• What's a cookie?
  
• Can cookies compromise your privacy?
  
• How do I know when a cookie is being used?
  
• Does the Sympatico site use cookies?
  
• Where does the Sympatico site use cookies?
  
• How do I know if Netscape Communicator accepts cookies?
  
• How do I know if Internet Explorer will accept cookies?
  
• Can I turn cookies off?
  
• Where can I learn more about cookies?
  

A cookie is a very small text file that is put on your hard drive by some Web pages to be used by other Web pages.

Since the release of Netscape Navigator 2.0, cookies have been used by many Web page designers as a convenient means of letting one Web page retrieve specific information about what you, the user, did on a previous Web page, or which page you came from. Sometimes cookies are used to communicate password and login information from page to page, or to fill a "shopping basket", so that one page can collect information about what you decided to buy on previous pages.

Cookies are sometimes used by advertisers to keep track of which Web site it was on which you clicked their ad (some advertisers place the same advertisement on many Web sites). The Sympatico Web site does use advertisement banners on some of its pages, and these ad banners do not 'set a cookie', although sometimes if you click an ad banner and visit the advertiser's Web page, that Web page will set a cookie.

Not really. Although some people don't like having anything added to their hard drive without their consent, and others worry about invasion of privacy, cookies are extremely limited in what they can do. Cookies can not scan your hard drive for information. Cookies are just simple, small text files that sit on your hard drive. Any personal information stored in a cookie is limited to whatever you volunteer, such as when you fill out a form on a Web page, to request information or buy something online.

Access to the information in your cookie.txt file is very limited as well. If a Web page at some Web site saves some text to the cookie.txt file on your hard drive, it cannot be accessed by another Web page on another Web site (unless it's a Web page located in the same domain, e.g. "sympatico.ca"). Specific text in your cookie.txt file can only be accessed by other pages on the Web site where the cookie file originated. So, only Sympatico cookies can be read by Sympatico Web pages. Moreover, since cookies are nothing more than a bit of text, they certainly can not spread viruses.

Because cookies are most often used for online shopping (to maintain the contents of your 'shopping basket'), you should expect that cookies are being used on such sites. Cookies are often used on parts of the Sympatico Web sites to speed up your Web page navigation (to link you to the right place in the fewest number of clicks). Wherever cookies are used, it's most efficient for them to work in the background. This means that in most cases you won't know when a cookie is being used, unless you set your Internet software to warn you when one is being used.

Yes, but sparingly. Cookies are used on the Sympatico site mainly to help you get back quickly (and in one click) to where you started from (often your local Sympatico home page). Using cookies is the fastest way to help you get back to your starting point from certain other Sympatico sites. .

Below are links to some of the places where cookies are used on the Sympatico site:

• Canada TollFree
• Personal Finance
• Sympatico discussion forums

Depending on what Internet browser you're using, you can control whether and when a cookie is placed on your hard drive . Be aware that if you turn cookies off altogether, some Web sites--especially shopping sites--may not function properly. If you'd like your browser to warn you before a cookie is placed on your hard drive, or make your browser refuse cookies altogether, here's how to change the settings in your Internet software:

Internet Explorer

1. Click the Tools menu, then click Internet Options.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. If necessary, click Internet to select it as the Web content zone.
4. Click Custom Level. The Security Settings window opens.
5. In the Settings list, scroll to locate Cookies in the list. There are two security items listed for Cookies.
6. Notice the Allow cookies that are stored on your system item. There are three security options for cookies that are stored on your system.
7. If you want to accept cookies without being prompted, click Enable. Or,
8. If you do not want to accept cookies, click Disable. (Note that this option may compromise your ability to make purchases online.) Or,
9. If you want to be prompted to accept cookies, click Prompt.
10. Next, notice the Allow per session cookies that are not stored on your system item. There are three security options for per-session cookies.
11. If you want to accept cookies without being prompted, select Enable. Or,
12. If you do not want to accept cookies, select Disable. (Note that this option may compromise your ability to make purchases online.) Or,
13. If you want to be prompted to accept cookies, select Prompt.
14. Click OK to close the Security Settings window.
15. Click OK to close the Internet Options window.

Netscape Navigator 3.01

1. Click the Options menu, then click Network Preferences...
2. Click the Protocols tab.
3. Click to check the box next to Accepting a Cookie. Click OK to save your changes. (Note that with Navigator 3 you cannot turn cookies off.) Further information about cookies
   • Cookie Central
     -Dedicated to provide full information about Internet Cookies.
   • FoodForThought: Hands In The Cookie Jar
     -A pragmatist's view on cookies.
   • Netscape's Cookies and Privacy FAQ.

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