Netscape's Technical definition is, "A server, when returning an HTTP object to a client, may also send a piece of state information which the client will store. Included in that state object is a description of the range of URLs for which that state is valid. Any future HTTP requests made by the client which fall in that range will include a transmittal of the current value of the state object from the client back to the server. The state object is called a cookie, for no compelling reason."

Matt's Translation is, "When you request a Web Site using your browser, it will send you text and pictures but may also include a small file containing information about what you requested. This file knows when and where it is supposed to be used and it then sends the information back to the server at the appropriate time. These tiny files are called cookies."

The bottom line is that cookies, like a Web Site, only know what you tell them. For the most part this is only what Web Pages you visit and what you did while you were there. By definition, cookies can not access any personal information beyond this. Furthermore, there are very strict laws in place to prevent anything like that from happening.

So, the real question is not if cookies are crummy but if they can help us as we Surf the Web. Most of the time tasty morsels are designed to speed up and ease the use of a Web Site that you will likely return to. For example, The New York Times Web Site requires viewers to log on to their Site with a user name and password. The next time you return to their Site it will magically have your New York Times name and password input in the appropriate fields.

Other sites will use these sweet treats to customize your experience. This often happens with advertising as the banners you see will reflect the selections you made the previous time you visited the site pages. Cookies can also be used to do pure research so a company knows what web pages are being used in what ways. Most of the time it will only be minor user preferences about any given Site.

Still concerned about taking cookies from strangers? Fortunately both Netscape and Internet Explorer have monitor devices you can activate in your browser. In Netscape you just go to your Network Preferences, click on Protocols, and select Cookies to have an alert sound before you accept one from a Site. For Internet Explorer, go to Preferences in the Edit menu and select Cookies under the Receiving files heading. You will then see a list of Cookies on your machine and will be able to configure what happens when a page tries to serve you Cookies. If you activate these warnings, be prepared to deal with the alerts on a frequent basis. Many of us find that more annoying than the thought of having some harmless files temporarily stored on our hard drives.

Want more information? Here are some cookie related Web Sites:

PERSISTENT CLIENT STATE HTTP COOKIES: Preliminary Specification

http://home.netscape.com/newsref/std/cookie_spec.html

Cookie Central: Dedicated to provide full information upon Internet Cookies - Good FAQ.

http://www.cookiecentral.com/

Pacific Cookie Company: Getting hungry? This Santa Cruz based company will FedEx their fresh cookies to your house. I just ordered some for the office!

http://www.pacificcookie.com