SUMMARY
A cookie is a text file that may be placed on your hard disk by a Web page
server. This article provides information about cookies.
MORE INFORMATION
IMPORTANT: Cookies cannot be used to execute code (run programs) or deliver
viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only
be read by the Web server that issues the cookie to you.
One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature
that you can use to save time. The purpose of a cookie is to tell the Web
server that you have returned to a specific Web page. For example, if you
personalize Web pages, or register for products or services, a cookie helps
the Web page server to recall your specific information. This may be useful
to simplify the process of recording your personal information, such as
billing addresses, shipping addresses, and so on. When you visit the same
Web site, the information you previously provided can be retrieved, so you
can easily use the Web site features that you previously chose. For example:
If you previously entered billing or shipping information for a purchase
from a Web site, you may be able to use a password to automatically enter
your information on an order form instead of having to enter this
information again.
A cookie can indicate that you previously selected one or more areas of
interest you want to see each time you visit a Web site. For example, if you
want to view only some types of news, you might select some types of news
topics to view on a news-related Web site.
Any of a large amount of automated services.
Note that if you do not provide information to the Web server, a cookie is
saved to your hard disk. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies.
If you want to control which cookies you accept, you can configure your
Internet Explorer to accept all cookies or to alert you every time a cookie
is offered. You can then decide whether or not to accept the cookie. To do
so, use the appropriate method:
Internet Explorer 5 and 5.01
Click Tools, click Internet Options, and then click the Security tab.
Click Internet, and then click Custom Level.
Scroll down to Cookies, click the option you prefer, and then click OK.
Internet Explorer 4.x
Click View, click Internet Options, and then click the Advanced tab.
Scroll down to the yellow exclamation icon under Security, choose the option
you prefer for cookies, and then click OK.
To view the cookies that you have accepted:
Internet Explorer 5 and 5.01
Click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
On the General Tab, click Settings, and then click View Files.
Internet Explorer 4.x
Click View, and then click Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Settings, and then click View Files.
To view the code in a cookie, double-click the cookie to open it and view
the string of text and numbers. For additional information about cookies,
please view the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cookies.htm?RLD=291