What Are Internet Cookies

Internet cookies , web cookies , HTTP cookies as they are technically know is a very small file that is downloaded to your computer when you visit a website.


If you actually go to the cookies directory on your computer you’ll see a cookie is actually a text file, if you double click on a cookie you’ll be presented with the cookie code.

Each time you visit the website your pc will be recognized as a computer that has already visited.

This is very useful to web site owners for a number of reasons; it’s then to calculate new visitors and returning visitors. If you go to a site and add something to a shopping cart, if you leave the site and then return you should still see the items in your shopping cart as your HTTP cookie will be recognized.

To a certain degree a cookie could actually be classed as spyware, although in a much more simple way than much of the spyware, it still monitors your browsing habits.

Should you to there are a number of options you can set within your browser which will allow you customize the way your computer deals with them.

To look at the options from Internet Explorer, select the Tools menu, Internet Options and the Privacy tab, select Advanced and you’ll now be presented with the Cookie options.

As a default your pc will accept all Cookies, but if you select the option Override automatic cookie handling, you have a number of choices.

1st part cookies refer to the main site cookie such as a cookie with computer-adviser.com , in its text

3rd party cookies come from different web servers, maybe an advertisement on a website would give another cookie, but representing another website.

If you choose to Block all cookies then you will not be able to use many websites properly.A good option is Prompt, this way if a website ever tried to pass your pc a cookies you’ll be prompted as to whether you wish to accept it.

Regardless of whether you accept the cookie or not, the next time you visit the site it will automatically do the same.

If you find you’ve mistakenly blocked a cookie and you wish to now accept them from a particular site, look on the bottom right of your screen and you’ll see a small eye with a no entry sign on it.

Double click on this and you’ll be presented with a list of all the blocked cookies for this site, now right click and you can enable it.

Now you need to refresh the page F5 and the site will now see your accepting its cookies.

If you set your cookie management to prompt, you’ll be surprised at how many cookies certain websites have.

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