Cookies

A cookie is a small piece of data that is sent to your web browser when you access certain web pages. This data is usually sent in order to store data such as viewing configurations (i.e. with or without frames, etc...), or to allow your particular access the next time you return. For example, the cookie may contain identifying code that enables you to access secure or non-public content for which you have registered or paid for.

There are many websites that require you to download cookies in order for them to operate correctly (hotmail, etc), however, there are cookies that may also be used for other nefarious purposes. For example, some sites may use cookies to gain personal information about you that you did not intend to release, such as what sites you have visited, and how often you visit them, etc.

If cookies are a concern for you, we recommend that you set your web browser security levels so that it does not automatically receive cookies. Preferable is to set your browser to prompt you and ask you if you wish to receive a particular cookie from the site you are visiting. For example, you may wish to receive cookies from your Internet baking site, but not from a site that you have no prior knowledge of (that is, one that you do not implicitly trust). This non-automatic reception of data is highly recommended. The safest setting for cookies is to disable them in your browser completely, however, if a site requires you to download a cookie to work correctly, you will still need to download the cookie.