Browser "Cookie" Settings

Cookies are small files which are saved on your computer by the website you are viewing. They are typically used to track your activity on the website. They are usually innocuous but so-called 'persistent' cookies can track other web activity and stay on your computer until you delete them.

You can change the way your browser deals with cookies. The methods vary according to the browser you are using. The following information is a general guide but you are advised to check with the help system on the browser itself for up to date information.

 

Firefox

  • At the top-left of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select Options
  • Select the Privacy panel
  • Set "Firefox will:" to "Use custom settings for history
  • Tick "Accept cookies from sites" to enable cookies, and uncheck it to disable them

    If you are troubleshooting problems with cookies, make sure "Accept third party cookies" is also ticked

    Choose how long cookies are allowed to be stored:

    • Keep until: they expire: Each cookie will be removed when it reaches its expiration date, which is set by the site that saved the cookie
    • Keep until: I close Firefox: The cookies that are stored on your computer will be deleted when Firefox is closed
    • Keep until: ask me every time: Displays an alert every time a website tries to save a cookie, and asks you whether or not you want to store it

  • Click OK to close the Options window

Safari

  • Choose Safari > Preferences > Privacy
  • In the “Block cookies” section, specify if and when Safari should accept cookies. To see an explanation of the options, click the Help button (?)
  • If you want to see which websites store cookies on your computer, click "Details".

Chrome

  • Click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar (3 horizontal lines usually at the right-top of the Chrome window)
  • Select Settings> Show advanced settings>Privacy
  • Click the Content settings button
  • In the "Cookies" section, you can change the following settings:

    • Delete cookies
    • Block cookies by default
    • Allow cookies by default
    • Keep cookies and site data by default until you quit your browser
    • Make exceptions for cookies from specific websites or domains

Internet Explorer

Hold down the Alt button on your keyboard in order to reveal the menu near the top of the Internet Explorer window
  • Select Tools>Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced
  • Click "Override Automatic Cookie Handling"
  • For "First-party cookies" (that is cookies saved for the web site you are visiting) you have the options:
    • Accept
    • Block
    • Prompt

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  • The same options are also available for "Third-party cookies" (that is cookies that are saved to track activity over one or more web sites)