Tracking Cookies & Computer Ethics
A tracking cookie is a text file that a website stores on your computer. Usually, these cookies are not spyware or malware but rather tools used to track your behaviors on a particular website or the Internet in general. Some privacy advocates find tracking cookies too intrusive.
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Temporary and Permanent Cookies
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Some cookies are stored temporarily in your browser's memory and are deleted as soon as you end the session by closing the browser. Other cookies are stored permanently on your computer's hard drive and, if deleted, will be re-created the next time you visit the sites that placed them there.
How to Get Rid of Cookies
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You do not have to do anything to get rid of temporary tracking cookies. For permanent cookies, however, you can go into your Web browser's "Options" section under the Tools menu to delete them. Because these cookies will return when you revisit the "offending" website, you'll have to manually delete them again and again to be cookie-free.
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Avoiding Tracking Cookies
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To avoid tracking cookies altogether, you can simply set your Internet browser not to accept cookies. This could result in substantially curtailing your Web-surfing activities, however. Not only do popular websites like Facebook and Google use cookies, but many banks and other business websites do, too.
Computer Ethics
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Privacy advocates like Jason Catlett express concern about how tracking cookies are too invasive, but the Federal Communications Commission generally seems to take a hands-off approach when it comes to regulating the Internet and computer ethics. Net neutrality, which ensures equal access to the information superhighway of the Web, is one notable exception in which the FCC takes a clear stand, even going so far as to fight for net neutrality in court.
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References
- Photo Credit furtune cookie image by William Berry from Fotolia.com
