how do I...?

[steveo]

log out of the forums? Logging in is cool but I can't find anyplace to log out. Not that it's that big of a deal but I can't find the log out icon? As it stands I'm always logged in. Where is that critter hiding?

[mjc]

Hmmm, now that you mention it...;) , If you delete the cookie for the forums that should log you out.

[Budfred]

You can also set you preferences to log you out anytime you go offline. I do that and it is a pain to log in each time, but it eliminates the pain of logging out.:)

Budfred

[steveo]

alright..seems like a plan to me

[Paleo Pete]

Forums Home, bottom right.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

You can also logout in the reply page right by your username.

But I ask again, what's the purpose? I leave my cookies for this site alone and I am logged in when I get here. When I leave, I merely close the page. Sounds like more 'work' (the other 4 letter word) for nothing.

[mjc]

About the only reason I can see for logging out from here is if you log in on somebody else's machine....

[Budfred]

I log in here from work and from 2 different user profiles at home. That is reason enough to log out whenever I leave, but I also don't like to keep any cookies around that are going to be able to track me, even in a site as friendly as this one.

Budfred

[Lucias_Clay]

If you look down at the very bottom of the main page there is a log out button right next to mark all forums read.

[mjc]

One of the popular misconceptions about cookies and tracking is that all cookies can be used to track you. Not true. The cookie must be built to track from the word go....

Also session cookies are hard to use for tracking.

Basically there are some sites that still use cookies like they were originally intended.

[Budfred]

I know that most cookies are not used or usable for tracking, but I have developed a habit of being cautious and it has served me well.

Budfred

[Paul Komski]

If a website wants to "track" you, it can do it without ever setting a cookie; it is just more difficult to maintain a constantly changing database on the server side, particularly if it is a busy site.

If you dont want to leave cookies on your pc after you close your browser, then only enable session cookies. Session cookies have no expiry date and are thus not saved to disk (or if you prefer they expire immediately). You will just have to sign in once for that browser session though.

[Budfred]

Paul,

I use MailWasher, Zone Alarm, Norton Antivirus, and AdAware so I tend to do pretty well with maintaining security and avoiding SPAM. I use Netscape 4.79 for my browser, so I don't have the more subtle cookie settings you refer to, but I delete all but a few cookies, my history and cache on a regular basis. Overall I do okay.;)

As they say, "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that someone isn't out to get you". :D

Speaking of all this, I really need to install and run the new version of AdAware.

Budfred

[david eaton]

Budfred

As you say, you may be paranoid - but are you paranoid ENOUGH!

David

[Paul Komski]

If you ever want to be able to easily see what cookies have been set by a website then post this line of js (a single line of text which you may have to edit into one line with no spaces in Notepad) into your address bar and then save it as a favorite/bookmark.

javascript:alert('Cookies%20stored%20by%20this%20h ost%20or%20domain:\n\n'%20+%20document.cookie.repl ace(/;%20/g,'\n'));

When you are at the site you want to check cookies for; go to your favorites and open that bookmark. You should get a dialog box showing the results (as long as js has been enabled of course).

;)

Darnit that line doesnt seem to work in Opera - I'm sure it used to - but the following line does.

javascript:unescape(document.cookie);

[Paul Komski]

javascript:alert('Cookies stored by this host or domain:\n\n' + document.cookie.replace(/; /g,'\n'));

Works in both Opera and IE (must have been the %20's - or else I'm just having a bad day) :(