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Pastimes : The New SI, Who Cares? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Claire G who wrote (209)	7/1/1999 9:37:00 PM
From: Carl R.	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 236

I disagree. Sites use cookies to give you a unique identifying number, and then track everything you do on the web. Every time you visit a site affiliated with Doubleclick for example, they check your ID number and keep track of what you do and what you click on. That isn't a privacy problem? They can track where you came from using refer requests, and where you go to, what you like and don't like. And worse, they use your computer to do it. Check your cookie file and you'll find a Doubleclick cookie, and an identifying number for you. To deal with rare occasions where I do accept a cookie, I delete the cookie file as a part of my boot up procedure. Besides cookies, I also block banners, refer requests, and I won't allow my browser to reveal my email address. Since I started doing that the amount of new junk mail I get has been dramatically reduced. I also block most active content such as java applets, java script, and activeX as well. Furthermore I am use a firewall to control communications with un-authorized sites. Did you know for example that RealPlayer routinely starts itself up in the background and calls home and passes data back and forth without your consent? Personally I consider RealPlayer a dangerous virus. Am I a privacy nut? Maybe. But I'm happy that way. Carl