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Help Center: What are cookies?

A cookie is a small piece of textual information sent to your browser from the website or web server you are visiting. If a site you visit uses cookies, that site's web server queries your browser for permission to pass a cookie to your browser's directory. At a minimum, any cookie saved in your browser's directory is stored in RAM during your session. Many sites also store the cookie on your hard drive in a text file after you leave (log off) their site. Cookies are used for many purposes such as website tracking, shopping cart identification, ascertaining information about the machine you are using, personalizing your site visit, and storing information like passwords and user ID's for a particular site. The web server issuing the cookie is the only server that can read that particular cookie. Cookies cannot retrieve information from your hard drive or profile your system.

The use of cookies is standard practice on the internet, and almost all major sites use them. Cookies can be very helpful to both users and websites. The cookie itself does not store your name, your e-mail address, or any other private information. It does not read information on your computer other than itself. It is merely an identification code that tells the website if you are an account holder or previous visitor to the site.

Some common uses of cookies:
  • To remember you when you revisit a site.
  • To make it more convenient to order from a site (automating data entry for you, etc).
  • To increase the level of services and customize aspects of a site for you.
  • To understand how you use a site, and what you find interesting on it.
    Most web browsers are set to automatically accept cookies. This is usually the most convenient option. You can also change your browser settings to either not accept cookies, or ask your permission before doing so. Please note that not accepting cookies will make web site navigation more difficult, and may prevent you from carrying out certain actions on a website, such as viewing and changing your account or order history, taking advantage of promotions and discounts, or visiting certain areas of the website in question.

    Cookie settings on Internet Explorer
    Where to find and check cookie settings:
    In Windows Internet Explorer, you can find the cookie settings by going into the 'Tools' menu, and selecting 'Internet Options.' You should see a window like the one shown here. Click on the 'Privacy' tab to see what your cookie settings are currently. You can use the slider bar to raise or lower the level of cookie security.

    Troubleshooting log in problems for webpages with password protection
    If you are using Personal Firewall Software like Zone Lab's Zone Alarm, Symantec's Norton Internet Security or Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall, you will need to configure it to ALLOW 'Private Headers' and ALLOW 'Session Cookies'. Also your Web Browser must be able to accept 'Session Cookies'.

    Note:
    Though cookies assist with navigation, it's a good idea to clean your computer now and then. We recommend running Ad-Aware periodically to delete old cookies and spyware that can accumulate on your computer.
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