cookies

[alanmcn2005]

what is a tracking cookie and can it harm my pc

[PatTheRat]

A normal cookie wont do your pc much harm, but it does record all the websites you have visited. If you ever go to a website where u need a password, a cookie can remember this so u dont have to sign in next time.

 A tracking cookie is different however. It is a form of spyware, which again just collects which websites you have been on. Spyware itself can be dodgy to have on your pc as they can record which keys you hit, enabling them to steal your credit card details etc.

I would recommend Ad-Aware from www.download.com . Ad-Aware is free, and u can update to remove newly formed spyware/tracking cookies.

[OBonio]

Just to clarify a bit more.  A tracking cookie only tracks which websites you visit.  It, in itself, isn't a keystroke logger or anything like that.  It simply makes available to people participating in the 'tracking' which other websites you have visited that use the tracking cookie too.  It doesn't make available the websites you visit that aren't participating in the tracking.

 

Also, well written websites do not store your passwords in cookies.  They store a unique ID that associates you with your account so it can automatically sign you in.