Internet "Cookies" can be very important, as well as raise some privacy issues.  In a nutshell, cookies are simple text lines of code that a web page stores on your computer.  It can use the information to do a number of things including tracking where you go around it's site, discovering where you have been before by reading other cookies set by other web sites, and even help you make online purchases.

Just as cookies can pose privacy and security issues, they can solve some as well.  For example Hotmail is a popular web based email.  (ISC Unlimited holds an account there.)  Hotmail uses cookies in order to know exactly who you are when you log on.  It sets the cookie in your "cookie file" when you log on, then deletes it when you log off.

The reason behind why cookies can pose security risks is realitivly the same reason as to how they can solve them.  By storing what could be considered personal information (like past web sites visited) and other possible information that should be secure (like passwords), cookies enable web sites to view that information.

Again, let's look at Hotmail.  If you log on, then either forget to log off, or the browser crashes, etc... the personal information is STILL contained in your cookie file.  Microsoft has taken precautions against this information being used against you by encrypting the information stored by the cookie file so that only Hotmail can understand it.  That, however, is not a common practice.  Many posting boards that offer to "store your login name and password" do so in a simple cookie.  The same thing goes for some sites offering to customize your own page to your needs.  That is done by putting cookies on your machine so that everytime you visit, the page knows what to display.  Any webmaster is able to code their site to gather cookie information (To see a demonstration, please click on the cookie at the top of this page.)

You do have the option do disable cookies, or be warned everytime a cookie is being placed on your system.  (For instructions on how to change you cookie settings, please email ISC Unlimited for further information.  Please include your browser make and model for a quick reply.)  Doing so can become quite bothersome since almost every site either tries to set a cookie (advertisements ALWAYS try to set a cookie for advertising purposes), or requires a cookie be set to explore the web page.  (The latter is the case for Microsoft's Homepage.)