Check and test your cookies..

Cookies are small bits of information that a website can store in a secure area on your computer.

Most websites assign you a unique number and store that in the cookie - this is known as a session cookie. Session cookies enable you to stay logged in to a website. If you logged into a website without them, it would not be able to keep track of the fact you have logged in.

If you disable your cookies, you will start to notice some problems using internet websites, and you will find you will no longer be able to login to most websites. (Some websites are able to still track you by storing your session cookie somewhere else).

Some websites store information that you have typed in to a form within the cookie, so that when you return back to the website days later, it can pre-populate the form with the previous information.

Advertisements on a web page often uses cookies, as they also assign you a unique number of their own, this enables them to track which pages you look at, so that they can build a picture of what kinds of things you like and enable them to display adverts that they think you would be interested in.

Some viruses try to copy cookies stored on your computer and send them to someone else. If a virus manages to steal your cookies, it is then possible for it to use it to login to websites pretending to be you. This is only possible if you have not logged off from the websites you have visited. This is the reason why many websites do log you off automatically just to be safe. But it is advisable to log off from websites (eg. Social networks) rather than just close the window.

FAQ

Q. Can too many cookies slow down your computer?
A. Yes. Your computer has to lookup your cookie everytime you visit a website, this can slow your computer down slightly, also cookies are constantly sent to and from the internet which slows down your connection very slightly. If a website uses cookies, it will have to send that cookie to the website every time you visit a page from that website.

Q. What are tracking cookies and how do they infect computers?
A. They dont 'infect' your computer, Some internet advertising companies uses cookies within their adverts. So if you come across an advert from the same advertising company on a different website, they will know you have been to both websites. Adverts can be placed on thousands of different websites, so potentially they can track your browsing habits across their website advertising network. They would store and use this information to send you adverts which they think are more likely to interest you.

Q. How do you delete or erase cookies on your herddrive.
A. It depends on what kind of computer you have, and which kind of browser you using. In most cases, on the menu bar click [tools > options > delete cookies]

Q. Have internet problems with my cookies?
A. Read the information above!