View Full Version : Help! What is true story on "cookies"
With this new computer, I am running scans every day, and find "cookies attached at almost every site, but they all show that my provider, SBC --DSL is who is placing them...? I do not believe that all are placed by SBC- what is the real story..can any one hep me on this. Thank you for any effort and time given in answering this question and enlightening us all...Stuart
Stewie
03-30-2005, 10:29 AM
It woudn't make sense to me that the ISP is placing cookies on your computer. At least not in the sense that websites put cookies on your computer. But SBC is the one that is connecting you to the websites, so maybe that's what you mean.
It woudn't make sense to me that the ISP is placing cookies on your computer. At least not in the sense that websites put cookies on your computer. But SBC is the one that is connecting you to the websites, so maybe that's what you mean.I suppose you are right? SBC is the provider, but where are they coming from? (everywhere I guess...I know toonzone temporarily puts one on, then removes it after you are off, just to identify who is here) but I do I know that they can be very dangerous. I do not want people keeping tabs on where I go on the net... Are daily scans enough? Even "Firefox" according to one article I read, is not totally safe from spywear. Privacy is very important to me, as it is to all of us...thanks again for any more info....
Stewie
03-30-2005, 10:58 AM
They come from nearly everywhere. Don't worry too much about cookies. Take some reasonable precautions (you've already said you do daily scans) and you'll be fine. You can never have too much protection, there's always a risk, but your life isn't on the line here.
Suggestions:
-You have a high speed connection. Have a firewall. A lot of high-speed access providers give firewalls, Windows XP has one built in (but really, come on) and ZoneAlarm is a decent free one. Or you can buy some really nice ones for reasonable prices. But no matter what, have a firewall.
-"Spybot - Search and Destroy" and "Ad-Aware" are two good free programs that can clear a lot of the spyware/adware that you pick up.
-You're already using Firefox (nerds all over are rejoicing), so you're at less risk anyway.
-And of course, have an anti-viral program that is regularly updated.
Do that, and you're doing all that anyone could ever reasonably expect.
They come from nearly everywhere. Don't worry too much about cookies. Take some reasonable precautions (you've already said you do daily scans) and you'll be fine. You can never have too much protection, there's always a risk, but your life isn't on the line here.
Suggestions:
-You have a high speed connection. Have a firewall. A lot of high-speed access providers give firewalls, Windows XP has one built in (but really, come on) and ZoneAlarm is a decent free one. Or you can buy some really nice ones for reasonable prices. But no matter what, have a firewall.
-"Spybot - Search and Destroy" and "Ad-Aware" are two good free programs that can clear a lot of the spyware/adware that you pick up.
-You're already using Firefox (nerds all over are rejoicing), so you're at less risk anyway.
-And of course, have an anti-viral program that is regularly updated.
Do that, and you're doing all that anyone could ever reasonably expect.I am sorry that I mislead you, I do not have "firefox" just read an article about it..Maybe I sould get it, ...and some other Toonzone people recommended it on a previous post when I got this computer....The rest of what you have written, I do...I have added Spybot, --Search and Destroy==and" Adware" Also: Mc Afee Anti- Virus Scan, and Mc Afee Firewall....Thank you, and I am sorry about my mistake...any other suggestions would be appreciated...If a cookie is on my computer, and I remove it, has it recorded where I was before removal? And they ? know where I visited? So
is, is it too late after the fact sort to speak? More honest info here, the better.... Thank you again, for any ideas...
mikestorm
03-30-2005, 04:02 PM
Stuart, there are many types of cookies, and some of them are quite harmless (even helpful).
For example, if you log in here to TZ (and click "remember me"), close your browser, then come back, the site remembers you! How? When you first logged in TZ placed a cookie on your computer. When you come back it scans your computer for the specific TZ cookie, compares the cookie's content with it's own records, puts one and one together, and automatically logs oldtoonguy into the site.
Many sites that require you to log in (but aren't extremely sensitive - like a bank) do this. These cookies are perfectly harmless, UNLESS you let others use your computer. Then, as I'm sure you now see, they could masquerade as you.
However, these cookies are site specific. There are some generic ad-related cookies that are deposited on your computer simply while you surf the web. As you navigate from site to site, the cookie is read over and over, and recorded by the website you're currently on. Collectively all of these sites then compile their data and transmits the user-specific "hits" to a central company (daily I guess) that they subscribe to. These sites that you visit are monetarily compensated to do this. This enables ad companies like doubleclick to nail down your surfing habits and target ads to you based on the sites that you have visited. They don't know who YOU are...they only know your computer by the unique cookie it harbors. Some view this as a violation of privacy.
Ad-aware is pretty good at distinguishing the first type of cookie from the second (and deletes the second). I echo the former poster's recommendation that you download and run that once every two weeks or so.
Hope that helps!
Stewie
03-30-2005, 06:59 PM
I am sorry that I mislead you, I do not have "firefox" just read an article about it..Maybe I sould get it, ...and some other Toonzone people recommended it on a previous post when I got this computer....The rest of what you have written, I do...I have added Spybot, --Search and Destroy==and" Adware" Also: Mc Afee Anti- Virus Scan, and Mc Afee Firewall....Thank you, and I am sorry about my mistake...any other suggestions would be appreciated...If a cookie is on my computer, and I remove it, has it recorded where I was before removal? And they ? know where I visited? So
is, is it too late after the fact sort to speak? More honest info here, the better.... Thank you again, for any ideas...Firefox is much safer than IE. As that article said, it's not perfect, but it would be difficult to do much better with a widely supported browser. IE hasn't been updated (for real) in years. And it won't be for a while.
Firefox also has some neat features.
My oh my, are you polite. Cool.
LightShadow1890
03-30-2005, 08:33 PM
Cookies are these little things sites and pop-up ads place in order to keep inofrmation and keep track of you. Some are harmless, right, but some aren't. Some can give you spyware problems.
Ad-aware, from what I heard, destroys your computer, actually. You can use "Hijack This!" which can destroy a file. And McAfee is good too. Some pop-up ad tried infecting my laptop with Trojan Horse, and it deleted the file. But I had to scan over again (that was the 3rd scan of the day).
A firewall is good, but it can give you problems.
Hope that helps. :anime:
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