive may contain malicious code.  Some Internet advertising and marketing companies are using cookies to track you online and gather personal and sensitive information about you.  This information is then used for their own purposes, usually for financial gain.  This information can include the websites you visit, the duration of your visit, chat rooms you visit, the products you purchase, online subscriptions, and more.  Once gathered, this personal information can be compiled and associated to a specific user.  The information gathered may end up being sold to the highest bidder, or worse! In most of cases, this is being done without your knowledge or consent.

You can set your computer's browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or to alert you every time a cookie is sent so you can make a decision to accept or reject them on a case-by-case basis. The process of configuring how you interact with cookies is dependent upon your browser. The “Help” feature for your particular browser contains instructions on how to configure for receiving cookies.

Unwanted cookies
Unwanted cookies should be deleted from your hard drive every 1-2 weeks.  To delete cookies, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on “Start” in your Windows taskbar.  
2. Click on “Explore.”
3. Scroll up and find the folder named “Cookies.”
4. Click on “Edit and Select All.”
5. Click on “Delete.”
6. When asked “Are you sure?” Click “on Yes.”
7. When cookies are deleted, go to your Windows desktop and right click on Recycle Bin.
8. Click on Empty Recycle Bin.
9. Click on “Confirm” to delete the files in the Recycle Bin.
10. Once you have confirmed the deletion of files in the “Recycle Bin,” your cookies are done.