How to delete cookies?

how to delete persistent cookies

• I regularly go to a website that places a tracking cookie on my computer. I can delete the cookies in Internet explorer by going to the tools button/ Internet options and deleting files ( all offline content) and also all temporary internet files and then clicking OK. However, when I go back to the site it still recognizes my computer and shows my status as, "signed in." However, when I shut down the computer after following the above mentioned procedure and then reboot, and then go back to the site , the site no longer recognizes my computer. What I would like is a way to do this without having to shut down the computer. Please advise how this can be done. I am running Windows 98.

• Answer:

  Hello havequestions, I do believe that I have the answer to your question, so I am going to go ahead and answer your question. I checked the Microsoft Support database and found that Microsoft Internet Explorer uses two types of cookies, namely "Persistent" cookies and "Per-Session" cookies. "Per-session cookies are used to store state information only within a session. These cookies are cached only while a user is visiting the Web server issuing the per-session cookie and are deleted from the cache when the user closes the session." SOURCE: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;223799 "Persistent cookies are stored for a length of time that is set by the Web server when it passes the cookie to Internet Explorer. These cookies are used to store state information between visits to a site." SOURCE: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;223799 What is interesting about these two cookie types and ebay, is that Ebay uses them BOTH, and you have the option to use whichever cookie type you want. Bear with me and I will attempt to explain what my investigation has unearthed. First, let's define an Internet Explorer session: When you open Internet Explorer from the start menu or desktop, you have started a new session of Internet Explorer. When you click on the File menu inside internet explorer and click on New > Window, you have opened a new window in the same internet explorer session. However, when you click on the Start menu and click on Internet Explorer again, you have opened a new session of internet explorer that runs in its own memory space, and is NOT included in the other Internet Explorer session. Ebay and PER SESSION cookies: 1. First clear all your cookies and open up Internet Explorer. 2. Click on Sign In. 3. Enter your User ID and Password. Do NOT check "Keep me signed in" at the bottom. 4. Click on Sign In. 5. At this point, as soon as you close your browser OR open a new Internet Explorer session (From the Start Menu or Desktop) the cookie will be gone. This is a PER SESSION cookie that will last only as long as you keep your Internet Explorer window open. You can not get rid of this cookie by deleting your cookies. Ebay and PERSISTENT cookies: 1. First clear all your cookies and open up Internet Explorer. 2. Click on Sign In. 3. Enter your User ID and Password. DO Check the "Keep me signed in" at the bottom. 4. Click on Sign In. 5. At this point, as long as you keep the cookie on your computer, you will automatically be signed in. The interesting part is that you can now CLEAR your cookies and WITHOUT closing your internet explorer session, Ebay will stop identifying you. PERSISTENT cookies only work as long as the cookie is on your computer, whereas PER SESSION cookies work until you close the open session of Internet Explorer. OTHER SOURCES: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;196955 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;223799 Please let me know if you need any clarifications and I will do my best to further assist you. tisme-ga Search Strategy: testing using IE6 and using http://support.microsoft.com