How do you check cookies on the computer

Avatar for jupiterfit
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
How do you check cookies on the computer
13
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 6:05am
I was wondering how you check to see if anyone in the household has been viewing inappropriate sites. I know about checking history, but if that is deleted is there another place to check? I heard about checking cookies.
Deb
Debbie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 7:00am

I go to My Computer, then right click on the C: drive (hard drive) and click "Explore"

Avatar for jupiterfit
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 10:39am
I got as far as all the folders coming up, but there wasn't one labeled "cookies". Any other ideas?
Deb
Debbie
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 11:14am
Deb,
Assuming kids know how to delete the history files, the only way I know of to monitor web site visitation is to install monitoring software.
At http://www.lavasoft.de there is a free download of "ad-aware" in the bottom right corner.
This is a utility that scans for cookies and spyware that you can review and delete.
Cookies don't have very descriptive names so I don't know if this will be helpful, but at least it will remove the junk from your computer.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2005
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 11:28am
You cna also purchase monitoring software. My friend had this done when she was having problems. It will record web sites visited, im's and keystrokes, etc.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 2:33pm

You can also do a search on your computer for any folder or file containing 'cookies'.

Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2005
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 2:36pm

Look for a folder labeled "TEMP" or "Temporary Internet Folders". On my work and home machines, that's where the cookies are.

You can also go to the "Tools" drop down menu in Internet Explorer and choose Internet Options. there's a button there that says delete cookies - you can't see them this way, just delete them.

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 3:21pm
Make it easy on yourself. Tell them not to delete the history; that if the history is deleted you'll assume they were going places that aren't allowed. Works for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 5:16pm

I assume you have Internet Explorer? If so open up the Internet browser. Using the menu at the top select "Tools" and then "Internet Options". On the first "General" tab there should be a box in the middle that talks about "Temporary Internet Files" with three buttons ie "Delete Cookies", "Delete Files" and "Settings". Click on "Settings". You'll get a dialogue asking you how much history to keep etc. There should be a "View Files" button. Click that and it will show you all temporary files including Cookies. The view you get should show you not only the cookies but the last time the web site was accessed.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 10:47pm
Hmm..I can see one flaw with that...it is possible to selectively delete in the history - to take out just one or two websites, adn leave the rest. I know because I do this myself, as I don't want my teens noticing THIS site, where I come to talk about them, LOL! So I leave all my other history intact, but remove the ivillage message boards. If a kid were to do that, I don't think I'd ever notice, since there'd still be lots of history there! Cookies are a surer bet since they are much harder to remove for a kid that isn't really computer savvy - but the techno-oriented ones will do that, too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2004
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 6:17am
You're absolutely right! Is there no end to the deviousness of these kids? But does cookie deletion really prevent access to a site or just slow it down a bit?

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