Netscape v.6

Enable/Disable Cookies

In Netscape 6.x, go to EDIT - PREFERENCES. You'll see something like the screen below:

In the left-hand portion of the window shown above, click the triangle just to the left of the words Privacy & Security. This little arrow is what's called a toggle: if you click it while it points to the right, it then changes position and points downward. At the same time, it displays a sub-list of items having to do with privacy and security.

If you click the arrow again, it will change from pointing down to pointing right -- and the list goes away. It's a lot like a simple light switch: when it's on you can turn it off, and when it's off you can turn it on, using the same mechanism.

Go ahead and click the arrow so it's pointing down, showing the sub-list. Now click on Cookies to highlight it. Take a look at the right-hand side of the window. There are three radio buttons (circles) and one checkbox (square). The computer will only allow you to choose one of the three radio buttons; but you can check the checkbox no matter which radio button you choose.

• Choosing Disable Cookies means your browser won't accept any cookies at all. This means that you won't be able to log in to anything on the Web that requires a password (such as a Hotmail account); nor will you be able to make online purchases. Individual websites and companies won't be able to track your travels around the Web either.
• Choosing Enable Cookies for the Originating Web Site Only means that you will be able to log in to most sites that require a password, and be able to shop at many online venues. On the other hand, many ad agencies such as DoubleClick.com won't be able to track your progress around the Web.
• Choosing Enable All Cookies means that you'll be able to easily log in to websites, shop online, and be tracked by any corporate interest that has an interest in your online travels.

If you're having trouble committing yourself to one course of action or another (or if you're thinking, "Well, it depends..."), you'll want to use the checkbox to the left of Warn Me Before Storing a Cookie.

In older versions of Netscape, this choice was the kiss of death -- or a sure way to end up in the loony bin, at the very least -- because Netscape would warn you over and over and over again before it accepted a cookie. In version 6.x, however, Netscape gives you a chance to tell it to remember your decision about each website (see screen shot below).