Cookies

This site requires that cookies are enabled in your browser.

For your privacy concerns, please view our privacy policy.

What is a Cookie?

A message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.

Also see session cookie and persistent cookie.

The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized Web pages for them. When you enter a Web site using cookies, you may be asked to fill out a form providing such information as your name and interests. This information is packaged into a cookie and sent to your Web browser which stores it for later use. The next time you go to the same Web site, your browser will send the cookie to the Web server. The server can use this information to present you with custom Web pages. So, for example, instead of seeing just a generic welcome page you might see a welcome page with your name on it.

The name cookie derives from UNIX objects called magic cookies. These are tokens that are attached to a user or program and change depending on the areas entered by the user or program.

How do I enable Cookies?

Depeding upon what web browser you are using the instructions are different. Listed below are the instructions for popular web browsers. If you are using another browser, you will need to check with their support to determine how to enable cookies.

Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 6.X/7.X:

  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Select Internet Options from the Tools menu.
  3. In Internet Options dialog box select the Privacy tab.
  4. Select what cookie security level you would like in the Settings frame. (The default level is Medium)
  5. Click OK to close out.
  6. Hit Refresh.

 

 

 

 

 

Enabling Cookies in Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox 1.X

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
  2. Select Options... from the Tools menu.
  3. In the Privacy Menu, Expand the Cookies menu (by clicking on the + sign) and check "Allow sites to set cookies".
  4. Click OK to close out.
  5. Hit Refresh.

Mozilla Firefox 2.X

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
  2. Select Options... from the Tools menu.
  3. In the Privacy Menu, Expand the Cookies menu (by clicking on the + sign) and check "Accept cookies from sites".
  4. Click OK to close out.
  5. Hit Refresh.

Safari

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Select Preferences from the Safari menu.
  3. Click Security.
  4. Under Accept Cookies the Always or Only from sites you navigate to must be selected.
  5. Click OK to close out.
  6. Click Reload.

Netscape 7.X

  1. Open Netscape.
  2. Select Prefences from the Edit menu.
  3. Expand the Privacy & Security selection in the left part of the window.
  4. Click on the Cookies selection.
  5. Under the Cookie Acceptance Policy - either check the Enable all cookies or Allow cookies based on policy settings.
  6. If Allow cookies based on policy settings is selected, click on View and ensure that the level is at low or medium.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Click Reload.