Your computer can pick up scary things online. Viruses, for instance. Or, programs that turn it into a zombie. These things are the murderers and all-around psychopaths of the Web world.

Compared to them, mean cookies are nothing. At worst, they’re jaywalkers. Nonetheless, they invade your privacy. You shouldn’t have to put up with them.

Cookies are little text files. By themselves, they can’t do anything. Your browser picks them up and sends them to a computer. If they’re nice cookies, they identify you to sites you frequent. So, you don’t have to spend your time entering passwords and things.

If they’re mean, they tell an adverting computer where you surf. They might tell it what ads you click. Maybe you look at dolls. Or, you discuss wheel bearings on a message board. Whatever. That’s your business. Why should someone else know that?

The companies’ who create these cookies would tell you they would never hurt you. I’m sure they would never steal your Social Security number. But they might well identify you. And they’ll sell your browsing information to offline data collectors. They can call it what they like. IT’S AN INVASION OF PRIVACY!!!