Some websites store information in a small text file on your computer. This file is called a cookie.
There are several types of cookies, and you can choose whether to allow some, none or all of them to be saved on your computer. If you do not allow cookies at all, you may not be able to view some websites or take advantage of customisation features (such as local news and weather, or stock quotes).
How cookies are used
A cookie is a file created by an Internet site to store information on your computer, such as your preferences when visiting that site. For example, if you inquire about a flight schedule at an airline's website, the site might create a cookie that contains your itinerary. Or, it might only contain a record of the pages you looked at within the site you visited, to help the site customise the view for you the next time you visit.
Cookies can also store personally identifiable information. Personally identifiable information is information that can be used to identify or contact you, such as your name, email address, home or work address or telephone number. However, a website only has access to personally identifiable information that you provide. For example, a website cannot determine your email address unless you provide it. Also, a website cannot gain access to other information on your computer.
Once a cookie is saved on your computer, only the website that created the cookie can read it.
Persistent Cookies
A persistent cookie is a cookie that is stored as a file on your computer and it remains there when you close your browser. The cookie can be read by the website that created it when you visit that site again.
Temporary Cookies
A temporary or session cookie is stored only for your current browsing session and is deleted from your computer when you close your browser.
First-Party vs Third-Party Cookies
A first-party cookie either originates on or is sent to the website you are currently viewing. These cookies are commonly used to store information such as your preferences when visiting that site.
A third-party cookie either originates on or is sent to a website that is different from the one you are currently viewing. Third-party websites usually provide some content on the website you are viewing. For example, many sites use advertising from third-party websites and those third-party websites may use cookies. A common use for this type of cookie is to track your web page use for advertising or other marketing purposes. Third-party cookies can either be persistent or temporary.
Unsatisfactory Cookies
Unsatisfactory cookies are cookies that might allow access to personally identifiable information that could be used for a secondary purpose without your consent.
Your choices in working with cookies
Internet Explorer allows the use of cookies, however you can change your privacy settings to specify that Internet Explorer prompts you before placing a cookie on your computer (this enables you to allow or block the cookie) or you can prevent Internet Explorer from accepting any cookies.
You can use the privacy settings in Internet Explorer to specify how you want it to handle cookies from individual websites or all websites. You can also customise your privacy settings by importing a file containing custom privacy settings or by specifying custom privacy settings for all websites or individual websites.