Forum Moderators: DixonJones
I have a huge discrepancy between the number of returning visitors as tracked by cookies and the number of people without referrers (who are presumably mostly returning visitors).
I block cookies on all sites. If I can't get in, I usually leave unless it is a site I really, really, really want to use.
Like this one then - since you can't use WebmasterWorld without them.
8.9% is my up to date statistic.
Like this one then - since you can't use WebmasterWorld without them.
Yes, there are two sites I allow cookies for; WebmasterWorld and a camera site. That's it.
I just don't see the problem with non-3rd party cookies, and a decent web browser will allow you to block 3rd party cookies, doing so very rarely cripples functionality on any site.
I'm just sick of cookie paranoia.
I'm just sick of cookie paranoia.
I understand your sentiment, most cookies are harmless ... but I just don't like the idea of anyone tracking my every move. It goes against the grain. Thankfully, I still have the option to surf the internet with cookies turned off and I still have the choice to leave any site which won't allow me to view their content without inviting them to drop a cookie on my computer.
Alternatively, you don't have to let people like me see your site! Fair is fair.
When I read a book, magazine or a newspaper ... the publishers don't know who I am or where I am located. I don't feel anyone has the right to invade my privacy by leaving a cookie on my computer anymore than I think a book publisher should have the right to demand my name, address or any other personal information about me just for the priviledge of reading his book, magazine or whatever. Its none of his/her business who I am and its my choice to remain anonymous if I choose.
Democracy is a good thing ... on the web or anywhere else!
financial firms have so much info about me and my preferences.
governments also routinely track phone calls & web traffic. so, even without cookies they will know what you are up to.
if you use store cards then the shop knows oodles about you and your buying habits.
if you have a mobile phone they can track quite accurately where you are (or at least where the phone is) 24/7.
police/local authorities can track my personal movements on CCTV 24/7. They can also track my car movements automatically through number plate recognition software 24/7.
cookies are the least of my worries.
However, the police can usually find me if they need me. I still plan to keep my cookies option switched to the "off" position! :)
won't allow me to view their content without inviting them to drop a cookie on my computer.A lot of fear comes from lack of understanding, but whistling when passing through grave yard at night helps some folks. Cookies are just not that big of a problem. The hype helps to sell cleanup utilities.
We sometimes get calls from people who can't log-on, normally because their firewall is preventing cookies (the browser is easy to help them with but firewalls they must know what to do themselves, and of course it is exactly the people who can't adjust their firewall that have the problems).
I'm now looking at alternatives for achieving the same thing, but not yet sorted it out, so cookies are still needed at the moment.
I don't think this is the default setting, though.
I expect that most of the cookie rejection is due to off the shelf security apps which probably represents a fairly random sample of internet users and shouldn't skew data too much. Some turn off cookies for PII concerns, or they simply don't trust the data miners (which is fine). Anecdotally, these folks seem to be less likely to do business online in the first place, so the businesses who should be trying to connect with these people are the multi-channel retailers and big brands.
