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Conference gyro::internet_toolss

Title:Internet Tools
Notice:Report ALL NETSCAPE Problems directly to [email protected].rnet? Read note 448.L for beginner information.
Moderator:teco.mro.dec.com::tecotoo.mro.dec.com::mayer
Created:Fri Jun 25 1993
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4714
Total number of notes:40609

3448.0. "Risks of Netscape cookies ?" by CECAMO::JAGERMAN (Caspar DTN 843-8718) Fri Mar 29 1996 06:24

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3448.1IROCZ::MORRISONBob M. LKG1-3/A11 226-7570Mon Jul 15 1996 14:5843
3448.2IROCZ::MORRISONBob M. LKG1-3/A11 226-7570Mon Jul 15 1996 15:145
3448.3ConfigurableGYRO::eps1.zko.dec.com::nozell[email protected]Mon Jul 15 1996 15:189
3448.4If you cannot protect yourself, buy a different system!WTFN::SCALESDespair is appropriate and inevitable.Mon Jul 15 1996 15:2114
3448.5RANGER::WASSERJohn A. WasserMon Jul 15 1996 15:3022
3448.6LJSRV2::teco3.ibg.ljo.dec.com::mayerDanny MayerTue Jul 16 1996 00:388
3448.7Dozns of cookies out thereHGOVC::JOELBERMANTue Jul 16 1996 05:384
3448.8Thanks for the answersCECAMO::JAGERMANCaspar DTN 843-8718Fri Jul 19 1996 09:494
3448.9keep your hands outa my cookie jarACISS2::MOONWed Aug 07 1996 00:228
3448.10CIRCUS::GOETZEWe'll re-evaluate it and say a tunnel is too expensive.-CalTransTue Jan 28 1997 18:499
    I just tried to access www.microsoft.com from Netscape/Intel and
    denying every cookie request. Well evidently the server is setup to
    repeat the attempt to set a cookie forever, I just gave up after saying
    cancel about 500 times. Is there any software available now which does
    this programmatically, until the anal-retentive programmer gets the message
    and stops attempting to set cookies? Most sites I've run across
    only attempt to set cookies a couple times before giving up.
    
       erik
3448.11PYRO::RONRon S. van ZuylenTue Jan 28 1997 19:335
    PGP has or will have a tool that you might like:
    
    http://www.pgp.com/newsroom/prel7.cgi
    
    --Ron
3448.12VAXCPU::michaudJeff Michaud - ObjectBrokerWed Jan 29 1997 00:2213
> ... until the anal-retentive programmer gets the message
> and stops attempting to set cookies? Most sites I've run across
> only attempt to set cookies a couple times before giving up.

	The sites aren't giving up, as if you didn't accept the
	cookie, and on the next http request they don't get the
	cookie, you just look like any other person who hasn't
	visited the site yet.

	If you don't want to accept *any* cookies, you can just
	set your cookies (or cookies.txt or browser/platform
	specific cookie file) file to not be writtable and
	set your browser to never ask you to accept cookies.
3448.13teco.mro.dec.com::tecotoo.mro.dec.com::mayerDanny MayerWed Jan 29 1997 08:575
>        set your browser to never ask you to accept cookies.

	Where do you set this in Netscape?

		Danny
3448.14SMURF::PBECKPaul BeckWed Jan 29 1997 10:3014
><<< Note 3448.13 by teco.mro.dec.com::tecotoo.mro.dec.com::mayer "Danny Mayer" >>>
>
>>        set your browser to never ask you to accept cookies.
>
>	Where do you set this in Netscape?
>
>		Danny

    
    Options .. Network ..Protocols
    
    Uncheck the box that reads "Accepting a cookie" (so that you don't
    get an alert) after having set the "read only" attribute on the
    cookie file (cookie.txt) used by Netscape.
3448.15QUOIN::BELKINbut from that cup no moreWed Jan 29 1997 11:4212
>>	Where do you set this in Netscape?
>>		Danny
>    Options .. Network ..Protocols
>    Uncheck the box that reads "Accepting a cookie" (so that you don't
>    get an alert) after having set the "read only" attribute on the
>    cookie file (cookie.txt) used by Netscape.

So, this option does not exist in the Alpha/VMS version of Netscape? 
I can't find it.   Does that mean that Alpha/VMS Netscape "doesn't do"
cookies?  more info, please?

thx, Josh
3448.16QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centWed Jan 29 1997 12:003
    Yes, the Alpha VMS version does cookies.
    
    			Steve
3448.17teco.mro.dec.com::tecotoo.mro.dec.com::mayerDanny MayerWed Jan 29 1997 13:2112
>    Options .. Network ..Protocols
>    
>    Uncheck the box that reads "Accepting a cookie" (so that you don't
>    get an alert) after having set the "read only" attribute on the
>    cookie file (cookie.txt) used by Netscape.

	Doesn't that merely mean that it won't get written, but that it will
  stay in memory for as long as your browser is running?  Remember that a lot
  of people (me for instance) keep their browsers running for weeks.  I run
  NT, so I don't even log off, just lock the workstation.

		Danny
3448.18Users want to be in control...CIRCUS::GOETZEWe&#039;ll re-evaluate it and say a tunnel is too expensive.-CalTransTue Feb 25 1997 14:1113
    I like this new feature in Communicator 4.0 which allows you to deny all
    cookies.  I tried accessing the Microsoft site yesterday with this
    setting on and it looked like it was endlessly trying to set cookies, while
    Communicator sat there, endlessly denying them. It was mildly
    entertaining. 
    
    However today I tried the same thing, and lo and behold, Microsoft
    appears to have changed their policy and after a couple tries, you 
    get an error saying the connection was refused. I tried again and 
    actually got through and saw some of their content, without them
    getting their hands on my cookies. 
    
       erik
3448.19:-)PCBUOA::BAYJJim, PortablesTue Feb 25 1997 15:229
    >I tried again and  actually got through and saw some of their content,
    >without them getting their hands on my cookies. 
    
    Technically speaking, I think that would be 
    
    		"getting their cookies in your hands".
    
    jeb
    
3448.20HOUBA::MEHERSDamian, http://bigbird.geo.dec.com/Wed Feb 26 1997 04:018
    Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) - Server-Side scripting, uses
    cookies for context maintenance - hence the endless stream of cookies.
    
    Netscape's equivalent (LiveWire), lets you choose between various
    mechanisms, although cookies are the least problematic (assuming the
    end-user is not denying all set-cookie responses).
    
    	/Damian