Just a sugestion;
I use Norton Internet Security. I bought it with the intention to use mostly the Anti-Virus, but as I used the Firewall I was pleased to see all that unwanted cookies and info being blocked. It can't prevent the cookie from...let's say doubleclick.com being created , but he can block the cookie on it's way out. So even if after the internet session you get to the cookies directory and you find the "beast" there it wont be able to do much. Works fine for me. As someone sugested , a FREE alternative and very good is the "IDECIDE PRIVACY COMPANION" that you can download from Tucows.
What my Norton also do , is to block the browser reference - but then you get problems with websites that you have not allowed to recieve this info as you can get a "messy" presentation or have no view at all. Also the function that tells from which site you came from can be blocked (so the stats companys can't make a profile on you if you're worried with that). You can also have some informations blocked on your computer , like e-mail. If you put there that your e-mail isn't to go anywhere outside your computer , it stays there. There are a lot of more functions in that soft but would take a lot space to describe.
In resume, if you want (some) privacy on the net (at a home-user level) you have a choice of free programs to download or you have to put your hand in the wallet and pay for it (buy a software).
I cited Norton because I have it. In no way I have anything to do with symantec or I am gaining anything with this.
Regards
AB
[This message has been edited by AeroBoero (edited 02 April 2001).]