UKNM: Cookies was RE: UKNM Digest V1 #636

[Ben Thompson]

> Still talking about users. A cookie (unless you're using a cookie to track

a

> login state) will only track a browser, not a user. Also, some people

switch

> off cookies, or have older browsers that don't accept them. Meanwhile in

> Germany, cookies are switched off on browsers by default (due to privacy

> laws).

>

> Piers

>

>

Not totally correct. It very much depends on where and how the cookies are

stored on the machine. From dire experience:-


Netscape under Unix tracks per user (cookies are stored in their home

directory).


IE on NT/ Windows 2000 likewise (user has to login and all personal

information is stored in their own data area.


IE on 95/98 depends on whether the machine asks users to login or not. If it

does, it is stored in your own area. If it does not then the cookies are

general.


Netscape on Windows depends on how it was installed but take the safe route

and assume that the cookies are shared by all users.


On Macs I don't have a clue.


Granted this isn't totally complete and accurate. There are occassions when

other things may occur but general assumptions are usually wrong. Also

remember that at worst cookies will be undercounting unique users /

customers by calling two or three of them a single visitor. And that's

hardly a crime.


Oh, and can people not comment on the weather. Up north, it was raining when

I got up yesterday morning and doesn't appear to have stopped yet.


Ben



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