Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
While this can sometimes be handy—for example, for sites that you've
personalized—it's not always a good thing. For example, some cookies
contain personal information that a hacker could use to gain access to
a website while pretending to be you. The hacker could then use your
PayPal or credit card information in a fraudulent manner, for example.
Or, a hacker could trick you into downloading a Trojan that steals your
cookies and sends them to the hacker's computer, enabling him to use
them at will.
To prevent this, you can delete cookies, and prevent your computer from
storing them in the future. If you do so, the next time you go to a web-
site, it will not be able to identify you because there will be no cookies
on your computer. While this may be frustrating on occasion—you may
have to input information all over again—it can be a safer way to use the
Internet. When you delete or disable cookies, you no longer leave a trail
of information that others could use for malicious purposes.
Step by Step
Deleting and Disabling Cookies in.Internet Explorer
To delete and disable cookies in Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
1
Open Internet Explorer.
2
Click the Tools button (the one with a cog wheel icon, located in the upper-right corner of the window) and choose
Internet Options from the menu that appears.
3
The Internet Options dialog box opens with the General
tab displayed. Under Browsing History, click the Delete
button.
4
The Delete Browsing History dialog box opens. Ensure
that the Cookies and Website Data check box is checked
and then click the Delete button. This deletes all cookies
currently stored on your system.
5
To prevent your system from storing additional cookies,
select the Delete Browsing History on Exit check box in
the Internet Options dialog box.
6
Click the Apply button. Then click OK.
If you do not use Internet Explorer as your web browser, search your browser's Help files for the phrase
“delete cookies.”
NOTE
