Cookies, no not biscuits.

[Florence Fennel]

As I was leaving the house this morning there was something on the television about cookies and their useful/not so useful properties. I was late, so I couldn't listen to it all, I just wondered if we should regularly delete cookies?

[Bren In Pots]

I delete mine weekly but then it means i have to sign in again to groups like the vine.

[ginger ninger]

In a word, yes. I'm like Bren, I delete mine regularly. It's a pain having to resign in everywhere.

[chris]

It's good that sites have to be more open about it - but its causing a lot of issues for us lot. They only store information about your visit (i..e in this case, user details to re-log you in next time you visit).

It'll probably mean T&Cs are updated and a message displayed before you accept cookies on the majority of sites.

Edit: to add.. I don't delete them, but I've some plugins installed in my browsers so I can see what cookies have been set and contain more easily than having to trawl through menus to find 'em..

[Florence Fennel]

I wondered if you were around Chris, I don't delete routinely. In fact the only time I have is when I've been locked out of the Vine! If the sites have only got my log in details, I assume it's safe. Is it generally to target advertising at you?

[chris]

Yes, but they can be used to track what sites you visit (hence the big hoohar).. You don't know if a cookie has been set, unless you actively check or have a very high level of security set. That said only a site on the domain (website) it was set on can access the information.

I think there are a few loop holes, but can post back when I learn about them, I think there's a big meeting in work next week about 'em.

The plugin I use for firefox is called web developer. It allows you to quickly disable certain aspects and as above check cookies more easily. There are alternatives for IE etc but I don't use them..

You probably know what they are and do, but there's some good straight info on this site: HowStuffWorks "How Internet Cookies Work" - most importantly, it mentions about the security setting allowing you to accept/deny cookies.

You may notice googles adwords, and the alternatives target adverts at you- it's scary really.. One moment you're looking at screws and the you browse this forum (just for example) or another site that uses targeted ads and the side banners are for screwfix etc! I don't like that personally, but then again you can get plugins to stop you seeing those adverts

[Florence Fennel]

Chris I love your plain English. Thanks very much for this.

[bishop]

i use a free programme called Ccleaner, it wipes all cookies web history etc, you can create an allowed list and tell it what cookies not to delete eg gyo, that way you will not loose you passwords, its free easy to use, will put a link on and tell you how to set it up if you want to try it,i use it once a week. choc chip are my faves yum yum.

[Florence Fennel]

That sounds good bishop, thanks very much, passes the chocolate chip.

[chris]

CCleaner, Adaware and Spybot-SD (Search and Destroy) are all good applications that'll deal with stuff like that, and to boot they'll rid any spyware/adware off your computers too

ANY type of biscuit, and I mean ANY (edible) biscuits are my favourite. I'll go through a pack in one sitting. If I buy them, I need to be about 4 packets, they'll last a day or two at the most. Can't beat a pack of 'em with a nice cuppa

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks Chris, passes 4 packets - Garibaldi, Rich Tea, Custard Cream and Jammy Dodgers.

[Glutton4...]

Oooooh, nom nom: Dead Fly Biccies!

[bishop]

CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download this is the link for ccleaner, if i remember correctly it will ask you if you want it run on start up, uncheck this box, and uncheck the box that says do you want to download yahoo tool bar, then download it, once you have it installed open it, on the cleaner settings go to tools click on this then click on drive wiper then click the drop down box were it says security, change it to Gutmann 35 passes, then go to options click on cookies it wil give you a list of cookies to delete highlite the ones you want to keep press the arrow and it will move them into cookies to keep , then click on cleaner there will be will be a lot of boxes with ticks in dont touch these it comes preset to remove everything you need to, the programme will know what kind of browser you you are using, click anaylze it will then search your comp may take a wile the first time, it will then give you a list of what can be removed, then click run cleaner and it will delete everything.


Gutmann 35 passes is the only way to permanently overwright files on your comp, the fbi use this method to wipe ther comps.

[Snadger]

I also use the free version of superantispyware quite regularily!

[Newton]

Malted milk with a cuppa. Then rich tea, garibaldi and fig rolls......