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Cookies and Internet Temp. Files
What does Cookies, Cache and Internet temporary files mean?
Every time you open a webpage using a browser to read your email or to purchase something online, viewing the weather online, reading the latest news or reading the sports that information is stored on your computer and Windows operating system for later use.
All the information described above is what we call cache files or Temporary Internet files.
Many websites stores special files on your computer called cookies which including information you’ve used in some websites like application forms or accessing accounts forms such as user names and passwords (especially when the website asks you to save or to remember those information), personal information when you use some registration forms ….etc.
What are the benefits of Cookies, Cache and Internet temporary files?
Basically those files designed to help making your internet surfing easier, for instance if you open a website that takes some time to be fully loaded into your browser, the next time you open the same page you will find it much faster to be loaded and thats because of the cache and temporary internet files.
Another good effect is when you use a specific information in many different websites like application forms you will find that your information is already there and no need to retype them again which will make it easier for you and quicker to complete those forms online.
Are Cookies, Cache and Internet temporary files harm?
A cookie itself cannot harm the computer, as it does not and cannot hold code or perform any virus or Trojan execution, However, the cookie can support (or help) malicious actions to be taken on the respective system. Even more, being a plain text file, they are vulnerable, meaning that they can be harvested by other applications or to lead a possible attacker to the respective computer.
An attacker also might harvest information from cookies using either different cookies or from spyware software (for example login information for different websites the customer might use).
Another side effect for the cookies is that over time they can cause computer slow down performance because of the disk space they might cover.
| Note: For more information regarding the cookies you can refer to Microsoft website link shown below: http://www.microsoft.com/info/cookies.mspx |
Should I delete, scan or disable those files?
I personally recommend using the two options described below:
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Deleting Cookies, Cache and Internet temporary and history files from time to time is one of the options but remember doing so will make some websites not remembering you (like saved user names of personal information will not be shown when you access those site for the very next time, instead you have to retype those information again)
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Having an updated antivirus, antispyware and firewall programs active and running all the time and performing a periodic full computer scan also a good option to use hence the cookies will stay in safe from the Trojans and their attackers.
However, disabling them will make it very difficult to surf the internet.
How to manage the Cookies, Cache, Internet temporary files and Internet History?
You can follow the below steps along with their description pictures to manage the cookies options but I recommend you to use the default security level.
- Open the Internet Explorer.
- Click on Tools tab.
- Select the Internet options.
- For deleting all the cache files, cookies, website history click on the Delete button in the browsing history.
- For managing the cookies, select the Privacy tab, and then click on Advance button.
| Note: Leaving the security setting level to Medium as shown above is the default option which I recommend. |
- From the picture below, activate the override option and then sellect the appropriate options that fullfill your requirments.
What happened if I block the cookie options below?
1st party cookies: it is very hard to login anywhere
3rd party cookies: no adverse effects to surfing
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Definitions:
Cookies: Are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites for various different reasons.
First-Party: cookies are cookies set by the website you are visiting
Third Party: cookies refer to cookies that are set by a different site to the one you are visiting.
Session cookies: are cookies that will expire when you have finished your session on the website (some websites need these cookies enabled to function correctly).
