On-line privacy

Sunday, August 21, 2011 by gmc2 | Discussion: Personal Computing

An interesting article on on-line privacy, cookies and HTML5. Source is the San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/21/BU5H1KP1HO.DTL

First Previous Page 1 of 2 Next Last
DrJBHL
Reply #1 Sunday, August 21, 2011 5:14 PM
DaveRI
Reply #2 Sunday, August 21, 2011 6:27 PM

Doc also told us about Flash Cookie Cleaner awhile back.  It has become one of my favorite and most-used utilities, I often just leave it running minimized if I'm doing much browsing to clean up after sites.  If you leave it running you need to click on its "Scan Cookies" button to rescan the cookies directory (it scans automatically when you first open it up).  The cookies are stored on a logon/user by logon/user basis, so you need to run it while logged in under any particular logon - running under an Admin logon will only clean out the cookies under the Admin user.

Might be better to just block them all via the Adobe settings site, don't know if some site function would be impaired by doing that.  Anyway here's Flash Cookie Cleaner:

[EDIT- It has come to my attention that Download.com has begun wrapping downloads from their site in an installer which wants to install toolbars and such unless a person specifically "opts out" of those during installation.  The link I have provided below is to the FlashCookieCleaner site; however, clicking on their "Download" button routes a person to Download.com to get the actual download.  I'm going to leave the link here, but please be warned to pay attention if you install the software and specifically OPT OUT OF ANY LITTLE EXTRAS during the installation. - end edit]

http://www.flashcookiecleaner.com/

Like I said, I love it, thanks Doc.

DrJBHL
Reply #3 Sunday, August 21, 2011 7:24 PM

Unfortunately, many different sites install this type of cookie now (not just flash). The 'great' thing about these cookies (besides tracing you on the net) is their ability to install other cookies without your consent.

There really should be a law against them.

gmc2
Reply #4 Sunday, August 21, 2011 7:38 PM

I don't allow first or third party cookies with the exception of listed sites and only first party from those. I guess it helps but after reading the article I'm not sure how much.

DaveRI
Reply #5 Sunday, August 21, 2011 8:18 PM

Makes me wonder how much garbage I've got out there if for no other reason that just the junk file syndrome.  I know the first time I got rid of the Flash Cookies it was a huge pile.  Cleaning out the user settings directories is a huge PITA and a great way to break things if you're not careful.

Bastards.

Philly0381
Reply #6 Sunday, August 21, 2011 8:27 PM

So flash cookies are different then just normal browser cookies?

DaveRI
Reply #7 Sunday, August 21, 2011 8:36 PM

Philly0381
So flash cookies are different then just normal browser cookies?

Yep.  Deleting browser cookies doesn't get rid of them.  If you want to cringe, have a look at the directory.  I don't know exactly what it is on Win7 or Vista, but it's probably similar to what it is on XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\[User]\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys\

 

And that's just the directory I know about, the one Flash Cookie Cleaner keeps clean.  Who know where else cookies are getting written to.

Wizard1956
Reply #8 Sunday, August 21, 2011 9:34 PM

Paranoid are we? The cookie monster is out to get you!

 How about covering your webcam or turning it the opposite way so "the spies" can't see you?

Don't use a touchscreen computer, or someone will find a way to steal your fingerprints too.

Good Grief.

tazgecko
Reply #9 Sunday, August 21, 2011 9:48 PM

CCleaner will also get rid of flash cookies 

DaveRI
Reply #10 Sunday, August 21, 2011 11:34 PM

Wizard1956
Paranoid are we? The cookie monster is out to get you!

Nah, not so much.  I have to admit though I'm not crazy about little tag-a-longs following me around wherever I go mainly just on principle, I don't buy into the glass house trend.  I'm definitely not crazy about them dropping little mouse turds all over my hard drive while they do it, messy little pests.

Kodiak888
Reply #11 Monday, August 22, 2011 12:36 AM

Install Better Privacy if you're using firefox. If you're not using firefox, install firefox.

Wizard1956
Reply #12 Monday, August 22, 2011 1:24 AM

Kodiak888
If you're not using firefox, install firefox.
Or just use InPrivate Browsing in IE8 or 9.

StevenAus22
Reply #13 Monday, August 22, 2011 1:57 AM

BetterPrivacy can be used in Pale Moon too.

Best regards,
Steven.

DrJBHL
Reply #14 Monday, August 22, 2011 2:22 AM

Wizard1956
Quoting Kodiak888, reply 11 If you're not using firefox, install firefox. Or just use InPrivate Browsing in IE8 or 9.

No matter extensions, etc. ie9 has far better anti-socially engineered malware protection than other browsers, hands down.

I don't recommend the x64 ie9 because the java engine is poor/broken. The x486 ie9, while ugly, is just great, as is Comodo-Dragon.

starkers
Reply #15 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 12:01 AM

DaveRI
http://www.flashcookiecleaner.com/

This link eventually took me to C-Net... and a wrapped installer was on offer.... could tell because the file name had exe.exe.  Files at C-Net that are not wrapped have only one exe, so I read.

DaveRI
Reply #16 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 3:22 AM

Ya Jafo's post about C-Net Download.com was what prompted me to stick that warning in there.  I had installed the program a few months ago before CNet started screwing around.

Since this thread was sinking nicely to the bottom of the stack I decided the best thing to do was edit to stick the warning in there and just let it keep dropping.  I could delete the link but it's not FlashCookieCleaner's fault, it'd be kind of like deleting a link I'd made to WinStep or whatever.  Hopefully CNet will straighten up.

 

starkers
Reply #17 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 3:53 AM

DaveRI
Hopefully CNet will straighten up.

Hopefully!!!  I know that it wasn't your fault, that your intentions were good, so my post was not a reflection on you but the lousy practice C-Net sees fit to inflict on people.

DaveRI
Reply #18 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 4:26 AM

Nah I just thought a little explanation was in order as the situation did cause me to scratch my head a little bit.

There is some irony here that just can't be beat - Here's a nice simple little program that somebody made available for free, designed to help users avoid unwanted (primarily marketing) cookies, so what does C-Net do?  Wrap it up in adware designed to install by default.

Disturbedcomputer
Reply #19 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:43 AM

2 C this again

DrJBHL
Reply #20 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 10:04 AM

Flash cookies are Stalkerware. They are designed to record where you go on the web (not if in incognito mode (I believe).

A great article about them and the software (Browser) extensions to remove them. There are Chrome extensions as well as Firefox ones.

Puts "Silverlight" in question.

http://www.websiteadministrator.com.au/articles/flash-super-cookie-the-local-shared-object.html

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