Modern Vespa

OK, I can't figure out this cookie thing on my computer. I do not accept cookies from anyone unless it is something like a forum I frequent. I allow cookies for MV and several others but with MV, once I accept cookies (and leave them there in my cookie file) then turn cookies off ... I have to accept cookies again, sign in again and do it all over each and every time I visit. Why aren't the cookies stored?

It is really annoying. I can't seem to make the cookies stay put! What's even more annoying is that while on MV, any links I click on load me up with all their cookies as well. So I have to go in and clean up cookies each and every time I visit.

Is there something I am doing wrong? Other forums I visit store the cookies basically forever. I don't have to sign in each time I visit. Is there a fix for this?

I have W-XP and Firefox.I control my cookies thru Tools-Options-Exceptions Is the MV site on your exceptions list? If not,you need to type it in and click allow.I also have my cookies allowed until I close Firefox.Once I close Firefox all cookies are deleted except websites in the exceptions box.I have no idea if this helps you or not...

Tim

The cookies MV sends are updated every time you log in, AFAIK. So if your cookies are turned off, the site won't be able to update them, which messes up the ability of the site to track when you last logged in and which threads you haven't read yet, or which have been updated.

Ok ... so I guess if I want to use MV, I will just have to get used to logging in each and every time I visit. Bummer!

Thanks for the response Jess. I am using a MacPro 3,1 and use Safari. I have no idea if you can have cookies turned off but have an exceptions list. Does anyone else know if it can be done on my machine? I refuse to leave cookies turned on. I don't want other sites tracking my comings and goings but I don't mind if this site does and a few "select" others ... if I am a member.

Well how else could you post on MV,if you do not sign in? I just shut off my cookies to see what would happen.Everything's still the same on MV. I'm just curious,what is it you want your computer to do when it get's to the MV site?

Tim

I got over the whole cookie thing about ten years ago. At some point, the web becomes unusable without cookies. Rail against them all you want, but you're ultimately going to lose that battle, sad to say.

That said, Safari has an option (in Preferences under "Security") that allows cookies to be accepted only from sites that you actually navigate to. Inherent in that is a restriction against sites looking at the cookies from other sites. This is a good compromise between accepting cookies and not being able to use the web at all. If the site you navigate to can only see the cookies from itself, you're not putting yourself in any particular risk of being tracked across sites.

Put another way, cookies are not actually the antichrist. I realize you've been led to believe that, but the idea that cookies are inherently evil passed by the wayside quite a long time ago.

Ahah!
That must be the one tracking cookie that my Anti-virus software always finds
(and says is not a serious threat)

Hi Jess,

Each to his/her own. Antichrist or not, I will not leave cookies turned on so I'll just continue to turn them on for your site only, turn them off again when I am done and clean out the cookies collected while visiting links.

I have not found the internet unusable by keeping cookies turned off and I have an internet based business. I am on the internet all day every day and have been for 15 years. As I said, each to their own. Thanks again for the response.

So you're saying that you turn cookies on, sign into MV to set the cookie, then turn cookies off?

That won't work because while cookies are turned off, the browser stops responding to requests to read the stored cookies. So even if you have a cookie with your session info (it's actually a hashed session ID, not any personal info), the browser will not allow MV to see it since you have cookies turned off. Also, the cookie expires after a period of time.

Just out of curiosity, what's the basis for your objection to cookies?

No. I leave the cookies on while I am on the MV site. I then turn them off again when I leave, clean out all the cookies I collected from clicking on links here and resume my normal, everyday routine of surfing the web with cookies turned off.

I turn them on again to sign in and use this site and this site only as it is the only forum I frequent which does not store the cookies and requires new cookies each time you visit. It's Jess's site and he has set it up the way he wants. It's no big deal ... I will just keep doing what I have been doing since I became a member but I have no intention of leaving cookies on at all times just so I don't have to sign in each time I visit this forum.

It's not so much my choice as the way phpBB is designed.

Suit yourself. If you want to expend the effort, that's entirely your choice.

I'm with fuzzylogic, I don't understand the benefit you achieve by turning off or deleting cookies from sites you regularly visit. Okay, you've been doing it for years and that's your preference. I suppose that's enough said.

Understood Jess ... and once again thanks! It's no biggie. You have not understood or read my posts very carefully. I do not turn the cookies off from sites I regularly visit. The problem is that this site (or the software it uses) requires that you have cookies turned on at all times in order to recognize you at all.

Most other forums allow you to store their cookies but still keep cookies turned off. They recognize you when you visit because their cookies are stored on your computer. This site does not have that ability. The way this site is set up is that (if you don't want to have to sign in each time you visit) you must have cookies turned on all the time and I just won't do that. As I said, it's no big deal. I will handle it.

My reasons for not wanting cookies turned on at all times and accepting cookies from every single site I visit, day in and day out are my own. I have had problems in the past because of it. Let's just leave it at that OK?

Sounds like you've developed a system that works,
but there are also other workable options

Probably the easiest to implement is to use different browsers when you are visiting MV
So if you normally use Explorer, use Firefox for MV
Or if you normally use Safari, use Firefox for MV
(I do like Firefox)

As far as I can tell, the browsers can't read each other's cookies
(And I'm hoping that someone will correct me if I'm wrong)

I just thought about it, and FWIW although I usually have cookies turned on, when I turn them off and back on I don't have the same problem. I don't lose the MV cookie. This is in Firefox.

Though, I would rather just sign in fresh than dig into the menu to turn cookies on every time. Also, I have a plugin called Stealther that allows me to turn off cookies, cache, and history with one click. You might want to try that.

Another option is to leave cookies turned off altogether but still save your username and password in the browser. At least Firefox and IE, perhaps others, have a forms "auto-fill" feature that will remember your username and password and auto-fill them when you visit the site. You would only have to click the "submit" button.

Also, Firefox has a "Delete Private Data" feature that allows you to delete cookies, history, and saved form data with one click.