Delete Cookies

Cookies are small pieces of text generated by a web server and stored in the computer of an internet user when he or she visits a website that offers cookies. The cookie is a unique identifier that the web server places on the computer hard drive and this allows organisations to store information on the user`s machine and to later retrieve it. There are of course various legitimate and beneficial uses for cookies but due to the potential for abuse it is important that you know how to delete cookies from your computer.

A variety of information can be stored in a cookie file. Some organizations use cookies to track your every move on their site, others store user identification and passwords in order to save repeat visitors having to fill out form information each time they visit. However other organizations may use cookies to profile user habits and browsing habits and that information can then be passed on to others for advertising purposes.

Internet Explorer 6 for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the General tab.
3. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Delete Cookies, click OK, and then click OK again.

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the General tab.
3. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Settings.
4. Click View Files.
5. On the View menu, click Details.
6. Click the Internet Address column header, and then find the Internet addresses of the cookie files. For example, a cookie Internet address may be named similar to the following name:
7. Cookie:username@websitename.com
8. Click a cookie file, and then press DELETE. If you are prompted to confirm that you want to delete the file, click Yes. Repeat this step for each cookie file.

1. What are cookies?


2. Can I delete cookie files manually?


3. Can cookies be dangerous to my computer?


4. Are cookies a threat to my privacy?


5. Which software is best for erasing cookie files?

Q: "What are cookies?"
A: A cookies is a unique identifier that a web server places on your computer It's usually a string of random-looking letters.

Q: "Can I delete cookie files manually?"
A: Yes. See above on how to do this. However please be aware that manually erasing history files or cookies leaves open the possibility that someone could still recover these files from your hard drive! Even after a hard drive format, files can be recovered using expensive hardware and software.

Q: "Can cookies be dangerous to my computer?"
A: No! A cookie is not a computer program or plugin. It is simply a piece of text that can be used to store information on your hard drive. It does cause privacy concerns and for that reason many people are opposed to their use but the cookie cannot do any harm to the computer itself.

Q: "Are cookies a threat to my privacy?"
A: Cookies do have many valid uses as we have seen. However website advertisers are currently using cookies to develop detailed profiles of users and their browsing habits. Each click on a particular type of advertisement or page in a website is added to the profile maintained by the maintainer. This information could potentially be passed on to other organisations for advertising purposes and so a threat to privacy does exist.

Q: "Which software is best for erasing cookie files?"
A: We have evaluated many eraser software products. Click here for free internet eraser software reviews. Cyberscrub™ is our personal favourite due to its military grade strength thus the reason that Cyberscrub products are purchased and deployed by the U.S Air Force and Fortune 100 companies. The only other software that we recommend for erasing cookie files is HistoryKill Both of these companies have received a 5 star award rating from Tucows, ZDNet and many other Software evaluation sites.

Eraser software makes deleting cookie files easy