Some people seem really concerned about cookies. The worst offenders, they argue, are so-called “tracking cookies,” which supposedly allow companies like Doubleclick to track your movements on the Internet.
If you think this is a big deal, fine. You don’t need anti-spyware software to get rid of these cookies. Instead, take the following two steps:
- Delete all currently saved cookies from your computer. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options and then click the Delete Cookies button on the General tab. In Firefox 1.0, click Tools, Options. Click the Privacy icon in the sidebar and then click the Clear button to the right of the Cookies heading.
- Specify that you want to block all third-party cookies. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options. On the Privacy tab, click Advanced. Click to select the Override automatic cookie handling check box, and then click Block under the Third-party Cookies heading. In Firefox 1.0, click Tools, Options. Click the Privacy icon in the sidebar and then click the plus sign to the left of the Cookies heading to expand your list of options. Click to select both options: Allow sites to set cookies and for the originating web site only.
There. You’re done. You’re completely protected from “tracking cookies.”
But (I can hear you asking) what about first-party cookies? Well, if you’re visiting a Web site, they already have your IP address, and they have a record of every page you visit on their site and everything you type into a form. If you’re really that concerned about a Web site, you might want to avoid visiting it. But if you’re really worried about first-party cookies, open Internet Explorer’s Advanced Privacy Settings page and then click the Prompt option under the First-party Cookies heading. With Firefox, you can use an extension or set the ask me every time option. After you save these settings, you’re in complete control.
Here’s what your IE options should look like:
And here’s what Firefox options look like:
Now can we agree that there’s no need for an anti-spyware program to do something so simple?
Ed Bott 
I personally don’t care about cookies, but I suppose I can understand why people are so paranoid about them. Reports like this one at Google Blogoscoped don’t help the crusade. Apparently a 3rd party site can read Google’s cookies if certains scripts are executed. I know the text files themselves aren’t evil and can’t take over your computer, but people are still worried about what is in them and what can be retrieved from them. Therefore it is equated with spyware.
Tracking cookies are what people worry about. They track your web footprints.
Thanks for the info, I used to get all sorts of ad & xxx tracking cookies and I never went to such sites! Now I get no stupid tracking cookies 🙂
Thanks,
Charl3s
I allow all cookies, keep those that are nessary(web sites that I belong to). Delete the rest on a dally basis, and SCAN & SCAN & SCAN……
I have a tracking cookie that is dated to track me for one year. I can find this cookie and delete it, but it keeps popping up. My anti-spyware sofware spots it and notifies me that it has been quarantined, but it comes up every day. Is there any way to get rid of it completely priot to its expiration?
Thanks for your help.
I have set things as you say for some time but notice that freshdownload (and other download managers) seem to allow loads of tracking cookies even if i dont get them from browsing using either Firefox or IE. How the hell do we stop them then (I have the Privacy tab in FD set to NOT send cookies- but I dont think we are talking about those cookies anyway!). Any ideas anyone?
Please check out http://www.squsi.com a free web service. We built this at our own expense because we’re mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore. It’s available for download from download.com (just Google squsi).
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Is there a way to block SiteMeter? I dl’d it and put it on my blog to see what it tracked (I took it off now). It seems like an invasion of privacy to me. One person, after visiting his blog, told me the intersection that was close to my home. How is that possible? I don’t know if he was using SiteMeter or not, but that’s more info than I want anyone to know about me.
I am on AOL9. How do I get into Firefox 1.0 in order to follow your guidance concerning eliminating/blocking tracking cookies?
how does one do something on the computer called defragging? thanks.
Thx ive been wondering how to get rid of this tracking cookie for weeks. Your a legend mate! thx again 🙂
Thank you for the information. I was wondering how to getrid of this cookies and now I got the solution
ed:
could do an update to eliminate tracking cookies for 1e7,think it is the same,and fire fox 2.00? ,i think it might be a little different,through your mailing list.love your articles.please.thanks ron.
edd:
me again that keep cookies,ask me every time, would drive a guy crazy.i will leave it at until i close firefox for now.please do an update to this artical as it is a little old for ff.thks.ron
I don’t care about ppl tracking where I’ve been online, but I’ve got a tracking cookie that is slowing my machine down and I can delete it a hundred times a day (literally). I switched from McAfee to Norton. Contacted Norton to find out how to get rid of it for good and they wanted to connect me to the fee based tech support. I knew there was a way to Block them, but I didn’t remember how to get there. Thanks for the info I hope it takes care of my problem.
ive just read ya info ive done all that and hopefully that will work now i only have 1 question i have been having problems with yahoo when it signs out on its own it means my password has been changed and i cant get my account back how do i prevent that i dont give me details to any one 😦 please replay back
I have had some recurring tracking cookies slowing my computer now, the options layout has changed in firefox 2.0 and i have set it to block all cookies. is there a way i can set it just to block 3rd party cookies?
Thanks, I tried your directives and it worked like magic….you wouldnt believe that norton had asked me to pay $99.00 to get ride of these stubborn cookies that there antivirus on my system couldnt stop. Now you healed me for free. Thanks