Cookie Information

Cookie Introduction

Here is an introduction to cookies, exactly what they are and what they do for you plus what they do for the server you are visiting.

Cookies allow a persistent state and are simply a small text file that a web site uses to store data on your computer. You see, the problem with the internet is that it does not maintain something called "session state". This simply means there is no built in way to connect two different browser screens together. For example, you have a screen where you order something and another where you enter your credit card data. There is no easy way to ensure that the data you enter on the two screens is related. To provide a more interactive service cookies were established. Your cookies here at ArtQuest are set to a unique session ID while the value of the ID remains random. Otherwise, a complete random number is assigned to the cookie when you visit and we do not track what you view or anything of that nature. Our cookie simply allows you to move around ArtQuest and add art, links, ads, viewing rooms, wings etc., without having to give us your member information over and over.

After you accept the first cookie, you will not be asked for another cookie unless it expires. Our cookies are set for 30 minutes. For each page that you visit after accepting the first cookie, the cookie is re-read by the server so it knows you are asking for the page so that you can enter information in other areas of our service without having to give us your member information yet again.

Keep in mind that cookies are only accessible by the web site for which the particular cookie session is set. ArtQuest can not read other cookies which may have been set by other sites. Here are a few reasons why you would NOT want to accept a cookie:

If you provide a web site your credit card number, the web site COULD write that number into a cookie. Mind you, 99.9% of web sites would never do this! But let's say you ran into one of these type of sites. Then your credit card number is now in a text file on that server. If someone else has access to that server, they could read that credit card number (but keep in mind, they would also have to know a little about computer's in general in order to find the file).
Companies like Doubleclick use cookies to build up a massive database describing your personal buying and surfing habits. This practice is very dangerous since it invades your privacy and gives companies more data about you than you would probably release.
Banner ads and other elements on a browser window can have cookies of their own. This means that you may actually get dozens of cookies planted on your system just from visiting a single web site. You will not encounter this at ArtQuest.
There is the possibility that browser bugs exist which allow other web sites to view cookies that they did not create. Normally, the only site which can view a cookie is the same site that created it.

So what are you to do about the cookie monster? Since Internet Explorer and Netscape cookie controls are basically poor at best, a third party software product called Cookie Pal will allow you to selectively turn on or off cookies for a web site or domain basis. This allows you to decide if you want a cookie planted on your computer or not. So when you visit a site which allows your data to be saved, making it more convenient for you, you can allow the cookie. However, when the nasty Doubleclick banners set a cookie, you can disable it and never hear from them again. This is just one of many software packages on the market to control cookies but atleast it gives you the choice.

I hope this introduction has helped you understand more about cookies and what they do. And additionally, if you would accept the first cookie from ArtQuest, you shouldn't get the cookie prompt over and over again which is what is so irritating to most visitors.

If you need instructions on how to enable cookies on your computer, here are quick instructions to help you along the way.