Microsoft Security Essentials....

15 years ago

I bought a Toshiba 14 1/2" laptop for travelling (and just to play around with) It came with Windows 7 Home Premium. I removed McAfee and installed Security Essentials. Does Security Essentials remove tracking cookies or do I need something else installed for that?

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Comments (11)

owbist
15 years ago
Not sure but I do not think MSE does that. Cookies are not generally harmful and those wishing them removed are usually removing the ability to be traced by others using the same computer perhaps.
As an irrelevant aside I do not believe I have removed cookies from this computer since I built it over a year ago. Never enters my head, perhaps I should take a looksee.
maybee_gw
Original Author
15 years ago
I used Super AntiSpyWare on my desktop...HP running XP SP 8...and found over two hundred tracking cookies...I removed them and things seemed to be moving a lot faster on my computer...but, then I also did some disk scanning and defragging, so that might have been the reason and not the cookies....I'm thinking they need to be removed from time to time, though.
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
I never bother with tracking cookies the ones to block at browser level settings are the 3rd party cookies, go into your browser settings and block or do not allow 3rd party cookies. The others are not a big deal, you can clear your cache in the browsers and choose cookies there to clear or use a program like CCleaner or ATF cleaner

ATF-Cleaner
DA_Mccoy
15 years ago
CCleaner operated at the default settings is a fine way to go. Besides cookies, which O reported are generally no big thing, it will also clean a lot of temporary files generated by non-browsers along with other application tracks and such.

Since the beginning of the Internet boom too many users have felt cookies were spyware, and this position was supported by their being detected by spyware applications. In general they are nothing more than useful. If you doubt me, block all cookies and see how much fun you have on the Internet.

DA
maybee_gw
Original Author
15 years ago
Alas..I don't doubt you :o)
mike_kaiser_gw
15 years ago
I don't know about current versions of Internet Explorer but Firefox has an option to clear cookies, browsing history, cache, etc. automatically on exit.
owbist
15 years ago
If you use DA's suggestion of Ccleaner you can protect any cookies you wish to keep. Simply open Ccleaner, click the 'Options' icon in the lower left corner. Then the 'Cookies' icon. Now you see all the cookies listed down the left side. Move any you want saved to the right and they will not get removed - unless you use a different cookie clearer of course.
big_al_41
15 years ago
What are "3rd party cookies" and why are they bad ...thanks
mike_kaiser_gw
15 years ago
Cookies are bits of text data sent by a server and stored on your computer. They often perform beneficial services like remembering a user name/password or store site preferences. For example, on GardenWeb cookies can eliminate the need to enter your password and user name on every visit. With portals like MSN or Yahoo cookies can be used to save preference for say a theme color, organization of a page (sports before entertainment news), or display of local weather.

Third party cookies are typically used by advertisers to follow your movements around the Internet and track what kind of sites you visit. Increasingly advertisers are interested in "targeting" consumers with ads relevant to their interests. So, for example, someone who visits Gardenweb might see more ads related to gardening -- equipment, nurseries, and the like. If by analyzing sites visited an advertising can determine (or at least make an educated guess) that the viewer is a teenager, that person probably isn't going to have much interest in a advertisement for Depends.

Some people believe, and perhaps rightfully so, that such information is an invasion of their privacy. The real question, and it's the matter of some debate, is exactly how much advertising know about you and what is being done with that information.

Turning off third-party cookies makes it harder but not impossible for advertisers to collect information about your online habits.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
I always recommend reading this very insightful article by Steve Gibson he does a great job of putting it into fairly plain language.
What are third-party cookies?
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
I learned about another cleaner that is supposed to do a very good job but does not have some of the more advanced options that CCleaner does so is a bit safer in that you can not accidentally do damage.
What are third-party cookies?

Have not tried it yet but it has good reviews