How can I disable and delete Web browser cookies that track my surfing habits?
A. Cookies are small bits of text that a Web server gives your computer’s Web browser when you visit certain sites. With this text in your browser’s cookie file, the website can identify you the next time you visit and present you with customized greetings or personalized settings.
Some types of cookies, usually referred to as “tracking cookies,” are used by third-party advertisers when you visit a site. The cookies retain information about your Web-surfing habits that can be taken into account in presenting advertising geared to your perceived interests.
You can usually set your Web browser to reject cookies from websites other than the one you chose to visit. In Internet Explorer 6, for example, you can find these settings under the Tools menu, in the Internet Options box. Click the General tab, then on Delete Cookies to get rid of existing cookies.
Next, click on the Privacy tab in the Internet Options box and then on the Advanced button. Check the box next to “Override automatic cookie handling” and click on the Block option under “Third-party Cookies” before clicking on the OK button. Many anti-spyware programs will also delete tracking cookies from your computer.
Q. The tray on my laptop’s CD drive keeps opening unexpectedly.
I have antivirus and anti-spyware software for Windows XP installed, updated and running, so what might be causing this behavior?
A. Several computer viruses have been known to randomly pop open the computer’s CD drive, and antivirus and anti-spyware programs can help prevent this sort of infection. If you have used the programs to run full system scans and have found no viruses or spyware pests lurking on your hard drive, you might try reinstalling driver software that lets Windows communicate with your laptop’s CD drive hardware.
To do so, right-click on the system’s My Computer icon and select Properties. Click on the Hardware tab in the box and select Device Manager. Locate your CD drive in the list. Right-click on the drive and select Uninstall. After you have uninstalled the driver, right-click on another device and select “Scan for hardware changes” to reinstall the CD driver.
If reinstalling the device driver does not help, the problem may be mechanical. The button that latches the drive shut may be stuck or the disc tray may not be functioning properly.
If the button does not appear to be stuck, you may want to have a computer repair technician examine the drive for internal problems.