Microsoft becomes cookie defender, privacy hero
Privacy from Companies
7/24/2000; 10:43:23 AM 'Microsoft got quite a bit of mileage out of its announcement earlier this week that it would be building cookie management features into Internet Explorer. ... What a difference a day makes, indeed. Wasn't it just Wednesday that Microsoft was the slipshod, careless perpetrator of practically every security hole and privacy infringement enabler in the Galaxy? Haven't Messrs Catlett and Smith spent years compiling long lists of offences perpetrated by the Great Satan of the Security Hole? Indeed they have (links [in article]), but nevertheless from the way Microsoft tells it, the company is now leading the privacy charge, and is the consumer's friend.'

Microsoft has finally gotten around to adding the ability to block third-party cookies in their latest "technology beta", features Netscape has had for years. While nice, the gains are mostly in having Microsoft treat the issue of privacy seriously, as the article goes on to point out. On a technical level, these are long overdue features, not the incredible breakthroughs the marketing division of Microsoft would like to claim.