Use of cookies
A cookie is a small piece of data that a website can send to your browser (which may then store it on your computer). Cookies are designed to save your preferences or keep track of information you have previously selected. A cookie cannot retrieve any data from your hard drive, pass on computer viruses or capture your email address.
Some of the electronic services offered on the EPA website use cookies to remember information you have previously selected (e.g. the Load-based Licensing Online Fee Calculator). The EPA website does not use cookies to capture personal information.
Both Internet Explorer and Netscape allow some level of cookie verification. They both have menu options that allow you to accept all, some or none of your incoming cookies. In addition, the 'warn before accepting' feature is present in both, if you want to screen your incoming cookies.
Changing your browser cookie settings
Netscape
In Netscape, go to the Edit/Preferences/Advanced menu. Your cookie choices can be changed there.
Internet Explorer
Changing cookie preferences in Internet Explorer varies depending on the version you are running:
- In Internet Explorer 6.0, go to the Tools/Internet Options/Privacy menu. This menu allows you to select how discriminating the browser will be when accepting cookies, based on two factors: (1) the source of the cookie, and (2) whether the source has a privacy policy. There are also features for the advanced user, if you'd like to have a greater control over cookies.
- In Internet Explorer 5.0, go to the Tools/Internet Options/Security menu. In there, you can choose the security level for four different browsing conditions: Internet Sites, Local Sites, 'Trusted' Sites, and Restricted Sites. If you select 'Internet', and click on Custom Level, you'll get a dialog box where you can accept all, warn before accepting, or reject all cookies.
- In Internet Explorer 4.0, go to the View/Internet Options/Advanced menu. There you can accept all, warn before accepting, or reject all.