How to Stop the Cookie Bookie

Cookies are established by the web sites you visit but they are stored on your computer. Therefore you have control over them.

Temporary Cookies

Some cookies go away when you close your browser. This is why you should close your browser after you log out from a secure web site.

Try it now: close all your browser windows, then go back to the Show Me My Cookies! page. See if some of your cookies have been forgotten.

Permanent Cookies

Permanent cookies are saved on your computer's disk. Unless you delete them, they will be used to remember who you are when you return to the same web site later -- even weeks or years later!

How to Delete Permanent Cookies

Most web browsers have many options that you can set to customize your web browsing experience. If you really want to master your web travels, check out your browser menus and options!

The procedure varies depending on which browser you are using. One example will be shown here.

For Internet Explorer 6.0

Choose Internet Options... from the Tools menu:
If you want to delete cookies you already received from web sites you have visited in the past choose Delete Cookies...

NOTE: This will cause all your web sites to forget who you are! Make sure this is what you want before you continue. Next time you visit that web site, it will think you are somebody new.
If you want to prevent future web sites from setting cookies on your computer select the Privacy tab and adjust the slider to the amount of privacy you want.

NOTE: This may cause some web sites to stop working normally! If that happens, you know you've found a web site that wants to track your activity. Then it is up to you to decide which is more important to you: your privacy, or the information that web site has to offer.

After You Change Your Settings