A corrupt cookie can in fact cause a world of problems, though I wouldn't say it's common. For example, my company has a registration system we call URS (User Registration System) that's deployed across all of our Web sites. There's generally two scenarios, at least for our system, where the cookies can cause problems.
First, whenever we upgrade to a new version of the URS, inevitably the engineers have changed something in the cookie format. They just love to tinker and can't leave well enough alone. Now when this happens the system is supposed to recognize the old format cookie and send you a new one. But there's always gonna be some situations where the new format cookie isn't set correctly, or some browsers don't replace the old one they create a second new cookie, etc. So then you'll have a cookie with a format that our URS does not recognize, and thus it blows up spectacularly. Second, a similar situation, is that we have so many sites running separately that sometimes by accident a wrong version of URS gets rolled out to one of the sites. Again, similar to the above, that means you'll have cookies with incompatible data from the two versions of URS and so as you move around our sites you'll trigger various events that can cause you to get page-not-found errors. Our engineers are pretty bright and if even they can't figure out how to smoothly upgrade cookies then I'm confident other site engineers will have similar issues with their registration/shopping cart systems. --- Rex. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu] On Behalf Of Marta Edie Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 6:14 PM To: MacUser Group MacUserGroup Subject: Re: MacGroup: cookies Hi there, I don't mind the cookies either, but every time something goes wrong and I cannot get through because of a password failure or whatever, then- maybe for lack of knowledge, the people I consult, or call up, think I should get rid of the cookies. That I cannot understand, why a cookie might interfere with my inability to set up a password, and then not get to the site again a second time, being told it is not the correct password or user name. This has happened to me lately, and I would like to know whether somebody just wants to throw the ball into my court to not have to own up to his or her responsibility, or whether there is really something to an interference through cookies. Marta On Jul 21, 2004, at 17:32, Jeff @ SLYN Systems wrote: > I happen to not mind cookies. It makes it quicker when I hit a site. > But then again, I have nothing to hide and am not the least bit > concerned if "Big Brother" is watching. > How are you Marta? > Jeff > > > On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 15:57:31 -0400 Marta Edie <mledie at insightbb.com> > writes: >> Rex, thanks, that is all very good to know, and I know all that, so >> would it be better to just tell the browser in the preferences to >> NOT >> accept any cookies? Would that then slow up the process? I have set >> >> mine to only sites that I navigate to (Safari has this option) but I >> >> also navigate to sites that prove unsatisfactory, should I then >> trash >> these sites? My cookies are so plentyful at the moment that I think >> I >> should take some action. >> Marta >> On Jul 21, 2004, at 14:49, Rex Baldazo wrote: >> >>> The biggest upside to cookies is that it's a way for Web sites to >>> remember you. That is unfortunately also the biggest downside. >>> >>> For example, once you've logged onto Amazon.com it sets a cookie >> in >>> your >>> browser so that the next time you visit, they can remember who you >> are >>> and give you personalized recommendations. >>> >>> By the same token it also means ad-serving companies can track >> you >>> across the Internet (in the interest of full disclosure, my >> employer >>> does serve ads from Doubleclick on occasion). So for example if >> you >>> visit two sites that both serve Doubleclick ads, then Doubleclick >> knows >>> something about your Web surfing habits and can (theoretically) >> use >>> that >>> profile information to target their ads better. And sell that >> profile >>> info to advertisers (i.e., Honda might want to target banner ads >> to >>> women with young kids, so Doubleclick could slice thru their >> database >>> looking for users who've visited both iVillage.com and >> Toysrus.com. It >>> wouldn't be a perfect demographic match but it might be pretty >> darned >>> good). >>> >>> --- Rex. >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: owner-macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu >>> [mailto:owner-macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu] On Behalf Of >> Marta >>> Edie >>> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 2:38 PM >>> To: MacUser Group MacUserGroup >>> Subject: MacGroup: cookies >>> >>> Hello, group! >>> What are the benefits and disadvantages for keeping cookies or >> removing >>> cookies. Or: When might it become necessary to remove all cookies >> and >>> in >>> what way would that be beneficial or hurtful to me? I haven't >> heard the >>> official voice on that Marta >>> >>> >>> >>> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will be July >> 27. >>> | The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >>> | List posting address: >> <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> >>> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup> >>> >>> >>> >>> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >>> | be July 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >>> | List posting address: >> <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> >>> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup> >>> >> >> >> >> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >> | be July 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >> | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> >> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup> >> >> > > > Jeff Slyn, Owner > SLYN Systems & Peripherals > (502) 426-5469 > serving Kentuckiana clients 7 days a week since 1985! > > ________________________________________________________________ > The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! > Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! > Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be July 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be July 27. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>
