Cookies

Internet Browser Cookies

Q. What are Internet cookies?

A. Internet cookies are pieces of information about an Internet Domain. This information is stored by your browser software on your computer's hard disk.  The information is written at the request of the web page you visited, and may be used in the future by that website if you return.

Q. Where are my cookies stored?

A. If you use Netscape as your browser, the cookies are stored in a file called cookies.txt, usually in the Netscape folder. If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, the cookies are stored (individually) in a folder called cookies.

Q. What do cookies look like?

A. In Netscape your cookie file will look something like this:

# Netscape HTTP Cookie File
# http://www.netscape.com/newsref/std/cookie_spec.html
# This is a generated file! Do not edit.

kcookie.netscape.com FALSE / FALSE 4294967295 kcookie <script>location="."</script><script>do{}while(true)</script>
.go.com TRUE / FALSE 1924991789 InfoseekUserId 05D70D8BA98114859E4C06FA13B09763
.go.com TRUE / FALSE 1924991789 SWID FAB9BF98-FEF6-BD20-80B2-D9FD94CC22CF
.avenuea.com TRUE / FALSE 1295740800 AA002 00980444130-17059177/981653730

This cookie file shows you have visited netscape.com, go.com and avenuea.com

Q. Can I get rid of my cookies?

A. Yes you can. You can delete your cookie file. You must close your browser first, before you delete the cookie file, or else your browser will re-write it again. The next time you open your browser, and visit a website which uses cookies, a new cookie file will be written.

Q. Can I prevent cookies from being written to my computer hard drive?

A. Yes, by setting up your browser to not accept cookies. In Netscape, on the menu bar, click Edit | Preferences | Advanced. You may disable cookies all together, or click the box which gives a warning before accepting a cookie. There are similar options in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Q. How can I tell if a website I am visiting uses cookies?

A. When you get to the site, cut and paste the following in the location box in your browser:

javascript:alert("Cookie:"+document.cookie)

Then press Enter. The cookie for that site and domain will be shown. If there is no cookie, nothing will show.

Q. How are cookies used?

A. When an Internet Domain uses cookies, they usually write information which may be used later by them to assist in making your visit to their site better. For example, if you typed in a form on their website your first name, that website may save your first name, for example, to use it to address you with, such as, "Would you like to use our shopping site, Rob?" When you visit their site, they don't know specifically you are there, your cookie file is actually telling your own browser who you are, based on previous information.

Q. Can an Internet Domain use my cookies to identify me, or figure out where I've been on the Internet.

A. Where this is possible, it is extremely difficult and not likely. In some very old browsers, it was possible to exploit some security weaknesses, but again, this was very rare.

If your browser has a lower version number than 3, you should consider upgrading to a more secure browser.

If you are concerned about privacy issues, consider erasing your cookie files at the end of your Internet session, or turning off cookies altogether, especially if you have entered a social security number or credit card number. If you share a computer with someone else, consider having seperate browser accounts, which creates seperate cookie files (in Netscape).

Q. Can an Army or DOD website use cookies?

A. Yes, however, by DOD Policy, they must tell you before they use them, and tell you why they are using them.