Excuse me while I rant about cookies in general

(not specifically about PTNA use of cookies)

I don't like any cookies but I particularly don't like cookies that have personal identifying information such as my IP address in them as it is designed to frustrate my efforts to delete cookies and gives marketers the potential to merge tracking data so as to identify my browsing habits across other sites using similar technology (because most persistant cookies have a corresponding key entry in the issuing web servers database, and I as the cookie recipient cannot control how those databases containing my data are shared).

For example, if I buy something at an ecommerce site that uses this IP technology they will have a name, address, email, phone and credit card number that theoretically could be linked with other tracking data for that IP. In some cases they can simply look up the IP name and address information in a public Whois database or simply enter http://4.35.100.55/ (or whatever IP, this is an example only) in the address line of their browsers and see where it leads (this does not always work as some ISP's give you a different IP - from a fixed range assigned to that ISP - each time you log on, and not all IP's are in the Whois). Similarly if I am foolish enough to answer an on line questionnaire (or enter some on line contest) they have the potential to link my answers to previous information gathered for that IP.

I am not saying the PTNA is knowingly participating in such a scheme, in fact they say their cookies are used only to save message board settings and manage their shopping cart, but the potential is there and I really don't like that. I consider cookies to be an invasion of privacy so I keep them turned off unless I particularly want to see a page that will not load without them, then I accept them but delete them frequently as the only purpose of the majority of cookies is for marketers to build profiles of your web surfing habits so they can target you for particular advertisements and offers.

Complete eradication of tracking is difficult as cookies can also be set from java scripts, and some marketers use 1 pixel square invisible gif files to track you. Major browser manufacturers supports marketers so they do not make it easy to eliminate cookies, but if you wish to fight back and protect your privacy there are various independent cookie management programs available, the shareware selection from Dave Central is as good a starting point as any. There is a very detailed analysis of the cookie problem at this site and an overview of internet privacy at this site. You will also find additional information, and can obtain a free proxy that will block cookies and advertisements, from Junkbusters and additional privacy links at EPIC. Most pages that try to push cookies on you will work without them so you usually lose nothing by blocking them.

Return to my Treatment of Prolactinomas page

This Page Last Updated on 14th. July, 2000