While rummaging around in my cookie jar, I found this message--along with some cookies.

:Netscape HTTP Cookie File :# http://www.netscape.com/newsref/std/cookie_spec.html :# This is a generated file! Do not edit.

Rather than bring down my system by experimenting, I thought I'd ask the

At 04:34 PM 6/29/96 -0700, vanished@alpha.c2.org wrote: list, "What happens if I delete this file?" and "What happens if I delete (edit) the cookies?"

This may have been discussed before, but until now I never checked for cookies.

Thanks for your consideration of this matter.

Vanished

Delete it at will. Cookies are small tidbits of information that server side CGI progs (and client side JavaScript progs) have saved. Cookies are generally used to identify web users when they return to a site. I've seen cookies named "lastvisit", "userid", and so on. If pathfinder.com creates a cookie, it is only visible to pathfinder.com (that's the theory anyway). Deleting the cookie.txt file will have no ill effects unless you are using one of those "build yer own Start Pages" at MSN or wherever. Altering cookies would send garbage down when the cookie is requested. If you would rather that cookies (and crumb trails) not be allowed simply delete any cookies present and make the nominal file read only. John.