Crush the cookies

Cookies are small information-packed text files that Web sites store on your hard disk. They contain information about you and your preferences, and are essentially a record of your activity on the Internet. This week's pick of software is devoted to erasing cookies from your computer.

X-Biscuit 1.42

X-Biscuit destroys all cookies received on 3.x versions of Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Its functionalities are accessible by clicking on an icon in the Windows' task bar. No complicated settings are necessary to run this application.

Filesize: 0.75 M

Purchase Info: Freeware

Platforms: Win 95/98, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.total.net/clope

Cookie Cruncher 2.11

This program protects your hard drive from unwanted cookies. The latest version of Cookie Cruncher works with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

It gives you the power to select which cookies to keep or delete at boot-up. You can also view the content of the cookies and edit Explorer cookies.

Filesize: 0.49 M

Purchase Info: Freeware

Platforms: Win 95/98, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.rbaworld.com

MagicCookie 1.5.1

MagicCookie adds a small button to the top of your screen which, when pushed, automatically erases all your cookies.

Filesize: 1.87 M

Purchase Info: Freeware

Platforms: Win 3.x, Win 95/98, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.jlyne.com/products/

Cookie Eater 1.0

Cookie Eater is another nifty utility that keeps your hard drive free of nasty cookies that accumulate from Web surfing.

Filesize: 0.01 M

Purchase Info: Freeware

Platforms: Win 95/98, Win 2000, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.dittotech.com

QuickClear Lite

QuickClear is a handy tool to erase all records of Internet activity, as it goes beyond deleting cookies, allowing you to quickly clear temporary Internet files, History, Recent Documents, and even empty your Recycle Bin.

Filesize: 0.54 M

Purchase Info: Freeware

Platforms: Win 95/98, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.macrospeed.net

IDcide Privacy Companion 1.0.3

The IDcide Privacy Companion is a free browser add-on that alerts you when you are being watched on the Net. It also shows you who is following you and lets you decide how much personal information to give away. This product is aimed at protecting the privacy of Web surfers.

Filesize: 1.31 M

Purchase Info: Freeware

Platforms: Win 95/98, Win 2000, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.idcide.com

Cookie Pal 1.6c

Cookie Pal is a complete, easy-to-use cookie manager that helps protect your privacy on the Internet.

Filesize: 0.42 M

Purchase Info: Shareware

Platforms: Win 3.x, Win 95/98, Win 2000, Win NT

Download Location: www.kburra.com

Cookie Crusher 2.5

Cookie Crusher selectively filters cookies in real-time based on user-configurable preferences. It rejects all cookies, allowing you to get back to your Web browsing tasks.

This process allows Web pages to load considerably faster, since the user does not have to manually reject each individual cookie.

This latest version can specify particular cookies from servers to add to the `Accept From' or `Reject From' list. For example, a user could reject a User ID cookie from a particular site, yet accept a shopping cart cookie from the same server domain.

Filesize: 1 MB

Purchase Info: Shareware

Platforms: Win 95/98, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.jlyne.com/products

Cookie Terminator 1.0

Cookie Terminator will clean up hidden cookies and prevent Web sites from snooping around your machine. It comes with a slick user interface that pops up from the system tray.

The software allows you to specify automatic cookie cleanup, eliminating the need for human intervention. It works with both Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers.

Filesize: 0.20 M

Purchase Info: Shareware

Platforms: Win 95/98, Win NT 3.51, Win NT 4.0

Download Location: www.4developers.com

Compiled by C.Ramesh

Please e-mail us at eworld@thehindu.co.in if you have queries on computer usage or if you find an interesting way of using the computer.