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Does the "Do-not-track feature" involve cookies set by the web site?

  • 3 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Does the "Do-not-track" feature of Firefox 5 involve the use of cookies? In other words, will the web sites which decide to honor the "Do-not-track" push a cookie to Firefox which indicates my preference, for every time I visit that web site?

I am asking this question because I use cookie management. For most web sites I set cookies to "Allow for session" but when I see a cookie named "Tracking" or "Metrics" I set those cookies to "Deny." Therefore, I'm wondering if my cookie management is defeating the intended function of the "Do-not-track" feature as envisioned by Mozilla.

I mean, in layman's terms how is "Do-not-track" supposed to work? How can I tell if it's working?

If this has already been explained elsewhere please direct me to that article/document.

Thank you.

Does the "Do-not-track" feature of Firefox 5 involve the use of cookies? In other words, will the web sites which decide to honor the "Do-not-track" push a cookie to Firefox which indicates my preference, for every time I visit that web site? I am asking this question because I use cookie management. For most web sites I set cookies to "Allow for session" but when I see a cookie named "Tracking" or "Metrics" I set those cookies to "Deny." Therefore, I'm wondering if my cookie management is defeating the intended function of the "Do-not-track" feature as envisioned by Mozilla. I mean, in layman's terms how is "Do-not-track" supposed to work? How can I tell if it's working? If this has already been explained elsewhere please direct me to that article/document. Thank you.

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Chosen Solution

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Thanks cor-el! Your reply and the included links have helped me better understand what's going on with DNT. How each 'server' decides to implement DNT, or not implement (trackers gotta track), may vary widely. Implementation may involve cookies and it may not. I see how it's ultimately going to play out is largely an unknown... a work in progress. Thanks again! GG

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You're welcome