CORC 1312 HW 13: Cookies, privacy and security

To begin this homework, change the browser settings to alert you before the browser accepts a cookie:

(It is possible that on your computer/browser, you may have to change the settings a little differently. If you get stuck, try the browser Help.)

• Using Firefox, go to Edit > Preferences > Privacy. Under Cookies, check "Accept third-party cookies" but on the "Keep until" scroll bar choose "ask me every time." (When you are done, you can uncheck "Accept third-party cookies" on your browser.)
• Using Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options > click on the Privacy tab. Click on the Advanced button. Check the box that says "Override automatic cookie handling" and then choose "prompt" on both the sets of radio buttons. Click on OK. Then Click on Apply and OK.

1. Visit several sites and see whether or not they set cookies on your computer. Indicate whether there are any "third party cookies", i.e. cookies that are being set by sites that are different from the page you are viewing.
   1. www.cnn.com
   2. www.yahoo.com - Try a search
   3. www.google.com - Try a search
   4. www.brooklyn.cuny.edu
   5. www.lesley.edu

2. Go to cookiedemo.com and try the Cookie Demo. Set a cookie, then go to some other pages and come back to cookiedemo.com.
1. Did the Cookie Demo site remember what cookies you like?
2. Explain why cookies are useful.
3. Are there problems with using cookies?
3. Do the Analyzer at Network-Tools.com. In the middle of the page click on "Click here to take the browser test and analyze the privacy of your Internet connection."
1. What type of information does the website claim it will show you?
2. Now click on "Click to analyze your Internet connection (opens new window)."
• What type of information is collected about your browser and your computer?
• Did the site collect your IP address?
• What other information was collected through the cookie that surprised you?
4. Using e-mail, reading webpages and blogs is possible because the Internet is always available. How is this 24/7 availability guaranteed? Read this article from Popular Science and answer the following questions.
1. What percentage of internet traffic is provided by satellite?
2. What is the most common mode of transmitting internet information over long distances, especially under water?
3. What part of the world is particularly vulnerable to losing internet access?
4. What facility in which U.S. city handles 90% of the internet traffic between the U.S. and Latin America?
5. When was a successful "command-and-control attack" staged against a U.S. internet exchange facility and who was responsible for the attack?