TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: NSA Puts Cookies on Your Computer

Re: NSA Puts Cookies on Your Computer

Barry Margolin (barmar@alum.mit.edu)
Wed, 28 Dec 2005 23:54:22 -0500

In article <telecom24.586.1@telecom-digest.org>, Anick Jesdanun
<ap@telecom-digest.org> wrote:

> By ANICK JESDANUN, AP Internet Writer

> The National Security Agency's Internet site has been placing files on
> visitors' computers that can track their Web surfing activity despite
> strict federal rules banning most of them.

> The first thing they do is examine your computer to see where you have
> been, according to other cookies. Then they implant a cookie of their
> own.

Cookies aren't sent to unrelated sites, so I don't see how they do
"the first thing". Cookies are only sent back to the site that
originally sent them. While it's possible for cooperating sites to
arrange communication using cookies (e.g. a site that hosts banner
ads, and the site whose pages contain the banners), a site (even the
NSA) cannot simply examine all your other cookies to see where you've
been.

Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me ***
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***

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