97
When information such as a name, hobbies and educational background is voluntarily provided
to a Web site, the information is packaged into a cookie before it is sent and stored in the Web
browser for later use. The next time you visit the same Web site, the browser sends the cookie
to the Web server that uses the information, for example, to present you with customised pages.
Are cookies a threat to privacy?
A cookie is a simple piece of text and by itself represents no threat. Cookies cannot access the
hard drive. The browser can save cookie values to the hard disk, but that is the most it can do
to a notebook. On privacy, Net users can be as anonymous as they want to be. Besides,
nobody can reveal personal information than the user himself. Web servers allow the tracking
of surfing habits and other information that are released and collected. Cookies can be used as
a tracking device, but a cookie does not have the capability to read the hard drive or find
details of your lifestyle.
Can a virus attach itself to cookies?
Viruses attach themselves to program or executable instruction files, and most cookies are
made up of or stored in text and data files. Computer experts say that a cookie has never
hosted or spread a virus, and it is unlikely to happen because cookies do not have a feature
that will make it easy for a virus to attach itself.
For more information, please refer to:
Frequently Asked Questions
→
Computer
Viruses
Page
93
Digital Video and IEEE 1394 Devices
The IEEE 1394 is also called FireWire
®
or i-link
®
on some electronic devices.
Certain software applications are specially designed to easily capture video from digital video
cameras, computer cameras, and other sources.
IEEE 1394 Devices
What are the benefits of the IEEE 1394 port?
The IEEE 1394 multimedia connection enables simple, low-cost, high-bandwidth isochronous
(real-time) data interfacing between computers, peripherals, and consumer electronics
products such as camcorders, VCRs, printers, PCs, TVs, and digital cameras. With IEEE 1394-
compatible products and systems, users can transfer video or still images from a camera or
digital video camera to a printer, notebook, or television, with no image degradation.
During the analogue days, connecting a TV to a VCR, or playing back a movie from your
camcorder to your TV was fairly easy. Then came the digital revolution. Historically, connecting
digital devices together -especially high-speed devices- often meant special requirements,
including software settings, device IDs, jumpers, switches, screws, latches and terminators. The
IEEE 1394 standard works just like in the old analogue days; you plug in a cable and it works.
The IEEE 1394 standard defines its interface as:
•
Digital
- requires no conversion of digital data into analogue, implying better signal
integrity.
•
Hot
plug - allows a device to be added and removed without turning off or rebooting the
notebook.
•
Scalable
- supports multiple speeds.
•
Fast
- supports guaranteed delivery of time critical data, thus enabling high-quality audio
and video applications.
