In this section:

• What is a cookie?
• Setting up cookie rules
• Allow sites to set cookies
• Exceptions
• Keep cookies
• Manually accepting and blocking cookies
• Viewing and removing individual cookies

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a file created by a web site to store information, such as your preferences when visiting that site. The cookie is stored on your computer.

When you visit a site that uses cookies, the site might ask Flock to place one or more cookies on your computer. Later, when you return to the site, Flock sends back the cookies that belong to the site. The cookies tell the site who you are, so it can present information customized to fit your needs.

Cookies can store information that identifies you, such as your name, e-mail address, home or work address, or telephone number. However, a web site has access only to the personal information that you provide. For example, a web site cannot determine your e-mail address unless you provide it. Also, a web site cannot gain access to other information on your computer.

When you use the cookie settings that come with Flock, this activity is invisible to you. You won't know when a web site is giving you a cookie, or when Flock is sending a cookie back to its web site.

If you like, you can set your cookies preferences so Flock asks your permission before saving a cookie. You can also restrict the lifetime of cookies to your current Flock session.

Setting up cookie rules

Cookie rules are accessed from the Privacy pane within the Preferences window.

To access the privacy pane

1. Open the Options or Preferences window.
   How you access the window depends upon your operating system.
   • If you are using Windows, open the Tools menu and choose Options.
   • If you are using Linux, open the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
   • If you are using Mac OS, open the Flock menu and choose Preferences.
2. In the preferences window, click Privacy.

The cookies settings include several options. Each option is explained in detail, below.

Accept Cookies from sites

If you allow web sites to store cookies on your computer, leave a checkmark next to "Accept Cookies from sites". To disable cookies, uncheck it.

Exceptions

Some sites may not work properly when cookies are disabled. To work around this problem, you can specify exactly which web sites have permission to give Flock cookies.

To add a site to the exceptions list

1. Check or uncheck "Allow site to set cookies."
   • If you want to allow most cookies and block specific ones, check it.
   • If you prefer to block most cookies and allow specific ones, uncheck it.
2. Click Exceptions.
3. Enter the web address (URL) of the web site you want to allow or block.
4. Click Allow, Allow for Session if the permission is only temporary, or Block.
5. To remove a web site from the Exceptions list, highlight the site and click Remove Site.
6. To clear the list completely, click Remove All Sites. After clearing the list your general cookies preferences apply.

Keep cookies

Use the Keep Cookies menu to specify how long cookies can remain on your computer.

Choose one of the following three options:

• Until they expire
  All cookies have expiration dates. Choose this option to keep them until they expire.
• Until I close Flock
  Cookies are removed when you restart Flock. Web sites requiring cookies still work, but think that you are logging in for the first time.
• Ask me every time
  Every time a web site tries to give you a cookie, Flock asks if it should accept that cookie.

Manually accepting and blocking cookies

If you chose "ask me every time" from the Keep Cookies menu, then whenever a site tries to give you a cookie you have these choices:

• Allow Accept this cookie.
  Choose this if you trust the site.
• Allow for Session.
  Accept this cookie for now, but delete it when you quit Flock. Choose this if the site doesn't work without cookies, but you don't want its cookie permanently.
• Deny.
  Don't accept this cookie. Choose this if you don't trust the site.
• Use my choice for all cookies from this site.
  If you want Flock to remember your decision and not ask again, put a check in this box before you click any of the buttons. The site is added to Cookie Exceptions.

Viewing and removing individual cookies

Click the Show Cookies button to view and remove cookies.

Cookies currently stored on your computer are shown, grouped by site. You can expand the sites and select a cookie to display more information about it. You can also search for a site or a cookie name by typing in the search bar.

• To remove a cookie from the list, select it and click Remove Cookie.
• To remove a site's cookies, select the site and click Remove Cookie(s).
• To remove all cookies, click Remove All Cookies. (This is the same as clicking the Clear Cookies Now button.)