Protect Yourself: Privacy: Page 2

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Cookies

Cookies

If you don't want your web surfing behavior to be tracked without your consent, configure your web browser to reject cookies. A cookie is a small file that is created and installed on your computer's hard drive by a website that wants to collect information about your interaction with the site. As you browse through the site, information is stored in the cookie. The next time you return to the site, that data is transmitted to the site.

Only the site that created the cookie can read it, and it does not have access to other files on your computer. Cookies can be useful for things like storing a password so you don't have to enter it each time you access the site. But cookies are invasive because they are normally set without your consent.

Putting Cookies Under Wraps

To control cookies when using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or a higher version under the Tools menu, select Internet Options. Now click the Privacy tab and then select the Medium setting to block third party cookies that transmit personally identifiable information without your consent.

With Mozilla Firefox, under the Tools menu, select Options. Now click the Privacy tab and then uncheck "Accept cookies from site".

With Netscape Navigator 7.0, under the Edit menu, click on Preferences, then click on Privacy and Security and Cookies. You can now choose whether to accept or reject all cookies, or to be warned before a cookie is placed on your computer.

Encryption

Protect the privacy of your electronic communications by using encryption, a form of cryptography. Encryption requires special software to encode your e-mail or any other files you want to send securely over the Internet. The person receiving these files must use the same software to decode them. For more on encryption, read our article on secure transactions.

If you are interested in efforts to regulate the Internet, visit the Electronic Frontier Foundation website.

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Last update: Jan 3, 2008

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