XP Pro SP2 Cookies and Cache

[bbford]

I don't know if this is a problem or the way that things are supposed to
work.

When I log onto a site like yahoo.com to check my e-mail, instead of logging
off the site, I go into: tools> internet options> and clear the cookies,
temp internet files and history.
Then, if I go back to yahoo.com again, yahoo still knows who I am because I
am still logged on.

Question is, if I cleared my cookies, temp internet files and history, how
can yahoo.com still remember me?

If I shut IE6 down and restart it again, then this clears everything as I
have to log onto yahoo.com again.

Is this normal??

 

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

bbford wrote on 17-Sep-2004 8:03 PM:

I don't know if this is a problem or the way that things are supposed to
work.

When I log onto a site like yahoo.com to check my e-mail, instead of logging
off the site, I go into: tools> internet options> and clear the cookies,
temp internet files and history.
Then, if I go back to yahoo.com again, yahoo still knows who I am because I
am still logged on.

Question is, if I cleared my cookies, temp internet files and history, how
can yahoo.com still remember me?

If I shut IE6 down and restart it again, then this clears everything as I
have to log onto yahoo.com again.

Is this normal??

It is possible for yahoo.com to tie your IP address and port to an
authentication token. As long as your traffic is coming from that IP
address and port, then you are still logged in. The cookie may only be
keeping your preferences or name. The cache and history have no effect.
After a time of inactivity or time passed, the session is terminated and
you have to logon again or use your cookie, if it is used as authentication.

 

[--Mike]

I don't know if this is a problem or the way that things are supposed to
work.

When I log onto a site like yahoo.com to check my e-mail, instead of logging
off the site, I go into: tools> internet options> and clear the cookies,
temp internet files and history.
Then, if I go back to yahoo.com again, yahoo still knows who I am because I
am still logged on.

Question is, if I cleared my cookies, temp internet files and history, how
can yahoo.com still remember me?

If I shut IE6 down and restart it again, then this clears everything as I
have to log onto yahoo.com again.

Is this normal??

Yes, it is normal. Once you are logged into the site, either manually or
with a cookie, the site retains the login info until you actually log out of
the site or shut down IE. Many sites work this way.

--Mike

 

[Tim Weaver]

I don't know if this is a problem or the way that things are supposed to
work.

When I log onto a site like yahoo.com to check my e-mail, instead of
logging off the site, I go into: tools> internet options> and clear the
cookies, temp internet files and history.
Then, if I go back to yahoo.com again, yahoo still knows who I am
because I am still logged on.

Question is, if I cleared my cookies, temp internet files and history,
how can yahoo.com still remember me?

If I shut IE6 down and restart it again, then this clears everything as
I have to log onto yahoo.com again.

Is this normal??

Yes. As long as you keep a browser open, the memory cache remains in tact.
Clearing the disk cache has no effect on active memory, you'll have to close
all browser windows to do that. Even then, you need to be careful, as some
sites cause the browser to write cookies as it unloads from memory.

 

[bbford]

Is there anyway to clear this "memory cache" besides closing and opening the
browser? I don't know if I'm paranoid or not, but this seems like another
privacy issue...