|
|
CookiesJune 2002 Mmmm, I think we can all agree that the smell of fresh-baked cookies is just about the most delicious smell there is, but when it comes to internet cookies, well, it's just not the same. What are cookies? A cookie is a text file that a web site places on your hard drive containing information about you, so that it can remember this information the next time you visit that site. For example, if you have ever used a customized search page, such as MyYahoo or MyExcite, or told a web site to "remember you", then you have used cookies. Should you delete cookies? This is up to you. If you want to erase all information about your surfing habits, then yes, go ahead and delete them. If you are concerned about hard drive space, don't worry, each cookie is so small that it will take many thousands of them before they start imposing on your hard drive. On the other hand, if convenience is important to you, then think twice before deleting your cookies. Once they are gone, you will have to remember all of the usernames and passwords to the sites that no longer remember you. Cookies are stored in various locations depending upon the browser that you use. Netscape stores them all in one file: cookies.txt. This will usually be stored under C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\yourname\cookies.txt. Or you can look for it under Start, Find, Files and Folders. This file can be opened and read - just double-click it. Of course, much of what you find in here you won't begin to understand, and unless you really know what you are doing, don't edit it! Internet Explorer is a little more complex in the way it stores cookies. IE3 stores them all in one folder, most likely under C:\Windows\Cookies\. IE5 also stores cookies here, but more are found under C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\ and it's subfolders. The filename of each cookie consists of the username, the @ symbol, and the site name - this makes it easier to delete those cookies that you don't care to have, keeping only those that you know you want. If you really don't want any cookies at all, then just delete all the cookie files in the C:\Windows\Cookies folder, plus all the folders under C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\ContentIE5\ - this will not only clean up all the cookies, but also remove all the temporary internet files. Don't worry about the folders - IE can rebuild them as it needs to. Just make sure you aren't running Internet Explorer when you do this! To learn more in-depth tips and tricks to managing your cookies, visit CookieCentral: Until next time!
Counseling Web Site Services How-to's |
This site maintained by The Computer Counselor |