The Cookie Monster

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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Sat. May. 24, 2008 1:42 am

I was emailed this question, since it really isn't a private matter I'm going to post it:
Could you tell me why I keep getting logged out after only a few minutes. This has been happening since I joined a few weeks ago. Is there a setting to keep you logged in longer?
The forum relies on a cookie to keep you logged in , if you're blocking cookies the session only lasts for a few minutes for security reasons after which you'll be logged off. This cookie basically authenticates you to the server, without the cookie it can't be you. There is no other way to accomplish this.

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites and can be used for a variety of reasons including shopping carts, logins and some others that are not all that great such as tracking your movements across different websites. The cookies however for this site are harmless, they are only used to keep you logged in and a few other things forum related. The information in this cookie is not used in any other way, it's accessible only by this domain and is not shared with anyone.

So....if you're getting logged off continuously make sure you're browser or security software is not blocking the cookie from this site.

One other possibility is the cookie is corrupted, You can also easily manage the cookies set by this site, simply click the "delete cookies" in the lower left. This will delete all cookies associated with this site. If you're logged in you will immediately be logged off.

Managing Cookies in Internet Explorer:
  • 1. We first want to remove all cookies from all sites. Be aware doing this will log you off from any sites you are currently logged into. Click: Tools>Internet Options>General Tab ..... Under the heading "Browser History" click the "delete" button. This will bring up a pane for selecting what you want to delete, click the "delete cookies" button. Click close

    2. Click the "Privacy" tab, then click the advanced button. Put a check next to "override automatic cookie handling", select the option "block" under both first part cookies and third part cookies. Put a check next to "always allow session cookies" .Click OK.

    These settings will block all cookies except ones placed for sessions such as the one used to keep you logged into this forum. It should keep you logged in as long as you keep Internet Explorer open, if you close Internet explorer the session cookie is deleted and you will have to login in again. Be aware some sites cannot function properly without cookies, e-commerce sites probably top the list.

    In case you are wondering the first party cookies are ones that would be set by the domain you are viewing, the third party ones can be set by another domain while you are viewing a page from the first party. The third party cookies are generally the ones used to track you through other websites. This third party cookie is set with the help of the first party, they do not automagically appear.

    3. Of course you may want to allow cookies for trusted sites so you don't have to login every time you close Internet Explorer, this is actually quite simple to do. When you load a page from a site with the above settings if it tries to set a cookie and its blocked there will be little indicator down in lower right next to the small globe and the word internet. Mouseover it and you'll get a title "Privacy Report" . Double click this icon which will bring up a list of domains and cookies that have been blocked. Right click the domain you want to allow and select "always accept cookies from this site".

    One thing to note subdomains are considered separate domains as far as cookies are concerned. If for example I was using the following: forum.coalpail.com you would need to allow cookies for each subdomain. I don't do that but some sites do.
Managing Cookies in Firefox:

Firefox does not have the ability by itself to manage cookies as good as IE as far as I know. If you click Tools>Options and go to the privacy tab you can select to allow or block cookies. If you allow cookies from the drop down box you have three selections on how they are handled:
  • 1. Until the expire, for all intents and purposes this means practically forever.
    2 I Close Firefox, self explamatory, the cookie will be deleted when you close Firefox.
    3. Ask me evertime, pain in the ass useless feature. You can set rules for individual sites but it's going to ask you evertime you go to a new site that tries to set a cookie which will get old pretty quick.
Haven't tried it but their is an extension that appears to allow you to handle them similar to the way you can in IE: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ex ... e-manager/

 
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Bulldogr6
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Location: Western Mass
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Post by Bulldogr6 » Sat. Jun. 21, 2008 7:21 pm

When I saw to title of this thread this just popped into my head :D

Sorry but its just a quick chop as don't have much time right now but its still funny.

Image


 
User avatar
Richard S.
Mayor
Posts: 15183
Joined: Fri. Oct. 01, 2004 8:35 pm
Location: NEPA
Stoker Coal Boiler: Van Wert VA1200
Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/Anthracite

Post by Richard S. » Sat. Jun. 21, 2008 9:10 pm

That's funny..

 
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Duengeon master
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Joined: Sun. May. 06, 2007 7:32 am
Location: Penndel, Pa.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harmon Mark III
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite pea and nut mix. Bituminous lump

Post by Duengeon master » Sat. Aug. 23, 2008 8:01 pm

uh hu hu hu hu cookie monster rules toothy

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