There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
Search
General Security
Tag Cloud
access acer asus bios bsod computer crash dns driver drivers error ethernet excel freeze gaming google hard drive hardware hdmi internet laptop mac malware memory monitor motherboard mouse network printer problem ram registry router server slow software sound svchost.exe trojan usb video virus vista wifi windows windows 7 windows 7 32 bit windows 7 64 bit windows xp wireless
Search
Search for:
Tech Support Guy Forums > Security & Malware Removal > General Security >
Re-occuring cookie trackers

Reply  
Thread Tools
ash1023's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 1 posts.
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Experience: Beginner
27-Feb-2008, 02:16 PM #1
Re-occuring cookie trackers
Ever since moving to my university i have had the worst problem with cookies. It's to the point where i use my ad-aware and avg scanner around 3 times a day and get around 80 infections each time.
A friend of mine recommended that i put my computer in saftey mode and run the scanners. It actually seems to be a lot worse today.
I know that i could simply clear my cookies, but that doesn't help.
And i really like certain websites to keep my login information. Is there anything further I can do to fix this?

thank you very much!

edit: computer specs
sony vaio VGN-C290
73.7 gb free of 142 gb
windows vista

im not really sure what else to add here...

Last edited by ash1023; 27-Feb-2008 at 02:30 PM.. Reason: added computer specs
Elvandil's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 48,924 posts.
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Vermont
Experience: "Been through the mill."
27-Feb-2008, 02:35 PM #2
People tend to overestimate the danger from "tracking" cookies for the most part. I, for one, appreciate being able to return to a site and have my information remembered so that I don't have to start fresh every time.

You can turn off cookies, but some sites won't let you enter without them, and it would be impossible to sign in to others.

Generally speaking, cookies are the price we pay for convenience. As far as any danger they pose, it is certainly at the bottom of the scale. Though theoretically, someone could take fragments of information from each cookie and construct a profile of the user, this is highly unlikely, especially if you clean them even occasionally when you do routine maintenance.

Another thing to do is to set your cookie preferences so that only the web site you are visiting can leave a permanent cookie and all others are "session-only".

I use a proxy called "CookieCop" that automatically blocks all cookies except those I allow. It tends to get annoying sometimes, but once all your commonly used cookies have been given permission, changing settings is less frequent. There are other such apps, too, like Foxy, Proxomitron, iRejectTrash, FreeProxy, Proximodo, eDexter, Wingate, and many others. Most allow filtering of ads and web sites as well as cookies. Take a look. Search for "proxy" on freeware sites, or "cookie manager".
__________________
Microsoft MVP
異驚の界世 ˇpןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ɟo sɹǝpuoʍ ǝɥʇ ɟo ǝuo sı ǝpoɔıun ʞuıɥʇ ı

Last edited by Elvandil; 27-Feb-2008 at 02:43 PM..
hewee's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 57,922 posts.
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: *Random People Pleaser***Sacra
Experience: Having fun
28-Feb-2008, 04:48 AM #3
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/main-nf.htm

Look under Browser Configuration and you can set you cookies so you have better control.
I Firefox and the Exceptions list and have 100% control over my cookies. Only cookies that I have marked as allow or allow for session can set a cookie and all others are blocked by default and the block ones don't even get added to the list.
I use Firefox Extensions CookieCuller https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/82 that lets me mark the cooked I want to keep and then with a click I can clear all unprotected cookies and CookieSafe https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2497 that lets me add newer cookies or add them only for a session or as a temp cookie. I use the temp cookie a lot if a site will not work unless you let them set a cookie. Then I clear the cookie after I am done with CookieCuller before going to other sites so no tracking can go on.
Reply

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.

Search Tech Support Guy

Find the solution to your
computer problem!




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who want to help you solve your computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.
Thread Tools



Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter TechGuy.tv TechGuy.tv Mobile TSG Mobile
You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:25 AM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2011 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.