A "cookie" on the World Wide Web is a line of text with a server address and an ID number stored on your computer (usually in a file named "cookies.txt"). Cookies, on their own, are not harmful. They do not contain any information that you have not voluntarily entered on your own. They are not applications or "virus spreaders." They can't, for instance, be used to search your local hard drive. Furthermore, cookies may only be read by the site that sent them. Cookies may be used to track where you go on a site or to pass information from one page to the next (so you don't, for example, have to enter your name and address every time you submit a form).

How does the Fairfax County Web site use cookies?

     We do not use cookies to track where you visit on the Fairfax County Web site. Fairfax County is not monitoring your Web browsing habits through cookies. Cookies are used by some county Web applications to pass needed information from one page to the next. Rejecting a cookie in these applications will render the application useless. For example, Parktakes Online uses cookies to store log in information (member number and/or PIN) to identify the end user to the system throughout the class search and registration processes.

     WE DO NOT RECORD ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN OUR LOGS OR COOKIES. Applications use cookies to track the session through randomly generated ID numbers that cannot be traced back to any personal or private information.

How do I enable cookies?

     Instructions for enabling cookies are provided below for the most common browsers (AOL, Internet Explorer, Netscape) used to view our site. If you are using a different browser, or have questions about the instructions, please e-mail the Web Administrator for assistance.

AOL

• AOL 9.0

  1. From the AOL toolbar, click on Settings.
  2. Click on Internet [Web] Options.
  3. Click on Use your Internet Explorer Settings to set advanced browser options.
  4. Click on the Privacy tab.
  5. Click Advanced.
  6. Deselect override automatic cookie handling button.
  7. Click OK.



• AOL 8.0

  1. From the AOL toolbar, click on Settings.
  2. Click on Preferences.
  3. Click on Internet Properties (WWW).
  4. Click on the Privacy tab.
  5. Click Advanced.
  6. Deselect override automatic cookie handling button.
  7. Click OK.



• AOL 7.0

  1. On the Features Tab (Mail, People, Services, Settings, Favorites) at the top of your browser window, select Settings | Preferences.
  2. Click on the Internet Properties (WWW) link.
  3. Click on the Security tab.
  4. Click on the globe to the left labeled Internet.
  5. Press the Custom Level button below.
  6. In the Security Settings window that appears, scroll down to the Cookies options and make sure all are set to either enable or prompt.
  7. Now click OK at the bottom of this window.
  8. If a window pops up, click on Yes.
  9. You're done. Press OK and then OK again to hide the windows

Internet Explorer

• Internet Explorer 6.x

  1. On the menu at the top of your browser window, select Tools | Internet Options.
  2. Click on the "Privacy" tab, and make sure the settings slider is at least one notch down (i.e. not on the "Block all Cookies" setting).
  3. Under the "Web Sites" area, click on "edit".
  4. In the "Address of Web Site" field, type in: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov, then click "Allow". Repeat this process for http://www.co.fairfax.va.us, adding it as well.
  5. Click "OK" to confirm and exit out of the current window, and again for the Internet Options window.



• Internet Explorer 5.x

  1. On the menu at the top of your browser window, select Tools | Internet Options.
  2. Click on the "Security" tab.
  3. Click on the globe to the left labeled "Internet".
  4. Press the "Custom Level" button below.
  5. In the "Security Settings" window that appears, scroll down to the "Cookies" options and make sure all are set to either "enable" or "prompt".
  6. Now click "OK" at the bottom of this window.
  7. If a window pops up, click on "Yes".
  8. You're done. Press "OK" and then "OK" again to hide the windows



• Internet Explorer 4.x

  1. On the menu at the top of your browser window, select View | Internet Options.
  2. Click on the Advanced tab.
  3. Scroll down to the Security section (next to the padlock icon).
  4. Within the Security section, find the Cookies section (next to the yellow triangle with an exclamation point).
  5. Click on "Always accept cookies".
  6. Press the OK button.

Netscape

• Netscape 7.x

  1. On the menu at the top of your browser window, select Edit | Preferences.
  2. Expand the Privacy & Security option.
  3. Select "Cookies" underneath "Privacy & Security".
  4. Select one of the following options "Allow cookies for the originating web site only", "Allow cookies based on privacy settings" (click view to set privacy settings) or "Allow all cookies".
  5. Press the "OK" button.



• Netscape 4.x, 5.x, 6.x

  1. On the menu at the top of your browser window, select Edit | Preferences.
  2. Click on Advanced.
  3. If you are using Netscape 5 or 6, select "Cookies" underneath "Advanced", otherwise proceed directly to step 4.
  4. Select either "Accept all cookies" or "Accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server".
  5. Press the "OK" button.



• Netscape 3.x

  1. On the menu at the top of your browser window, select Options | Network Preferences.
  2. Click on the Protocols tab.
  3. Uncheck the "Accepting a Cookie" check box.
  4. Press the "OK" button.

     Many browsers can be set to warn you before accepting cookies. If you do not accept a cookie from our site, nothing horrible will happen. However, some interactive applications (for example, the job listings and the e-Check applications) will not work as designed -- this may mean that you will not be able to get information or complete a transaction. In some cases, it may just be that certain features may not be available to you. If you decline the cookie in one of the applications that requires cookies, the server will continue to try to send you a cookie with each page of the application you request.

     If you have any questions or concerns about cookies and their use on the Fairfax County Web site beyond what is covered here, please contact the Web Administrator.