Why the spyware cookies on here???

[Bergie]

Guys:

At the risk of oversimplifying the matter, while cookies can be abused to track what you're doing on the web, they have a legitimate use in making it easier for you to use the website by eliminating the need to re-enter information each time you visit the site and (as noted above) marking threads that you have already seen.  Almost all websites, including the most secure and trusted use cookies.  I doubt very much that Kalmbach is interested in anything that is not directly related to their site and your enjoyment of it - but if you're worried, ask Neil.

Under the tools menu on IE7, select Internet Options, and then click on the Privacy tab at the top.  You should have a slider that lets you set a privacy level that you are comfortable with.  I usually set this to Medium which blocks the misuse of cookies while allowing me to enjoy most of the benefits.  I also run TrendMicro for firewall virus / spyware protection and Windows Defender for spyware, so while I'm careful about the sites I visit, I don't lose too much sleep over this.

 

Well put. Those cookies are either for (A) remembering you on each visit, (B) the forum software, or (C) our analytics software that keeps tabs on our traffic patterns.

Now, back to trains. 

Bergie

[steinmike]

Guys:

At the risk of oversimplifying the matter, while cookies can be abused to track what you're doing on the web, they have a legitimate use in making it easier for you to use the website by eliminating the need to re-enter information each time you visit the site and (as noted above) marking threads that you have already seen.  Almost all websites, including the most secure and trusted use cookies.  I doubt very much that Kalmbach is interested in anything that is not directly related to their site and your enjoyment of it - but if you're worried, ask Neil.

Under the tools menu on IE7, select Internet Options, and then click on the Privacy tab at the top.  You should have a slider that lets you set a privacy level that you are comfortable with.  I usually set this to Medium which blocks the misuse of cookies while allowing me to enjoy most of the benefits.  I also run TrendMicro for firewall virus / spyware protection and Windows Defender for spyware, so while I'm careful about the sites I visit, I don't lose too much sleep over this.

 

[Birds]

I am not trying to speak for Kalmbach, but in general... 

Some of the cookies deposited (such as: _utma, _utmb, _utmc, _utmz) are used by companies such as Google Analytic to track which keywords etc. are used to find client web sites.  Companies use this information to figure out how to market their site to reach more people in hopes of generating more revenue for the company.

This site includes more than the train forum.  While to us the forum is free, it and the rest of the website costs Kalmbach real dollars in various ways.  Maybe they view this site as part of their business, and feel that they have a right to electronically survey people visiting so they can better market the company?

Chris 

[Deputy]

These cookies aren't for password and username. That works okay. These are already blocked by IE7. Just curious why Kalmbach feels the need to try to deposit this stuff on my comp. I am fat enough without feeding me tons of useless or nosey cookies

Dep

[IRONROOSTER]

One thing the cookies do is remember your username and password so you don't have to log in each time.  They also keep track of which message threads you have read between sessions so you'll see them in gray. 

I can't say that Kalmbach's cookies don't spy on you, but their presence doesn't mean they are either. 

You can always turn off cookies, in IE6 its under Tools>Internet Options...

Enjoy

Paul 

[Deputy]

I upgraded to IE7 and it has a nifty little eyeball at the bottom of the screen that shows when a website is trying to deposit unwanted cookies (spyware). Wondered why it always shows up when I go on the CTT forum? C'mon Kalmbach, if you want to know what other websites I go to, just ASK.

Dep