A cookie is a text-only string that gets entered into the memory of your web browser. This value of a variable that a website sets. If the lifetime of this value is set to be longer than the time you spend at that site, then this string is saved to file for future reference.

The information the cookie contains is set by the web server and it can be used by that server whenever the user visits the site. A cookie can be thought of as an internet user's identification card, which tells a web site when the user has returned.

Are cookies dangerous to my computer?

NO. A cookie is a simple piece of text. It is not a program, or a plug-in. It cannot be used as a virus, and it cannot access your hard drive. Your browser (not a programmer) can save cookie values to your hard disk if it needs to, but that is the limit of the effect on your system.

Can cookies threaten users' privacy?

Cookies are stored on the computer's hard drive. They cannot access the hard drive - so a cookie can't read other information saved on the hard drive, or get a user's e-mail address etc. They only contain and transfer to the server as much information as the users themselves have disclosed to a certain web site.

A cookie is a text-only string that gets entered into the memory of your browser. This value of a variable that a website sets. If the lifetime of this value is set to be longer than the time you spend at that site, then this string is saved to file for future reference.

The following instructions describe how to enable Cookies in your browser. If your browser isn't listed, please consult the browsers online help pages.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 - 10.0

1. Select the 'Tools->Internet Options' menu item, and then open the 'Privacy' tab - you can then adjust the slider to block or allow various categories of cookie.
2. Alternatively by clicking 'Advanced...' you can exercise finer control over the browser's behavior, choosing whether to accept, block, or prompt for cookies originating either on the website you are visiting (first party cookies) or originating from websites other than the one you are visiting (third party cookies, typically used by banner advertisements hosted on an advertiser's website).

Firefox 7.0 and newer

1. Use the 'Tools->Options' menu item (may be under the Firefox button), then choose the 'Privacy' tab. Set the 'Firefox will:' option to 'Use custom settings for history'.
2. Now you can choose whether cookies are enabled for websites you visit and third party websites, and if so how long they will persist. You can also use the 'Exceptions' button to override the settings for particular websites.

Internet Explorer, 7 or 8

1. Click Start > Control Panel. (With Windows XP Classic View, click the Windows Start button > Settings > Control Panel).
2. Double-click the Internet Options icon.
3. Select the Privacy tab.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Select "Override automatic cookie handling" under the "Cookies" section in the Advanced Privacy Settings window.
6. Select the "Accept" or "Prompt" option under "First-party Cookies."
7. Select the "Accept" or "Prompt" option under "Third-party Cookies." (If you select the "Prompt" option, you'll be asked for approval every time a website attempts to send you a cookie.)
8. In the Internet Options window, click OK to exit.

Internet Explorer 6

1. Click Start > Control Panel. (With Windows XP Classic View, click the Windows Start button > Settings > Control Panel).
2. Click Advanced.
3. Select "Override Automatic Cookie Handling."
4. Select the "Accept" or "Prompt" option under "First-party Cookies."
5. Select the "Accept" or "Prompt" option under "Third-party Cookies." (If you select the "Prompt" option, you'll be asked for approval every time a website attempts to send you a cookie.)
6. In the Internet Options window, click OK to exit.

Mozilla Firefox 3.x for Windows

1. ck Tools > Options.
2. Click Privacy in the top panel.
3. Set "Firefox will:" to Use custom settings for history.
4. Check the box next to "Accept cookies from sites" to enable cookies.
5. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox 2.x for Windows

1. Click Tools > Options.
2. Click Privacy in the top panel.
3. Select the checkbox labeled "Accept cookies from sites."
4. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox for Mac

1. Go to the Firefox drop-down menu.
2. Select Preferences.
3. Click Privacy.
4. Set "Firefox will:" to Use custom settings for history.
5. Check the box next to "Accept cookies from sites" to enable cookies.
6. Click OK.

Apple Safari 3

1. Go to the Safari drop-down menu.
2. Select Preferences.
3. Click Security in the top panel.
4. Under "Accept Cookies" select Only from sites you navigate to

Chrome for Windows

1. Click the Tools menu.
2. Select Options.
3. Click the Under the Hood tab.
4. Click Content settings in the "Privacy" section.
5. Select Allow local data to be set to allow both first-party and third-party cookies. If you only want to accept first-party cookies, check the box next to "Block all third-party cookies without exception."

Chrome for Mac

1. Select Chrome > Preferences on the menu bar.
2. Click the Under the Hood tab.
3. Click Content settings in the "Privacy" section.
4. Select Allow local data to be set to allow both first-party and third-party cookies. If you only want to accept first-party cookies, check the box next to "Block all third-party cookies without exception."

Security/firewall/anti-virus software can sometimes affect how browsers handle cookies. Please make sure you have cookies enabled in your software, or add the appropiate domain to your "safe list" of sites.

