How can tracking cookies harm my computer and some informations in it?

Question

Is it advisable to delete them?

Answer 1

I delete tracking cookies probably about once every three weeks or so. Generally speaking, all they do is (for instance) track when you've been shown a particular banner ad and whether you clicked on it or not. It is very unlikely that something identified as a tracking cookie will cause you any problems other than - as was said - taking up hard disk space.

Answer 2

A cookie is a file a website creates on your computer. Basically the file contains an id number and possibly other information as well. When you go back to the website, they can check the file, and if the id number matches one they already have in their records, they know they have a repeat customer.

For instance, when you log into your email account, you only have to put your password in once. Without cookies, you would have to put one in every time you checked a new message. The reason you eventually do have to type your password again (assuming you didn't click "save password") is that the cookie eventually expires.

If you constantly deleted your cookies, then you would constantly have to retype your password. It is more secure, but less convenient. You have to consider the pros and cons and make an appropriate decision.

Answer 3

They can acumilate enough to start slowing down your computers performance. I learned from a Microsoft Technition that it is best if at least every few days you should delete not only your cookies but also your history and temporary files also. Do this by going to the tools section on your Eplorer toolbar and click on, then click on Internet Options and delete every thing in your browsing history- cookies,temporary files, etc., etc. . In other words this is all junk that just takes away from your computers speed because your signals have to go through this junk also .

Answer 4

Privacy Guardian also restores valuable hard drive space and speeds up system performance by cleaning out old and unused temporary records. It allows you to simply and securely erase privacy sensitive files from Windows, Microsoft Office, Netscape, Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer.firefox all temporary internet files & Cookies every Privacy Guardian is simple to install and easy to use. It is suitable for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera and Mozilla Firefox Internet browsers and can be set to automatically protect your privacy at regular intervals. With Privacy Guardian one click of the mouse all clean
Privacy Guardian is at the bottom of the pctools website and you can download it and use it

http://www.pctools.com

Answer 5

My understanding is that tracking cookies do just that, track your movement on the web and relay that information back to some central database where it is used to post advertising specific to what your interests are.

Answer 6

Cookies can be bad and good.
Some cookies remember stuff like whats in your grocery cart for online shopping.

Some can be useds as spyware to track your online surfing habits.

BUT NONE CAN HARM YOUR PC.

Answer 7

Cookies are used to save information you have put into web forms... such as Login name (if you check the "remember me" box)... Delete them every now and then

Answer 8

yes delete them ASAP, it does free up space and RAM, pluss any cookie registered to your computer is at the risk of having spyware, adware,viruses of all sorts. Thats why you shouls run a virus scan every 2 weeks.

Answer 9

just stop using them. i have my browser set up so that it will just delete all cookies as soon as i close the window. i never have problems. sure i have to login to things every time i come back to them. big deal though. im not lazy.