Cookies - To delete or not to delete? That is the question.

[trastevere]

AVG scan shows no threats but 415 'warnings'. These all relate to tracking cookies. If I were to go to control box and delete cookies I presume sites like theanswerbank and several others which I use regularly would no longer instantly recognise me and save me the minor irritation of having to log in on every visit. Please advise on this, and, to what extent are cookies harmful?

[vehelpfulguy]

If AVG lists 415 warnings you can delete them from within AVG.

Cannot remember exact details of how to do it but you have to select all these warnings and then select "send to vault" or "delete warnings" or something like that.

AVG will then delete them all but leave your other cookies.

As you say, if you select "delete cookies" you will delete all your cookies, good and bad.

It is not a major problem because next time you visit AB or other site where you need to log on it will create a new cookie and you will not need to logon again.

Cookies are not really that harmful, as they are only a "text" file. Having said that it is good to clear them all out every now and again.

Problem is, once you use the intrnet for a hour you will probably have another 100 again so you cannot win.

[joggerjayne]

With ie8 (beta 2) you can set it so that every time you close Internet Explorer, it deletes all your cookies and temp files.

But yes, you do have to log in each time to your regular sites.