But they can do more than store preferences. An on-line newspaper or magazine could track and record particular articles a user has accessed, creating a log of his or her activity. Sites have other ways to collect information as well. In a registration process, a valid E-mail address may be required in order to receive a password to use the site. An on-line form may ask about hobbies and interests.
Most users are unaware of the amount of information they unwittingly send Web sites.
A blank E-mail, for example, sent in order to receive a password, will often contain the user's real name and place of employment. These are fields most users have entered into their E-mail software without a second thought. What worries Internet privacy experts is not the individual snippet of data somehow acquired by a Web site, but the aggregate of all these bits of information. Even if the site tells you they're collecting information, there is not much you can do. For instance, Web browsers enable users to turn off the cookie feature, but many sites will deny access unless their cookies are accepted.