Unsavory Cookies

Cookies, the small text files a Web server sends to your browser to remember pages you've visited or that fill in information and passwords automatically, spawned the issue of Web privacy. Oddly, however, they're the least of your Spy-Ware worries. Most Web sites don't conceal cookies, and you can either set your browser to warn you when you're about to receive one or reject cookies entirely.

Nonetheless, cookies can store personal information such as your name and address, as well as track your surfing habits. Often they're used to personalize Web sites (such as when NBCi.com greets you by name) or to fill in forms when you return to a site (so that you don't need to type in your name and password again, for example), recognize your buying habits (when Amazon.com recommends books you might like), and serve up targeted ads.