Date:  Thu, 6 Nov 1997 09:27:03 -0800
From:  Peter McGraw <pmcgraw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]LINFIELD.EDU>
Subject: Re: Cookies

On Thu, 6 Nov 1997, Gareth Branwyn wrote:

> >Do you mean the downloaded copies of Telnet and what not that Web sites
> >send you automatically--or something else?
> >
> >Wayne Glowka
>
> Cookies are preference files that a website keeps on *your* computer. For
> instance, if you set up an account on the New York Times site, the password
> that you've asked them to remember is stored on your end via a cookie. If you
> define a series of preferences on a customizable website, all that info lives
> in a cookie file. Cookies have been somewhat controversial. Users were
> concerned in the beginning that other websites might be able to steal your
> cookies and learn things about your online haunts and viewing habits. After
> many articles and a concerted effort on the part of sites that use cookies to
> calm people's fears, this practice has continued (and likely increased).

Which practice? Using cookies legitimately or "other websites stealing
your cookies and learning things about your online haunts and viewing
habits"?

Peter McGraw

If
> you want to see how ubiquitous cookies are, there's a preference in Navigator
> (and I assume Explorer) that asks your permission before storing any cookies.
> You'll quickly become tired of hitting the "OK" button.
>
> --------------------------------------------
> Gareth Branwyn
> garethb2[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]aol.com, http://home.earthlink.net/~garethb2/
>
> Contributing editor, Wired
> Co-author _Happy Mutant Handbook_ (Putnam),
> Author _Jargon Watch: A Pocket Dictionary for the Jitterati_ (HardWired)
>