Incorrect Information in Advanced Privacy Settings "What's This?" Text (301402)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP
This article was previously published under Q301402

SYMPTOMS

The following "What's This?" text for the First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies entries in the Advanced Privacy Settings dialog box contain documentation errors. The "What's This?" text for these entries incorrectly show the options as Always and Deny. This text also incorrectly implies that cookies that exist on your computer at the time you set your cookie settings to Block or Prompt cannot be read by the Web site that created them or that you will be asked before they are read.

"What's This?" Text for First-Party Cookies

If you want Internet Explorer to always allow the Web site you are currently viewing to save or read cookies on your computer, select Always.

If you want Internet Explorer to never allow the Web site that you are currently viewing to save or read cookies on your computer, select Deny.

If you want Internet Explorer to ask you if you want to allow the Web site you are currently viewing to save or read cookies on your computer, select Prompt.

"What's This?" Text for Third-Party Cookies

If you want Internet Explorer to always allow a Web site other than the one you are currently viewing to save or read cookies on your computer, select Always.

If you want Internet Explorer to never allow a Web site other than the one you are currently viewing to save or read cookies on your computer, select Deny.

If you want Internet Explorer to ask you if you want to allow a Web site other than the one you are currently viewing to save or read cookies on your computer, select Prompt.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, note that the "What's This?" text in the "Symptoms" section of this article is incorrect for the following reasons:
  • The incorrect entry should instruct you to select Accept instead of Always and Block instead of Deny.
  • Cookies that exist on your computer at the time you set cookie settings in the Advanced Privacy Settings dialog box can be read by the Web site that created them (without a prompt) even if you select the Block or Prompt options.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to configure privacy settings, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

283185 How to Manage Cookies in Internet Explorer 6

For additional information about the behavior that is described in this article, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

298780 Any Existing Cookies Can Still Be Read by a Web Site Even When the "Block" Option Is Selected

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/5/2003
Keywords:kbdocerr kbprb KB301402
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