Access of a Website

[VARN]

When I try to access Staples I get an "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage". I have tried Down for everyone or just me it says I am not alone. When I called a store they said they can access it just fine. I can ping the site via command prompt.

 

I would like to know if anyone here can access the site and maybe know why I cannot access it.

 

The first link does not show up it is www.staples.ca

[obfuscator]

Works fine for me. Try clearing your cache and a different browser.

[VARN]

Figured it out, staples gives a 403 forbidden error when it cannot read cookies. Annoying!

[Sbrideau]

Why would you disable cookies?

[VARN]

I am a very paranoid person; it is one of the small things I do to protect my privacy. Too much of my personal information is already on the internet, I do not want to add any more to the pile.

[Sbrideau]

Cookies do not contain your information, and they're not dangerous. Websites use them to store things so you don't have to do every step again when you come back (for example on a website that you have to do a few things the first time around.

[obfuscator]

Cookies do not contain your information, and they're not dangerous. Websites use them to store things so you don't have to do every step again when you come back (for example on a website that you have to do a few things the first time around.

This. Cookies are harmless. Just don't go on sketchy sites.

[Sy_Accursed]

Cookies do not contain your information, and they're not dangerous. Websites use them to store things so you don't have to do every step again when you come back (for example on a website that you have to do a few things the first time around.

This. Cookies are harmless. Just don't go on sketchy sites.

 

That and cookies aren't even online. They are purely on your system.

[VARN]

I do not mean the cookie itself is dangerous; it is the gathering of the information about what I do on the site. I think you would stop going to a store if they asked for your ID when you entered, followed you around the store and recorded everything you looked at or touched. Some websites use dynamic pricing changing the price of items based of where you are, what you have purchased previously and how many times you looked at an item. Just think of the information you give Google every search term you enter into Google is saved and indexed based on the cookie then as most people have done googling your name or using Google maps to find your address; Google now knows who you are where you are and what your possible interest are. [/paranoid rant]

[obfuscator]

I do not mean the cookie itself is dangerous; it is the gathering of the information about what I do on the site. I think you would stop going to a store if they asked for your ID when you entered, followed you around the store and recorded everything you looked at or touched. Some websites use dynamic pricing changing the price of items based of where you are, what you have purchased previously and how many times you looked at an item. Just think of the information you give Google every search term you enter into Google is saved and indexed based on the cookie then as most people have done googling your name or using Google maps to find your address; Google now knows who you are where you are and what your possible interest are. [/paranoid rant]

So don't go on those sites then, don't do a blanket ban on all cookies.

[Sy_Accursed]

You seem to be confusing a cookie with a tracking cookie.

 

Tracking cookies log stuff and report back.

A cookie merely says you have loaded www.runescape.com before the images for it are in folder so and so, so go get them stead of reloading and wasting bandwidth.

[obfuscator]

You seem to be confusing a cookie with a tracking cookie.

 

Tracking cookies log stuff and report back.

A cookie merely says you have loaded www.runescape.com before the images for it are in folder so and so, so go get them stead of reloading and wasting bandwidth.

The cookie you demonstrated is technically a tracking cookie :P

 

Anyway, like anything on the internet, there is good and bad. Trying to use the internet with cookies disabled greatly hinders your experience.

[Sy_Accursed]

You seem to be confusing a cookie with a tracking cookie.

 

Tracking cookies log stuff and report back.

A cookie merely says you have loaded www.runescape.com before the images for it are in folder so and so, so go get them stead of reloading and wasting bandwidth.

The cookie you demonstrated is technically a tracking cookie :P

 

Anyway, like anything on the internet, there is good and bad. Trying to use the internet with cookies disabled greatly hinders your experience.

 

Not really tracking cookies are ones tht report data about where you've browsed etc back to the website.

Plain cookie just tells website where its scripts, media etc has been cached on the users system

[obfuscator]

You seem to be confusing a cookie with a tracking cookie.

 

Tracking cookies log stuff and report back.

A cookie merely says you have loaded www.runescape.com before the images for it are in folder so and so, so go get them stead of reloading and wasting bandwidth.

