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Should I delete the cookies off my computer and what does it do when I do that?
02-28-2013, 06:14 AM
Post: #1
 
Cookies are little text files that websites send down to your computer that help the website remember who you are. You log into a website, it drops a cookie that identifies you so the next time you visit that site, it remembers you.

The concern is that there are certain advertising websites that use cookies to track where you go online so they can tailor the advertising you see. Some people believe that this is a privacy concern.

You can delete cookies and this will alleviate this risk. However, there are websites that you would want to remember you. Deleting your cookies would interere with that.

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02-28-2013, 06:14 AM
Post: #2
 
Please don't click on the link in the first answer. It leads to a malicious website.

Cookies are temporary files which are created when the system you are logging into needs to keep track of what you access and how. In certain cases, the cookies are necessary for you to log in. Session cookies only last while you are logged into the respective website, whereas other, more persistent cookies will be left on your PC indefinitely(mostly ad cookies, which track whether or not you've clicked an advertisement on a page).

Clearing cookies every once in a while will get rid of unnecessary files, but it will also log you out of any sites you were currently accessing - e.g. webmail, social networking sites, even banking sites. You would then have to log in again.

Clearing cookies may also prevent attackers from logging in as you if you are ever "hacked", or if your portable computer is stolen.

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02-28-2013, 06:14 AM
Post: #3
 
My short answer...
Don't even worry about cookies on your computer. Not a huge deal. And you have more important "stuff" to concern yourself with in the next 6 months!

My 'standard' answer:
Cookies are just small .txt (text) files that by themselves cannot hurt your computer. Cookies are "set" by almost EVERY web-site that you visit, on every visit. You can delete all your cookies today and by tomorrow you will have dozens again just be visiting web-sites. Cookies are what lets you sign into websites, like Yahoo, without needing to enter your username and password every time you visit

Cookies do NOT slow down a computer, at least the first million or so that you might have on your computer!

They are not a virus or spyware, but SOME people consider "tracking" cookies to be an invasion of privacy.

These tracking cookies are "3rd party cookies" from advertising servers. They can track your movements around the web in order to deliver to you customized, targeted advertising, based on your web-surfing habits.

It all depends upon ones personal level of paranoia, whether one considers tracking cookies some kind of threat. Some anti-spyware programs do not even report tracking cookies as even a minor threat.

Children are about the only people that are always nervous about cookies. Because cookies are an easy way for Mommy and Daddy to find out exactly what their darling 'lil rug-rats have been looking at on the web.

Personally, If I happen to remember it, I will delete my cookies every 6 months or so :-)

Cookies are not a big deal, one way or the other.
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02-28-2013, 06:14 AM
Post: #4
 
Yes delete them all and your computer will be way more faster trust person for real it would be like heaven!
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