Maybe this helps....
What are web cookies?
Web cookies are simply bits of software placed on your computer when you browse websites. Not all websites have these, but many do, especially the large well-known websites. Websites use cookies so they can track what you are viewing, and although they won't necessarily know you by name (lets hope it never gets to that point), the website will recognize your computer when you come back to visit again.
What good are cookies?
Cookies have some beneficial things. For example, when you log on to certain sites, did you ever notice that when you return again you do not have to sign on the next time? Thats because it stored your password and id on your machine in a cookie. The same holds true when you purchase goods online, you can return later and your goods are still in your shopping cart (in a cookie!). Cookies are also very beneficial to websites trying to market to you. (Some consider this bad for the consumer as many do not want websites tracking what you like to view online!). For example, if you go to one of the major search engines, like altavista.com, excite.com, search.aol.com, etc. and search for "sex", the next time you come back to the website to search again, you may see a large porno picture or sex advertisement at the top of your screen. This is NOT what everyone sees, only you! They know you like porn alot because you searched for it last time you were there, so they now show you advertisements because it may be something targeted towards your buying habits.
What is bad about cookies?
As stated above, people do not like being tracked. Even if some companies mean no harm, people still do not like the fact they are being monitored while they browse. Cookies can also show links in them if someone happens to look at them on your pc. For example, if you wife is on the pc and happens to browse any cookies (they are just viewable text files with other mumbled garbage which the websites can interpret), she may not like the fact that you have been viewing sex sites (or vice versa). Most of the websites that store the cookies, will have the site name or link visible in the cookie on your machine, so its normally easy to tell where the cookie came from.
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And just FYI, you may want to ask questions like this in the "Stuck in a moment" thread....not that we mind helping in here, you will just prob get more help there since its a thread designed to answer questions such as this!! Welcome aboard!!
are 'cookies' and threads and why isn't my very first message in the Babyface Cafe posted?! This computer shit
is so frustrating. HELP PLEASE!
