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1: Question 2:
You may already know this, but for the sake of others here, you should be able to reduce the "temp" junk by adjusting the settings in IE - Internet Explorer. In Version 5.5, select Tools -> Options -> Advanced, scroll down to Security and check "Empty Temporary Internet Files" folder when browser is closed. (The reason this is under Security is because it is an area for others to trace your habits.) As you've already stated, you can cleanup unwanted cookies from sites you don't have bookmarked. You can reduce the History folder in IE to 1 or even 0 days rather than 10 days. In the zero day setting you will still retain history for your active period. You can be sure your deleted mail is compacted. And probably the biggest thing to do is look for programs on your system that you do not use and uninstall them. For example many store bought systems come with every possible national ISP (AOL, Prodigy, Compuserve, MSN, AT&T, etc.) These in particular are frustrating to remove. I use Norton's Clean Sweep for the uninstall. I've used the uninstall feature of Windows but it usually produces less than satisfactory results. Also, some programs don't show up in the uninstall list or you have to manually find the uninstall command. I usually see these listed as "unwise".exe. After uninstallation by whatever means, I do a "find" because there are typically icons strewn around the sytem that don't get removed and consequently they cause errors when windows recognizes there are icons pointing to missing programs. Then I delete them. Removing those programs can give you troubles if you are not careful. That is why I use Norton System Works to track the changes and Adaptec's GoBack to restore back to its previous setting if necessary. I've found some programs that can be manually deleted, but it is not at all recommended. In my opinion, the unused OEM programs that come with your system are the ones that take the most space. Last, I rarely keep files, images, MP3s, downloaded programs etc. on my hard drive. I use removeable media like crazy and keep doubles of important files like organizational or financial data, family history records, etc. Files like these can eat up quite a bit of space also. It may seem like a bit more work, but when things go wrong you've already got backups. I've also learned that you don't have to install every program that you want to use. For example, my partner purchased a graphics program. I liked the editor that the program uses better than most I've used and so I use it. I don't have to install the program, I simply pop in the CD, exit the install, search the CD for the editor program and hit it. (Actually, I've created several shortcuts on my desktop just for such programs. If you transfer the icon from the CD to your system and assign the shortcut to that icon, it will always appear as such, if not, when the CD is not in, the shortcut will only appear as windows default unknown icon.
Cookies are tiny bits of information that the server asks your browser to store for it. Usually, it amounts to data to personalize your experience, or perhaps to save the login information so you don't have to remember it every time. If you say no, some sites won't work, and others will just make you log in time after time. more detailed response: In addition to the above response, you can change your settings to stop from notifying you all the time and simply always accept them or deny them. If you are using Internet Explorer 5 or 5.5 as your web browser, do the following to change your setting: 1. In your browser window select "Tools" in the Menu Bar at the top and select "Internet Options" at the bottom of the drop down menu. (If I remember correctly in version 4 you select "Options" from under "View" on the menu bar.) 2. In the Internet Options window that opens, look for the tab labeled "Security" and click it. 3. Under Security look towards the bottom and select "Custom Level" 4. Scroll down about a quarter of the way and look for "Cookies" 5. Under Cookies you should see "Allow cookies that are stored on your computer" and beneath that "Disable", "Enable", and "Prompt". You should presently see a dot in the circle next to "Prompt". 6. Click in the empty circle next to "Enable" or "Disable" and the splashes asking you if you want a cookie will stop. However, when a site recognizes that you are not accepting cookies you may receive another splash advising you to change your settings to accept cookies.
If you use Navigator
this article may be of interest: Any Mac users??
Here's an article with an opposing view point: There is a great deal of software that will capture and/or eliminate cookies. There has been great controversy this year over cookies and resulting law suits. Specifically due to a couple ad companies (Double Click) who track sites that you visit by placing a cookie on your computer at site "A" let's call it. Then when you go to site "B" and that same company provides ads for that page, they see you've been on a page they represent and also can access the stored info because it's their cookie that had been previously placed there. The privacy implications are scary for some and hence the concern by your sister I assume. Here are some links if you want to read an in-depth report, in PC World which published a series of articles called "Privacy Special Report". "In Web We
Trust" "Stealth Surfing"
"Pop Quiz;
How private are you online?" An article on Java: Here's an interesting one on a free cookie blocker that blocks Double Click specifically. Info at: Download at: Another one called
Zeroclick:
I would suggest
Norton System Works which has cookie tracking and deletion capabilities.
I've also used Guard Dog and it works well for that as well. There are
also many free shareware and demo programs available for Cookie Crusher Clean Disk Burnt Cookies Cookie Cleaner Cyber Clean Smart Cookies CookieCop Anonymizer: http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0,5594,910950,00.html http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0,5594,2245384-2,00.html
What they do with cookies is capture them in a cookie jar, if you will, before they ever get to your computer.
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