Cookies and the Law

[Ira]

Many individuals are saying that cookies are harmless, If this is so why did
UK enact a law restricting the use of cookies. If you do a search on cookies
you will find the site that describes exactly what cookies are.how they can
be used and why they can indeed be spyware. I believe that MS should
activally pursue cookie handling in Anti-spyware. Whether or not they do is
their business but I am entitled to my opinion. I always delete all cookies
from my system when my anti-spyware programs run.

 

[Vanguard]

Many individuals are saying that cookies are harmless, If this is so
why did
UK enact a law restricting the use of cookies. If you do a search on
cookies
you will find the site that describes exactly what cookies are.how
they can
be used and why they can indeed be spyware. I believe that MS should
activally pursue cookie handling in Anti-spyware. Whether or not they
do is
their business but I am entitled to my opinion. I always delete all
cookies
from my system when my anti-spyware programs run.

You do realize, right, that cookies are just text files. In fact, they
have the .txt extension. They don't run anything. They are not
executable and as such are not spyware. Something ELSE is the spyware,
um, like maybe that browser you choose that you didn't configure for
cookie management along with using 3rd party cookie managers since that
browser doesn't provide much for cookie management. Cookies aren't
spyware. Something has to USE the cookie by reading it (and writing to
it), and most likely that is your browser along with the sites you
choose to visit.

See that pen sitting in the pencil cup on your desk. Is it a weapon?
Sure, if you USE it as such. Oh my God, someone actually used a pen as
a weapon so now all pens must be banned as evil devices.

 

[Ron Chamberlin]

Hi Ira,
The 'great cookie debate' is one of what I perceive as if it's a privacy
issue or a security issue.
I come down someplace on the middle on most days. Your cookies can be
controlled by your browser.

Meanwhile, I would love to see any articles, links or citations about the
Brits banning cookies.

Ron Chamberlin
MS-MVP

 

[Dave Moller]

Hi Ira,
The 'great cookie debate' is one of what I perceive as if it's a privacy
issue or a security issue.
I come down someplace on the middle on most days. Your cookies can be
controlled by your browser.

Meanwhile, I would love to see any articles, links or citations about the
Brits banning cookies.

Ron Chamberlin
MS-MVP

Keeping a stiff upper lip...
http://www.aboutcookies.org/cookielaw.asp

Regards, Dave

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Ira;
Microsoft already provides a means for handling cookies.
Open Internet Explorer.
Click Tools/Internet Options/Privacy tab
From there you can control what if any cookies your computer will accept.
You can also delete existing cookies.

Whether any anti spyware program actively pursues cookies or not does not
really concern me since I already control cookies through IE.
Other browsers probably have similar controls.

 

[Ira]

Ron, Try www.aboutcookies.org you will find the link to the Brit law.
Ira
: Hi Ira,
: The 'great cookie debate' is one of what I perceive as if it's a privacy
: issue or a security issue.
: I come down someplace on the middle on most days. Your cookies can be
: controlled by your browser.
:
: Meanwhile, I would love to see any articles, links or citations about the
: Brits banning cookies.
:
: Ron Chamberlin
: MS-MVP
:
: : > Many individuals are saying that cookies are harmless, If this is so why
: > did
: > UK enact a law restricting the use of cookies. If you do a search on
: > cookies
: > you will find the site that describes exactly what cookies are.how they
: > can
: > be used and why they can indeed be spyware. I believe that MS should
: > activally pursue cookie handling in Anti-spyware. Whether or not they do
: > is
: > their business but I am entitled to my opinion. I always delete all
: > cookies
: > from my system when my anti-spyware programs run.
: >
: > --
: > Ira
: >
: >
:
:

 

[Ron Chamberlin]

Hi Ira,
Thanks for the link. My interpretation ( I'm not a lawyer, and don't play
one on the NG) is that a site must provide a privacy policy regarding it's
use of cookies.

My experience tells me that most users don't read privacy policies let alone
EULA's when they download some of this stuff.

Either way, a useful and informative link, and I thank you!

Ron Chamberlin
MS-MVP