Cookies

Some Web sites store information in a small text file, called a "cookie," on your hard disk.  If you would like to protect your identity as you surf the web, you might want to turn your cookies off!  Some websites will not load when you turn your cookies off- those websites are probably gaining some information from you or leaving something on your hard drive.

Cookies contain information about you and your preferences. For example, if you inquire about a flight schedule at an airline's Web site, the site might create a cookie that contains your itinerary. Or it might only contain a record of which pages within the site you visited, to help the site customize the view for you the next time you visit.

Only the information that you provide, or the choices you make while visiting a Web site, can be stored in a cookie.

Disabling Cookies

To set a security level for each zone

• On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click Internet Options.
• Click the Security tab.
• Click the zone that you want to set the security level for.
• Move the slider up for a higher level of security or down for a lower level of security.

Tip

To specify custom security settings for the selected zone, click the Customize Level button. To set the options for a particular security level back to their original settings, click the Default Level button.

 

Things People Use the Internet For

Glossary of Terms