Oh boy - at last a question that I feel I am technically qualified to answer on Pprune!
Bee Pee and folks;
>>Some cookies can contain command code to transfer or even delete files to/from your computer... - NO!
>>....search for your personal details on your machine and transfer such data via the Internet to the cookie owner - NO!
>>...The info ‘stolen’ most often is your name and e-mail but also postal address and phone number! - and thrice NO!
I'm sorry, but this information is TOTALLY incorrect.
Cookies are small text files that can be issued by web site. The most popular use for cookies is in tracking user preferences during your time in that site, but it is important to note that cookies CANNOT access any information that you have not supplied voluntaraly to the site.
Cookies CANNOT access personal information on your computer, they can't download your credit card number, they can't crash a 747 or even get access to your email address (unless you have given the site that information off your own back).
The warning you have placed here is a common misconception as to what cookies are.
Danny is doing absolutely nothing wrong here on this site, all he is doing is storing a cookie on your machine that contains a unique number when you register. This number will also be stored in a database at his end along with the logon details that YOU HAVE SUPPLIED and is used to remember your username and password each time you post a message so you don't have to type that information in each time. That's it - period!
The important thing to remember is that cookies are essentially dumb things - they can only store data you have supplied and cannot access information stored elsewhere on your computer. They can't even access other websites cookies.
Now your comment about the doubleclick cookies tracking your activity is sort of correct - but not nearly as worrying as you think;
- The cookie that double click (and other advestising sites) issue is created by the adverts that appear at the top of the page. If you click an advert, then that request is stored at the doubleclick's sites (ie this user has clicked an advert for books on 747's). This enables the advertising sites to personalise the adverts that appear on PPrune and the other sites that use them to sell advertising space. Remember however that doubleclick do not know who you are, because you have not told them - you are just a.n.other user to them! Even though you have registered at Pprune, the double click cookie CANNOT examine the pprune cookie. So, the worst that can happen is that you get adverts which are more tailored to your own interests. The advertising cookies cannot track click you make elsewhere on Pprune or other sites - ONLY the times you click the adverts. If you are worried about this, then don't click the adverts!
Amazon.com uses a similar thing mechanism to track my purchases and show the types of books I am interested in on their homepage, such as Aviation, Computing & photography.
As a director of a very successful e-commerce company with over 10 years of experience in this field, I feel I am qualified to say that cookies are NOT evil, they CANNOT crash your machine, they CANNOT 'download' any personal information that you do not give yourself.
There are serious other security issues related to the internet, such as email viruses and potentially unsafe Active X controls, but cookies are nothing to worry about.
Hope this clears a few things up for you all.