Tracking Cookie check

[sw2001]

Is there a way to find out if a webpage is installing tracking cookies on your computer? Maybe a kind of online scanner or similar. If yes, please let me know, thanks.

[StevieO]

Hi sw,

You'll be pleased to hear there is such an online service, and it's Free !

Also Spybot Search and Destroy and Adaware both will find cookies as well as potentially lots of other stuff you might not want too on your PC. Those two Apps are also Free.

You can look in your Cookies folder on your PC and see what's in there too. And you can Disable third party cookies in IE which is always a good idea. First party you can disable for most of the time, and just enable them when you need to log in somewhere, and then disable them again.

You can empty all the Cookies in IE options as often as you like, and other browsers have cookie choices too.

. . .


The free web-based scanning service helps Internet users safeguard their privacy by detecting the presence of potentially harmful third-party tracking cookies which monitor online behavior. Tracking cookies collect surfing behavior and report that behavior back to unknown entities, thereby presenting a security risk to online users as well as a violation of privacy.

The Zone Labs Security Scanner is an easy-to-use, always up-to-date service for anyone who wants to protect their PC and the valuable information stored on it from online snoops."

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/promotions/spywarescanner/index.jsp?lang=en&ctry=US&dc=12bms

. . .


StevieO

[sw2001]

Hi Stevie,
thanks for the link and programs, but it's not quite exactly what I was looking for. I thought more of a page where you type or copy the URL and it checks for tracking cookies, similar like the W3C Validation Service does for HTML standard.

[TNT]

{QUOTE-> Hi Stevie,
thanks for the link and programs, but it's not quite exactly what I was looking for. I thought more of a page where you type or copy the URL and it checks for tracking cookies, similar like the W3C Validation Service does for HTML standard. <-QUOTE}I don't think there is. Also, tracking cookies are quite often set by "included" banners/iframes that reside on external pages (and that change often), so if you don't find one it doesn't mean there's not going to be one next time you reload the page (if we talk about "sleazy behavior" I don't think you can really consider the external object as "totally unrelated" to the page you're viewing).

[ErikAlbert]

sw2001
Maybe you can find here something
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwcookiemanager.html

I clean my cookies with CCleaner.
Tracking cookies aren't enemy #1 for me. :)

[cheater87]

get firefox you can have total controll over cookies

[ghodgson]

Even if you have Internet explorer, you can control what you get by configuring your 'Internet zone' and 'Trusted sites' and by editing or over-riding cookie control.
On the bottom right hand corner of the window when you visit a website a little cookie icon will appear, [sometimes with a red line through it meaning that cookie is blocked]. However, If you click the cookie, IE will tell you how its handling that cookie and other cookies on that site, and you can change this if you like, no need for another programme.

[TOMxEU]

Oh man, I did not know, that the Privacy Report Icon is for cookies. Thanks. ;)

[ghodgson]

Do I detect sarcasm there?? Because if so, there are people out there who may NOT know!

[TOMxEU]

No, I use IE for more than 2 years and I had no idea, that I can manage cookies as well. I only knew, that I can manage popup and addons via there. Thanks for the tip. :)

[ghodgson]

sorry, jumping to the wrong conclusion, glad to be of help.
Gordon

[HandsOff]

{QUOTE-> get firefox you can have total controll over cookies <-QUOTE}

I was a little surprised because I just started using firefox and ran a spybot scan and got the result listed below.

Now, I'm not saying that you cannot control your cookie settings with firefox, and maybe these cookies are harmless. I am surprised, however, if the default setting for a browser that claims to be security enhanced is to assist scumbag marketers to harrass their clients.

- HandsOff

[deviladvocate]

yes, firefox default setting does not block third party cookies.

[abhi_mittal]

Get the lastest Arovax Shield with FF support...blocks tracking cookies well!