What Is A Cookie?

A cookie is a message given to a web browser by a web server. The browser stores the message in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.

The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized web pages for them. When you enter a web site using cookies, you may be asked to fill out a form providing such information as your name and interests. This information is packaged into a cookie and sent to your web browser which stores it for later use. The next time you go to the same web site, your browser will send the cookie to the web server. The server can use this information to present you with custom web pages. So, for example, instead of seeing just a generic welcome page you might see a welcome page with your name on it.

The name cookie derives from UNIX objects called magic cookies. These are tokens that are attached to a user or program and change depending on the areas entered by the user or program.

How Do You Block/Accept Cookies?

Microsoft Internet Explorer (Windows version):

	Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options.
	Click the Privacy tab.
	With your mouse, click and drag the slider up to increase limitations on cookie access on your computer (Block All Cookies), or down to decrease restrictions on cookie use (Accept All Cookies).
	Click OK to close the Internet Options window.

Microsoft Internet Explorer (Macintosh version):

	Click the Edit menu, and then click Preferences.
	Click the Cookies category.
	In the pull-down menu, select the option to Never ask (turn on) or Never accept (turn off) cookies.
	Click OK in the Internet Explorer Preferences window.

Netscape Communicator (Windows and Macintosh versions):

	Click the Edit menu, and then click Preferences.
	Click the Advanced category.
	Click the Disable cookies (Do not accept cookies on Macintosh) option to turn off or Accept all cookies to turn on cookie support in Netscape Communicator.
	Click to uncheck (turn off) or check (turn on) the box beside Warn me before accepting a cookie if you would like to be prompted before a cookie is stored or retrieved.
	Click OK to save the changes.

How Do I Know If Internet Explorer Is Accepting Cookies?

	Start Internet Explorer.
	Click the Tools menu, then click Internet Options.
	Click the Security tab.
	Click the Internet zone.
	Click the Custom Level button.
	Scroll down the list until you find the Cookies section.
	Under both Allow cookies that are stored on your computer and Allow per-session cookies, if Enable is selected, Explorer will accept cookies.
	You can change these options so that Internet Explorer will either accept cookies, decline cookies, or prompt you whenever it encounters a cookie.
	If you did not make any changes, click Cancel to close the Security Settings window. If you did make changes, click OK to save the changes.
	Click OK to close the Internet Properties window.