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Computer Cookies

What Is a Cookie?

A cookie is a small file which can be of benefit to you, or it can be moderately harmful.

It's a small text file written to your hard drive by a web server. The helpful ones contain information which identifies the user (e.g. your username & password) and allow that user to revisit the site without logging in and for that site to be personalised.

For instance, perhaps you visit a site which tells you the weather forecast and what's on TV. The site reads the cookie on your computer and, using that data, it sends the page with your local personalised forecast and available TV channels already displayed.

They can also be more sinister. They can be used to collect information about how you use the Internet. That information can then be sold to spammers without your knowledge or permission.

You need to be aware of what they do and how to keep them in check.

Cookie Control

For no good reason that I can see, Microsoft's default setting for cookie control is unnecessarily insecure. It allows third parties (usually advertisers) on the sites you visit to set their cookies in addition to those of the original site.

Go to the following Dialogue Box:

Start/Control Panel/Network and Internet Connections/Internet Options or, depending upon your Control Panel settings, Start/Control Panel/Internet Options

Or you can find it in Internet Explorer at the bottom of the Tools menu - Internet Options...

You should see this:

Click on the Privacy tab.

You should see something similar to this:

At the very least, you should move the slider up to Medium-High. But I prefer to the following method, which blocks all third party cookies:

Click on the Advanced button.

You should see this:

• Probably, unlike my box below, the Accept radio button under Third Party Cookies is selected.
• Select the Override automatic cookie handling checkbox.
• Click on the Block radio button to display this:
  

• Then click the OK button
• Finish off by clicking the OK button on the Internet Properties box and you're done.
• Voila!

Why should I do this? I hear you cry!

To recap for those who only looked at the pictures and missed the first paragraphs.  :o)

The sites you visit may place first party cookies on your computer to keep track of your habits and needs. They contain information (e.g. your site logon and personalisation details) which you may have given on a previous visit.

Assuming that you're not visiting dodgy websites, that's usually OK and often to your benefit. If a site welcomes you by name, you have their cookie. No problem.

However the third party cookies are those placed by advertisers other than the main site. These we do not want. They don't have your best interests at heart. They can lead to more spam and worse. Block 'em!

I use Firefox, what do I do?

Firefox handles the process differently, follow the link at the bottom of this page for a detailed explanation.

Block cookies altogether? Well, no

Why not stop them all? Well, many legitimate websites won't let you in if you block first party cookies. A typical example would be a print magazine or newspaper site, they're providing a free service to to you which may well cost them a hard copy sale. It's hardly surprising that they want to know how often and what you visit.

It's in the too hard basket.

Secondly, if you don't already, as pointed out above, you'll probably eventually go to sites where you must register or enrol to view all the content or to access your own account. In this case, the website will place a cookie on your computer containing your registration information such as your username and password. This allows you to go to the site and have full access without having to type in your details (log on).

Typical sites at which this applies are Amazon, eBay, Microsoft Encarta, major newspapers, utility companies, telecoms and any groups to which you may belong.

Pop-Ups

A pop-up is a window which appears in front of the window you're working in. Sometimes they're part of the page you're at, more often they're ads. They're a pestilential intrusion and they can be duplicitous.

If you have the Google Toolbar or if you have Internet Explorer 6.0 or 7.0, you shouldn't have much trouble with these because you should have a pop-up blocker. An unfortunate trend: there are more sophisticated pop-ups, which aren't so easily blocked, popping up  - sorry! :0) - on many otherwise reputable websites.

Dealing with Pop-Ups

Never click on a pop-up. If it's the active window (i.e. if it has a coloured title bar) Use the keyboard shortcut Alt + F4 to close it. If it's not the active window (greyed out title bar) Use Alt + Tab to cycle through the open windows until it is active. Then use Alt + F4 to close it.

If you don't know how to use those key combinations, look here at Shortcuts. Then press Backspace to come back to this page.

Why not Click on a Pop-Up?

Because they're not always what they seem. Sometimes they carry the means to infect your computer. Even the little close button which you normally click on, might not be a close button, it may activate some malware component.

It's a trial.

Pop-Unders

Related to the pop-up, but they lurk behind your window until it's closed. Deal with them in the same way as pop-ups.