Cookies

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by Cottontop3000, Mar 2, 2006.

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  1. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    17,455
    delete the bastards and don't look back

    but i have found a loophole
    the index.dat file that you can't delete has a log of all your websites that you visited. so it really doesn't matter if you delete your cookies if you leave the index.dat file on your computer
    and if that isn't enough there are at least 5 or 6 locations that store the file and even worse is not all of them have browsing stats
    so the bottom line is delete your cookies and look for a program that will delete the right index.dat files

    complicated? i'm sure that is by design
    i'll look around for a program that will delete index.dat and when/if i find one i'll post a link
     
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  3. Cottontop3000 Death Beckoned Registered Senior Member

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    When I first got the broadband, I wasn't happy with the speed and called and bitched several times. Finally, they did something that sped it up quite a bit, just to shut me up probably. I'm still not thrilled with the download speed, but I don't download a lot so I thought I better quit while I was ahead.
     
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  5. Cottontop3000 Death Beckoned Registered Senior Member

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    I'm sure you are right. Thanks.
     
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  7. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    i found such a program i downloaded it and ran it
    i deleted all my index.dat files and i see no problems

    i cant remember the website but the program name is idsuite
    i'm sure a google search will reveal a download link

    edit
    try this link
    http://support.it-mate.co.uk/?mode=Products&p=index.datsuite
     
  8. Cottontop3000 Death Beckoned Registered Senior Member

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    Thanks leopold. I'll do that.
     
  9. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    the following is taken from the help files of idsuite

    Index.dat files are files that are stored on your computer and store information on every website you have visited. Every single webpage from search engines, to online bank site's are stored in these file's, along with e-mails you have sent via Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express.
    Index.dat file's are actually cloaked rather than hidden, which is why you will not find them when using the built in Windows "Find" or "Search" feature.
    The reason for these file's is not yet known as Microsoft have never (at time of writing) provided anyone with an adequate explanation as to their purpose, or why they are hidden in this manner.
    Even when you use the deletion options provided in Internet Explorer, the index.dat file's, including their content's, are left untouched.
     
  10. Cottontop3000 Death Beckoned Registered Senior Member

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    That's interesting. I'm sure there is all kinds of shit on my computer that someone/somewhere can use to spy on me. Pisses me off.

    Hey, when you "view cookies" from tools, options, privacy, cookies - in Firefox, there is a box at the bottom that you can check that says "Don't allow sites that set removed cookies to set future cookies." Do you have this checked?
     
  11. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    no i don't
    but like i said, i have my browser set to delete cookies on exit
     
  12. Cottontop3000 Death Beckoned Registered Senior Member

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    ok, cool. It's amazing how many cookies you can get just from clicking on one link. I clicked on a link in another thread a minute ago and got 8 or 9 cookies for doubleclick. what else can you tell me about cookies, when you have the time and inclination?
     
  13. Firefly Registered Senior Member

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  14. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    17,455
    there is nothing in these links that mention the index.dat files

    index.dat files store every site you visit, they even store some things that you do off line.

    deleting cookies will do no good unless you delete the index.dat files too

    as mentioned in a previous post of mine index.dat files will not show up in a computer search because they are cloaked
     
  15. Blindman Valued Senior Member

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    1,425
    What’s the point of deleting files from your system when your ISP has it all on record? Depending on the state and country you live in the authorities may have the right to investigate all your surfing habits.

    You can’t hide, cookies are your friends, and paranoia is bad for you!!!!

    Don’t worry unless you are involved in crime, you have nothing to fear. Company X will not target you, but the 10% of demographic A.

    Of course someone like me, if motivated may be able to access your personal surfing habits, but why would we bother. Maybe your mom, girl friend or work associates may find your surfing habits interesting, but I and everyone else don’t care.

    Only liars need to hide information.
     
  16. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    you are wrong blindman
    how can i be lying by surfing the web ?
    it's nobodys business what i search for, the websites i visit, the files i download, or how long i stay on a particular page

    and about this privacy bit
    the index.dat files store what you do offline which is definatly NOBODYS business but mine

    on my os if you do a computer search for index.dat it will only return one entry but there are 5 different files stored in 5 different locations. why is that ?
    hidden you say? no, they are cloaked which is why a search will not find them

    whats the purpose of these files? why are they storing info on what you do offline? why are they cloaked? even the most critical system files aren't cloaked

    i have located a program that will delete the index.dat files, all of them
    the link is in a previous post
     
  17. Blindman Valued Senior Member

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    1,425
    I don’t care, but your friends might. What are you hiding.

    Please… What a load of crap.. index.dat only has your username. What it holds is only accessible to the local machine, or intranet. You will only slow down your machine by deleting it.

    Yes it is. You pay money for these services. To be competitive you must be cost efficient, you must know your market. You pay for every bit that you use, and many people have made extreme risks just to give you the internet.

    Because we are all out to get YOU!!!
     
  18. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    this right here proves to me that haven't a clue as to what you are talking about
     
  19. Blindman Valued Senior Member

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    Dittto.

    Show me a GUID in this file, and demonstrate the human machine integration.
     
  20. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    there are 5 of them, which one do you want?
    when you said that the index.dat files only had your user name in it you demonstrated that you never even seen one of these files
    furthermore you probably didn't even knew they existed or you wouldn't make such a stupid remark like "they only have your user name in them"
     
  21. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

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    19,083
    I'm not concerned about cookies much,
    besides they are at most times useful (for example so I don't have to enter my Sciforums login every time I visit this site).
    Sometimes I go through the cookie list and delete those I don't need.

    I've also set in Firefox preferences that cookies can be set by the originating site only, that protects from many cookies of advertisers.
     
  22. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    Are those index.dat files Windblows only? I checked with my search and didn't find any.

    -----
    edit: It appears that yes, Windblows only
    Here's a site to help you remove them - http://www.acesoft.net/delete_index.dat_files.htm

    ----------
    one more website: http://www.winguides.com/security/article/12/index-dat

    seems to be a IE only thing too
     
  23. leopold Valued Senior Member

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    17,455
    they are cloaked, meaning that they will not show up in a file search of your computer.
    i have windows me and there are 5 such files on my machine, but when i do a file search only the one in my cookie folder is listed

    i would assume that if linux had a equivelent that it would be in the folder that stores your cookies
     
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