What to do???

Question

using AVG anti spyware, I came across one adware item and a lot of tracking cookies. The adware name is called CoolWebSearch and the tracking cookies have different names. I believe that the adware item I should quarrentine and the tracking cookies???. In the past, I always set tracking cookies to ignore, reguardless of what the name was. If I delete any tracking cookie, the name will just reappear again the next time that I run a scan. Justin

Hawkster66 · Answer

I delete the tracking cookies on basic principal, hopfully it's one less thing for the scanners to have to look at next time they get run.

Dave Lyle · Answer

Tracking cookies are not and have never been a threat. You will accumulate them from virtually ALL sites you visit. They are not harmful. Ignore them.

2350 · Answer

Will do. Justin

Hawkster66 · Answer

ddeerrff wrote:
Tracking cookies are not and have never been a threat. You will accumulate them from virtually ALL sites you visit. They are not harmful. Ignore them.

While I agree they're no true threat to your security I've heard rumors that some sites, like Amazon, will use your search history to offer you higher priced items than you'd see normally without their tracking your habits. I haven't looked too deeply into what they're tracking as I rarely if ever buy anything online.

2350 · Answer

Is there a way that I can determine what websites the tracking cookies come from? Justin

2350 · Answer

One problem with that. If you delete tracking cookies, they just reappear again when you run another scan. It's true that you can set your software to delete tracking cookies automatically, but as the other member pointed out, they come from websites, so unless you don't go to websites, which is the main point of being online, other then checking your email, you're stuck. Justin

zbestwun2001 · Answer

@Hawkster66 wrote:

@ddeerrff wrote:
Tracking cookies are not and have never been a threat. You will accumulate them from virtually ALL sites you visit. They are not harmful. Ignore them.

While I agree they're no true threat to your security I've heard rumors that some sites, like Amazon, will use your search history to offer you higher priced items than you'd see normally without their tracking your habits. I haven't looked too deeply into what they're tracking as I rarely if ever buy anything online.

Don't sweat the cookies just delete them regularly and all will be well in the world. :)

zb1

2350 · Answer

I buy online including from amazon.com and the only thing that I have seen is that if you have an account with them, they tend to offer you items in stock based on what you buy. I can't agree or disagree with your rumor because I don't know myself. Justin

Bugbatter · Answer

It appears as if you know what to do, so what is your question?

2350 · Answer

I wanted to know what to do with tracking cookies, but another member already answered that question for me. Justin

joe53 · Answer

If you really do not want to be bothered with tracking cookies, try this in IE:

Tools> Internet Options> Privacy tab> Advanced button
Check-mark "Override automatic cookie handling"
Under First-party Cookies, check-mark "block".
Under Third-party Cookies, check-mark "block".
Check-mark "Always allow session cookies" and [OK] out.

This will effectively block all cookies, including cookies with log-on info to sites such as Dell, (which you might wish to retain).

To get around this, click on Privacy tab> Sites button, and copy/paste the address of any site you don't wish to block, then click the Allow button, and [ok] out.

2350 · Answer

Good idea to try, but I think that I'll just program any tracking cookie found to ignore. Easiest way. Justin

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