December 9, 1996 1:45 PM ET

Pretty Good Privacy introduces 'cookie cutter' for browsers
By Margaret Kane

Internet users who relish their privacy have to do battle with "cookies," technology supported by popular World Wide Web browsers that lets sites exchange information with visitors' computers. Pretty Good Privacy Inc. today announced PGPcookie.cutter, a browser plug-in that lets users fight back by selectively blocking cookies. The plug-in will be available in January for $19.95 in Windows 95, Windows NT and Macintosh versions for Netscape Communications Corp.'s Navigator. Most Web browsers can notify users when a site attempts to set a cookie and let them block it. The PGP program lets users preprogram their browsers to block or allow only specific cookies to be set on their browsers. It also shows the number of cookies Web sites have attempted to set and where they are coming from, said officials for the Redwood Shores, Calif., company. Additional information is available at www.pgp.com. . Copyright(c) 1996 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company is prohibited. PC Week and the PC Week logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. PC Week Online and the PC Week Online logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. Send mail to PC Week