How can I stop them?
Is there a way to stop cookies? You bet! As long as you're using Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 or later. IE gives you the option to display an alert when you receive a cookie from a site, and it allows you to reject the cookie.
Simply go to the View menu and select Options.... In the Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Scroll down the list box and deselect the Always Accept Cookies option. Then select Prompt before accepting cookies.
For IE 5.0, go the Tools menu and select Internet Options... Choose the Security tab and click on the Custom Level box. Scroll down to Cookies and change your options.
If you use Netscape, you can follow the same steps, only select Preferences under the Edit Menu, then select Advanced in the dialogue box that appears.
Disallowing cookies
When IE alerts you that a cookie is being downloaded, simply click the No button when it asks whether you want to accept it. Or, you can choose the Disable all cookie use and your browser will not accept any cookies...ever. The same is true in Netscape.
It's amazing how often IE will alert you to a potential cookie once you turn on the cookies alert option. In fact, the frequent alerts can be quite annoying, but at least you know when a site is hitting you up for information rather than having it all take place in the background.