The cookie you demonstrated is technically a tracking cookie :P

 

Anyway, like anything on the internet, there is good and bad. Trying to use the internet with cookies disabled greatly hinders your experience.

 

Not really tracking cookies are ones tht report data about where you've browsed etc back to the website.

Plain cookie just tells website where its scripts, media etc has been cached on the users system

There's no difference between the actual cookie, but its function is where the tracking distinction occurs.

 

For example, runescape.com uses a tracking cookie - to track whether the user has visited the site before.

Cookies are also used for persistent logins, and to store settings. (for example this forum uses a cookie to remember if you want the sidebar minimized or not)

[Sy_Accursed]

You seem to be confusing a cookie with a tracking cookie.

 

Tracking cookies log stuff and report back.

A cookie merely says you have loaded www.runescape.com before the images for it are in folder so and so, so go get them stead of reloading and wasting bandwidth.

The cookie you demonstrated is technically a tracking cookie :P

 

Anyway, like anything on the internet, there is good and bad. Trying to use the internet with cookies disabled greatly hinders your experience.

 

Not really tracking cookies are ones tht report data about where you've browsed etc back to the website.

Plain cookie just tells website where its scripts, media etc has been cached on the users system

There's no difference between the actual cookie, but its function is where the tracking distinction occurs.

 

For example, runescape.com uses a tracking cookie - to track whether the user has visited the site before.

Cookies are also used for persistent logins, and to store settings. (for example this forum uses a cookie to remember if you want the sidebar minimized or not)

 

Oh I get where ya coming from now, you meant my example would be a tracking cookie cause rs uses one to remember the "dont show splash screen" thingy

 

Simple mis-communication there I thought you were trying to say a tracking cookie was one tht jsut told website where its media had been cached.

[Sbrideau]

I made some cookies, and you guys are far from it. Cookies can't report back. What you put in cookies are variables, dates, numbers, things like that.

[obfuscator]

I made some cookies, and you guys are far from it. Cookies can't report back. What you put in cookies are variables, dates, numbers, things like that.

I realize that - but they can be read by a site for tracking purposes, which is what I said.

 

For example, if you set a cookie when a user visits page A, page B can check to see if the user has visited page A first ( cookie exists). Thus the cookie isn't reporting anything but since it can be read it's the same thing.

[Sbrideau]

I agree, I wasn't really being specific about you, sorry if you thought that. It was for the people thinking that cookies could actually report back.

[Nadril]

I do not mean the cookie itself is dangerous; it is the gathering of the information about what I do on the site. I think you would stop going to a store if they asked for your ID when you entered, followed you around the store and recorded everything you looked at or touched. Some websites use dynamic pricing changing the price of items based of where you are, what you have purchased previously and how many times you looked at an item. Just think of the information you give Google every search term you enter into Google is saved and indexed based on the cookie then as most people have done googling your name or using Google maps to find your address; Google now knows who you are where you are and what your possible interest are. [/paranoid rant]

 

Christ you are paranoid. I would just refrain from using the internet at all to be honest.

[obfuscator]

I agree, I wasn't really being specific about you, sorry if you thought that. It was for the people thinking that cookies could actually report back.

Oh ok :)

 

No, cookies can't do anything at all, they can only be read.

[jasignhagj]

If you are paranoid, turn off 3rd party cookies. Those are the ones downloaded by ads and invisi-gifs that track what sites you view. Or if you are super paraniod, there is an option for your browser to ask you every time, but that may become a pain in the ass.

[VARN]

If you are paranoid, turn off 3rd party cookies. Those are the ones downloaded by ads and invisi-gifs that track what sites you view. Or if you are super paraniod, there is an option for your browser to ask you every time, but that may become a pain in the ass.

 

I used to have my browser ask every time, I have found some sites will not take "no" for an answer; they just keep asking. Now I turn off all cookies and just allow sites I trust or need; I only have about 100 cookies.

[obfuscator]

Of course some sites won't take no for an answer, as they need cookies to function. Really, you're in more danger using the internet in the first place then you are just from accepting cookies.

[dsavi]

In addition to that, you're in more danger using Internet Explorer. Compared to that, tracking cookies are nothing.