JavaScript is fundamentally safe. The programmers who designed JavaScript deliberately omitted the ability to write to your disk or do other things that could damage your computer. JavaScript has been abused to open unwanted windows or change the page you're viewing in unwanted ways. These things are annoying, but not truly damaging. Modern browsers intercept and prevent the worst of the annoyances.

The following instructions describe how to enable JavaScript in your browser. If your browser isn't listed, please consult the browsers online help pages.

Mozilla Firefox

1. In the address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
2. Click "I'll be careful, I promise" if a warning message appears.
3. In the search box, search for javascript.enabled.
4. Toggle the "javascript.enabled" preference (right-click and select "Toggle" or double-click the preference) to change the value from "false" to "true".
5. Click on the "Reload current page" button of the web browser to refresh the page.

Google Chrome

1. On the web browser menu click on the "Customize and control Google Chrome" and select "Settings".
2. In the "Settings" section click on the "Show advanced settings..."
3. Under "Privacy" click on the "Content settings...".
4. When the dialog window opens, look for the "JavaScript" section and select "Allow all sites to run JavaScript (recommended)".
5. Click on the "OK" button to close it.
6. Close the "Settings" tab.
7. Click on the "Reload this page" button of the web browser to refresh the page.

Internet Explorer

1. On web browser menu click "Tools" menu and select "Internet Options"..
2. In the "Internet Options" window select the "Security" tab.
3. On the "Security" tab click on the "Custom level..." button.
4. When the "Security Settings - Internet Zone" dialog window opens, look for the "Scripting" section.
5. In the "Active Scripting" item select "Enable"..
6. When the "Warning!" window pops out asking "Are you sure you want to change the settings for this zone?" select "Yes".
7. In the "Internet Options" window click on the "OK" button to close it.
8. Click on the "Refresh" button of the web browser to refresh the page.

Internet Explorer (6.0)

1. Select Tools from the top menu.
2. Choose Internet Options.
3. Click Security.
4. Click Custom Level.
5. Scroll down till you see section labeled Scripting.
6. Under Active Scripting, select Enable and click OK.

Internet Explorer (7.0)

1. Select Tools > Internet Options.
2. Click on the Security tab.
3. Click the Custom Level button.
4. Scroll down to the Scripting section.
5. Select Enable for Active Scripting and Scripting of Java Applets.
6. Click OK.
7. Select YES if a box appears to confirm.
8. Click OK. Close window.
9. Reload page.

Internet Explorer (8.0)

1. Click on the Tools from the top menu.
2. Select Internet Options in the menu.
3. Click on the Privacy tab near the top of the window.
4. Click on the Default button of the window.
5. Move the slider so that it is on one of the levels below Medium High (including Medium, Low, Accept All Cookies).
6. Save changes by clicking OK.

Mozilla Firefox < 23

1. On the web browser menu click "Tools" and select "Options".
2. In the "Options" window select the "Content" tab.
3. Mark the "Enable JavaScript" checkbox.
4. In the opened "Options" window click on the "OK" button to close it.
5. Click on the "Reload current page" button of the web browser to refresh the page.

Mozilla Firefox (2.x and 3.x)

1. Open Firefox.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click Content in the Options list.
4. Under the Content section, check the box next to Enable JavaScript.
5. Click the Advanced button to open the Advanced JavaScript Options box.
6. Check the boxes under Allow scripts to section that you want to allow.
7. Click OK.
8. Click OK.

Apple Safari

1. Select Safari from the top menu.
2. Choose Preferences.
3. Choose Security.
4. Select the checkbox next to Enable JavaScript.
5. Click on the "Reload the current page" button of the web browser to refresh the page.

Opera

1. Click on "Menu", hover mouse on the "Settings" then hover mouse on the "Quick preferences" and mark the "Enable JavaScript" checkbox.
2. If "Menu bar" is shown click on the "Tools", hover mouse on the "Quick preferences" and mark the "Enable JavaScript" checkbox.

Opera < v 10

1. On the web browser menu click "Tools" and select "Preferences".
2. In the "Preferences" window select the "Advanced" tab.
3. On the "Advanced" tab click on "Content" menu item.
4. Mark the "Enable JavaScript" checkbox.
5. In the opened "Preferences" window click on the "OK" button to close it.
6. Click on the "Reload" button of the web browser to refresh the page.

There are several possibilities for this problem.

1. You may be running software (security/firewall/anti-virus) that interferes with cookie usage. There are many filtering and blocking software out there that will block or unintentionally disrupt the usage of cookies. Please make sure you have cookies enabled in your software, or add the appropiate domain to your "safe list" of sites.
2. Your machine may be behind a firewall or proxy server that prevents cookie transmission. This is most likely in a corporate environment. So, regardless of how your browser is set, cookies won't be sent or received by your browser. You may want to contact you System Administrator about this issue.