Another dumb computer question

[Patrick]

What is a plug-in ?  Should I block them ?

I just removed a bazillion cookies, whatever they are, and, now am in the process of re-entering log-in info on the most used sites.

[hubcapsc]

What is a plug-in ?  Should I block them ?

I just removed a bazillion cookies, whatever they are, and, now am in the process of re-entering log-in info on the most used sites.

Lots of things are plug-ins. Firefox browsers have plug-ins. In that case, you should only have
the plug-ins that you put there yourself, I would be suspicious of ones pushed to you without
you initiating it. You might have good plug-ins in your browser whose updates are being
pushed to you, that would be a good thing.

Cookies are left on your computer when you visit places. Sometimes they are good for you, sometimes
they are just for others to track you.

I don't like to let computers remember my passwords, but that's just me...

-Mike

[BobB]

In computing, a plug-in (or add-in / addin, plugin, extension or add-on / addon) is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing software application. When an application supports plug-ins, it enables customization. The common examples are the plug-ins used in web browsers to add new features such as search-engines, virus scanners, or the ability to utilize a new file type such as a new video format. Well-known browser plug-ins include the Adobe Flash Player, the QuickTime Player, and the Java plug-in, which can launch a user-activated Java applet on a web page to its execution a local Java virtual machine.

A cookie, also known as an HTTP cookie, web cookie, Internet cookie, or browser cookie, is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored in a user's web browser while the user is browsing that website. Every time the user loads the website, the browser sends the cookie back to the server to notify the website of the user's previous activity.[1] Cookies were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember stateful information (such as items in a shopping cart) or to record the user's browsing activity (including clicking particular buttons, logging in, or recording which pages were visited by the user as far back as months or years ago).

The above definitions are from Wikipedia.  They put it in laymen's terms better than I can. 
 

[Patrick]

OK, thanks. Gives me something more to think about, or, worry about. I think I'll look at these things more often and get rid of them sooner or block them.

Of course, a lot of that info flew way way over my head. But, I'll work on it.


I was initially just trying to speed up this old Mac and came across this stuff. I got rid of and blocked most of it so I'll see if it helps.

[Jess from VA]

I used to go and delete all the cookies all the time, but I got tired of unsuccessfully trying to remember all my login passwords for good sites.  I wish there was a button for deleting only bad cookies.

[0leman]

I have my Internet Explorer set to delete all cookies, temporary internet files, and history when I exit the browser.   I do find every so often a temporary file won't delete because of a security block, so have to do it manually.   Keeps my system a bit cleaner.

I also have the plugin setting set to ask me if I want a plugin or not.  Decline 99.9% of them,

[Patrick]

And I used to think cookies with a cold glass of a milk was a good thing.

[John Schmidt]

Jess, I click on the Start logo at the bottom left(Win-7), then click on Control Panel. On there I click on Internet Options. Toward the bottom right on the smaller box that opens, click on Settings, then next box that opens click View Files. That will show all the cookies and you can delete only the ones you want to delete.

[Jess from VA]

Hey John, I know how to do that.  What I don't know is how to look at the cookie list and tell one from the other, good from bad, or friend from foe.  It's all Greek to me.   

If they had names like good.cookie, bad.cookie, malware.cookie, I could probably figure it out.

[art]

Hey John, I know how to do that.  What I don't know is how to look at the cookie list and tell one from the other, good from bad, or friend from foe.  It's all Greek to me.   

If they had names like good.cookie, bad.cookie, malware.cookie, I could probably figure it out.

All greek to me too. Information overload. I have lot's of stuff there and don't know just what to get rid of. Probably delete some and hope for the best.

[bassman]

+1  They need to have specific simple names for me to know which is good or bad....

[Robert]

Try CCleaner it automatically deletes cookies and browsing history with one click. The paid version cleans your browser automatically when you close it.

[Patrick]

Well, while I was going thru some of the cookie list I found places where my nephew went to awhile ago. Interesting to say the least.  I think I now know why I was getting the 'FBI' warning for awhile.