Cookies- Types- How cookies work. Settings and delete cookies.



 

Cookies- Types

Cookies on the www

  Summary:
A definition of the various types of cookies and their purpose. How cookies are used by the web site owners and why are they placed on your system. What choices you have in working with cookies? Are cookies friend or foe?
  Purpose:
To explain how cookies are used on the internet. To provide methods for managing good cookies and for eliminating bad cookies.

 

 

Advice: How cookies are used?

 

  A cookie is a file created by an Internet site to store information on your computer, such as your preferences when visiting that site. For example, if you book a flight at an travel agency's Web site, it may create a cookie that contains your itinerary for quick reference. Or, it may only retain a record of the pages you looked it to help their site customize your view on your next visit.   We prefer to use an independent software package to manage our cookie handling since these programs do not have a vested interest in only retaining their cookies on your system. It is quite annoying to clear your cookies in your browser only to find out when you use an independent program there are several cookies still left. Something we find Microsoft's Security Essentials, Yahoo, Google, FaceBook, AOL, Apple OS, etc. are very good at placing their own cookies without your knowledge.

 

 

Cookies can store personally identifiable information, such as types used to identify or contact you, such as your name, e-mail address, home or work address, or telephone number. However, a Web site can only have access to the personally identifiable information that you provide. For example, a Web site cannot determine your e-mail, address, or name unless you type it in. Cookies cannot gain access to other information on your computer. Once a cookie is saved on your computer, only the Web site that created the cookie can read it.

Clearing Cookies: In Internet Explorer 9, the clear cookie function is under Tools on the top bar, Press Delete Browser History and a list of things you can clear appears. Tick mark the Cookies box and click on Delete. We tick mark all the other boxes, also except the Preserve Favorites to clean out History, etc. which over time can slow down your computer and reveal your surfing habits.

In Internet Explorer 8, Select Tools> Delete Browsing History> Check mark Cookies and Delete.

In Internet Explorer 7, you can select:
Tools> Internet Options> General. The second item is Browser History. Under Delete which can be used selectively to clear all cookies. See more details. In addition, Under the Settings feature- consider limiting disk Temporary Internet File space use to 100 MB or less and under History- 7 to 14 days. Unless, you manage your cookies well, you will find your computer will become sluggish over time. All browsers have similar clearing features. You may have to dig around in their menus to find them.

More browser info..

 

Types- Session cookies
A session cookie is stored only for your current browsing session. It is deleted from your computer when you close Internet Explorer. Most on-line ordering site require session cookies to conduct a transaction to help ensure both parties safety. You can activate session cookies while in Internet Explorer- see below:

1. In the Tools menu, select Internet Options.
2. In the Privacy tab, click on the Advanced button.
3. Select the Override automatic cookie handling option.
4. Select the Always allow session cookies option.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Privacy tab window, click OK again.

You can do the reverse the settings after your purchase and the download is complete.

 

Persistent cookies
A persistent cookie is one stored as a file on your computer, and it remains there when you close Internet Explorer. These cookies can be read by the Web site that created it though they cannot retrieve information from your hard-drive. In other words, no one who might examine your cookies would be able to use them to perform transactions on a Web site as you.

Coupon codes for Security software
Internet Safety software

Norton Coupon codes

 

First-Party vs. Third-Party cookies
A first-party cookie either originates on or is sent to the Web site you are currently viewing. These cookies are commonly used to store information, such as your preferences when visiting that site.

A third-party cookie either originates on or is sent to a Web site different from the one you are currently viewing. Third-party Web sites usually provide some content on the Web site you are viewing. For example, many sites use advertising from third-party Web sites and those third-party Web sites may use cookies, for example sponsored links in Google, MSN & Yahoo. A common use for this type of cookie is to track your Web page use for advertising or other marketing purposes. Third-party cookies can either be Persistent or Temporary.

To help decide which ones are acceptable and how to eliminate the bad ones see: Cookies-Friend or Foe?

Unsatisfactory cookies
Unsatisfactory cookies are cookies that can allow access to personally identifiable information from the internet or your own network. They could be used for a secondary purposes with or without your consent. Some keyloggers and monitoring software programs use cookies. Should this be a concern, you should delete your cookie file periodically.

Choices in working with cookies
Internet Explorer (IE) allows the use of cookies; however, you can change your privacy settings to specify that IE prompts you before placing a cookie on your computer (this enables you to allow or block the cookie); or you can prevent Internet Explorer from accepting any cookies. Some web sites will not allow you to continue without accepting their cookie- as a verification method- banks, credit card companies, insurers, pay for use sites. You have to make an individual judgment. For example, your bank may need it to do transactions and provide you with confirmations, as part your accounts audit trail.

You can use Internet Explorer- (Tools> Privacy> Advanced) to specify how you want Internet Explorer to handle cookies from individual Web sites or all Web sites.
We check mark Override and Select First and Third - accept and allow Session cookies. Should we become concerned about being overwhelmed with cookie trash, we clear all cookies.
You can also customize your privacy settings by importing a file containing custom privacy settings, or by specifying custom privacy settings for all Web sites or individual Web sites. Privacy settings only apply to Web sites in the Internet zone.

Government of Canada's view on Cookies: A cookie is a computer text file sent to a visitor's Web browser (the software used to access the Internet such as Internet Explorer and Netscape) by a Web server (the computer that hosts the Web site) in order to remember certain pieces of information. This can useful for both Web site visitors and Web site operators because it can reduce the amount of time needed to input and process the same information each time a Web site is used.
Only the Web server that originally sent the cookie can read information stored within it. Cookies can store only data that is provided by the server or that is generated by an explicit action by a visitor. They cannot read information from a visitor's hard drive. Typically, a cookie comprises: a name (chosen by the Web site you are visiting; a value (unique number for the cookie that is determined by and stored by the Web site for future recognition and action); an expiration date; a valid path (details about the Web page(s) that the visitor was on when the cookie was sent); a valid domain (the name of the Web site that created and can retrieve the cookie); and a secure connection requirement (if the cookie is marked "secure," it will be transmitted only if the visitor is connected to a secure Web site).

Types of cookies:
There are two types of cookies:
Session cookies These cookies reside on the Web browser and expire as soon as the visitor closes the browser. Session cookies remember information only for as long as the visitor operates the Web browser in a single "session" (or "sitting"). Session cookies can be used by Web site operators to determine information such as what parts of a Web site are popular, how long people stay on certain sections of a Web site, and what browsers are used.
Persistent cookies
The CRA uses persistent cookies for some of its services including its CRA login services, as well as for purposes of understanding how visitors use the Web site so that it can improve navigation and user satisfaction. These persistent cookies will not store any identifying data. Persistent cookies have an expiry date, are stored on a visitor's hard drive, and are read by the visitor's browser each time the visitor visits the Web site that sent the cookie. It is possible for the Web site that created the cookie to extend the expiry date without notice to the visitor. The cookie will remain on the visitor's hard drive until the set date has expired or until the visitor has deleted the file. However, most people do not know how to delete cookies.
In addition, the prolonged existence of persistent cookies means they can be used to track Web browsing behavior and purchasing habits. In some cases, they can also be used to identify a Web visitor when their data is combined with information from other sources, such as databases (for example, matching an IP address with a person's name).

Computer Safety- Software download- Asystematic.us Internet Security- Software download- Asystematics.comInternet Privacy- Software downloadNetwork Security softwareIndex-  Asystematics.com sites

Home

Asystematics logo
©Asystematics, 1992- 2012. All rights reserved. Others with permission.

Cookies - setting- Use- Types in your Internet browser