Simple, they aren't spyware!
They are tracking cookies, and currently MSAS doesn't
search for, not remove tracking cookies.
Tracking cookies aren't as bad a some people would like
everyone to believe. First off, only the host domain
that stored the cookie onto your system can view it.
Second, many sites use the same advertiser as others.
This advertiser uses these cookies to track what types of
sites a particular user visits, and tries to advertise
appropriate products/services. Your credit card company
does the same thing when they send you advertisements
from their partners, because they know what types of
stores you shop at. Last but not least, the only cookies
to be really concerned about are those that store
personally identifiable information. Any cookie can be
guilty of this, not just tracking cookies. These types
of cookies can lead to identity theft.
If you don't want tracking cookies to get onto your
system, set your web browser's settings to block third-
party cookies. This is because most tracking cookies are
from third-party domains, such as an advertiser. Most
tracking cookies WILL NOT lead to identity theft, only
those cookies that store personally identifiable
information can lead to identity theft. The main reason
to use an antispyware application is to help prevent
identity theft.
As far as I concerned tracking cookies, and cookies in
general, are fine unless they store personally
identifiable information. I have set IE's Privacy
settings to Medium-High. This should suffice for most
users who don't any cookies getting stored onto their
system that contain personally identifiable information.
One should be careful not to set these setting TOO HIGH,
as many sites might fail to display properly, or not
display at all.
Microsoft has said they are going to reaccess their
stance regarding tracking cookies based upon the reponse
they get during the beta test period. The way I look at
it, they should only be targeting those cookies that can
lead to identity theft (i.e., the ones that store
personally identifiable information).
Alan
