McAfee 5 manual Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Privacy

Internet Security and Privacy

A virus might be hidden in the next file you download, or on a diskette you borrow —even diskettes purchased at a store. Downloaded shareware is also a source of infection.

Although Java and ActiveX are not, strictly speaking, viruses (i.e., it can’t spread and replicate), they can still harm your PC. McAfee Internet Security’s default settings allow it to monitor all Java and ActiveX activity on your PC, and warn you before something potentially dangerous occurs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Privacy

What information do Web sites collect about me?

Web sites collect information about you in two major ways.

nFirst, you can provide the information yourself when you register software or respond to Internet questionnaires.

nSecond, when you ask to be allowed access to the electronic version of a newspaper, or use a “shopping cart” to buy products on the Web, a cookie, described in “What are cookies and how are they used?,” on page 112, might be written to your computer where it stores information, such as your user ID and password for the newspaper or the articles you bought with their quantity and price.

What information do companies get when I register products online?

Companies get only the information that you enter in the registration form when you register electronically. They do not get any information about your computer system, your use of your computer, or other stored information unless you provide it as part of the registration.

This information is used for the company’s marketing research and to send you information about new releases, other products, and so on. The information might be sold to other companies, just as mailing lists of magazine subscribers or mail order companies can be sold to others.

Some companies allow you to specify that you do not want to receive mailings or to have your name and address sold to other companies. If the company does not provide this option, you can enter false information to prevent mailings, either postal or electronic, from reaching you.

What are cookies and how are they used?

A cookie is a small file that contains data. The data in the cookie varies, depending on its purpose. Upon the request of a Web site, your Web browser stores cookies on your computer. Usually, cookies just contain information that enhances your Web experience. For example, when you use an Internet site to buy computer equipment, you may add items to a “shopping basket.”

108 McAfee Internet Security 5.0