Miller, Chris wrote:
>
> > Cookies are not a threat to your computer. Your privacy, maybe, in
> > that
> > they do leave a trail as to where you have been. On the other hand,
> > only the domain that SET the cookie can read them. All they do read
> > and
> > write to a file called "cookie.txt".
> >
> --------> Yeah, I deal with some of the feedback from our website on
> occasion and you'd be amazed at the level of paranoia out there among
> people who have little to no technical knowledge in this area yet will
> piously claim they always reject cookies because of privacy issues and
> the chance of hurting their system. Basically the way the web is wired,
> you're going to get cookies, so you might as well learn what they are. I
> send people to this site for some basics:
> http://www5.zdnet.com/yil/content/surfschool/lingo/lingo_c.html#cookie
> They also have other sections which cover a lot of basics, and it's
> pretty much right.
>
> And really, I can't blame people too much as the paranoia-inducing ads
> from anti-virus software companies just makes me want to scream
> sometimes - there's a local one for "Guard Dog" which is so full of
> inaccuracies and overstatements that you'd wonder why anyone hearing
> would even bother buying the software at all - better to stay off the
> internet entirely. It's also a bit of a personal hot button as we've
> recently gone to PC's here for everyone so I've been busy training
> people at the "this is a mouse" level and everytime they hear an ad like
> this or get a "good times" or "do not open any returned mail" type virus
> warning, I get to spend half a day explaining hoaxes and calming
> everyone down. Drives me nuts. Plus it cuts into my posting time...
>
> Cookies are fine. If it bugs you turn off the warning pop-up. They won't
> eat your hard drive. They won't read your mail. Sauron might, but they
> won't.
>
> Chris Miller
The funny thing is, the name was probably choosen to be the least
threatening, most appealing term anyone could think of. But since they
give no indication as to what they actually are or do, it makes everyone
very suspicious. And a little suspicion is a good thing, especially on
the internet.
thane
Thane
Received on Fri Mar 20 1998 - 16:22:05 UTC