Login time

I can't imagine clearing my cookies (maybe it does some other useful stuff, in which case I apologise). I would lose all my passwords, preferences, and goodness knows what else.

 

That's a different "password thignie" to cookie.

Your browser can remember that it saw a password field (because they are special, to display ***** rather than the actual text) on a particular web site / page, and will remember the details. But if the website is changed it may not be able to remember it any more [a small risk, which I'm sure you are comfortable with]

Cookies contain data, on your PC, which is put there by the web site you visit.

So Gardeners Corner can store, say, the last time you were logged in, and then mark the threads that are newer than that with the little icon. The site may also use a cookie to store your password, so that you remain automatically logged in from day-to-day.

You will not be logged in if you switch to another machine, because that won't have your cookies of course. And Gardeners Corner cannot read the Cookies from any other site - so the system is inherently safe in that regard. And actually, in the hands of normal well meaning companies, very useful in providing a richer experience for the user.

But of course people exploit all sort of things, cookies are no different.

If Gardeners Corner [just using them as an example, I'm not meaning to imply ANYTHING] have an advertisment, and lets say they use an outfit like Trade Doubler <SPIT!> to provide advertisiements - the sort of thing where you see a different advert every time - then Trade Doubler will drop a cookie. Trouble is that's a Trade Doubler cookie, so now they know that you have visited Gardeners Corner, but also Naughty Lingerie or whatever - because all those cookies are Trade Doubler cookies, not Gardeners Corner ones. Then use that information to make a profile about that computer [they probably don't know it is YOU, only that it is your PC]. Theoretically they will provide you with adverts more tailored to your interests. Maybe ... maybe not :(

Modern browser versions should be set, by default, to reject what are called as "third party cookies", which scuppers the Trade Doubler example above - but its worth checking that your settings ARE set to reject 3rd part cookies

But unfortunately that just means that the bad folk just get more devious ...

 

I'm a FireFox fan too. I have some plug-ins that disallow all sorts of things - so I reckon my paranoia level on that front is pretty high. Trouble is that they are rather techie-tools, so not easy for ordinary mortals to use, and they are highly intrusive when browsing :(

One thing to add: anyone logging on to any site on a public computer [which should probably include a friend's computer] should make sure that they log off and close the browser before leaving.

 

The answer is very simple and nothing to do with cookies or servers. When you log on, be sure to put a tick in the "Remember me" box and you can stay logged on forever! :cutflwrs:

 

I also have trouble with login, I have to reset password sometimes twice and although I go to user control and reset password.. the next time I try to login I have to fiddle about again. I use Opera as I just cant get IE to work at all. I have cleared all cookies and all other sites work ok(having re-entered passwords etc but GC plays me up. Something in memory perhaps I just dont know.
edit. Just found I can login with IE using old password.

Should I have started a new thread am I hijacking if so say.

 

Hi Marley Farley, At the mo Opera is accessing GC every time but I have not sorted the IE browser. So no probs. thanks.