Adobe Flash Cookies: The Silent Privacy Killer

[echrada]

There are hundreds of applications out there from spyware cleaners to built-in browser features that eliminate cookies on the spot, and even let you set cookie policies on your computer regarding what can be stored in your machine, and for how long. I’m assuming that if you’re here reading this post, you already know all of the dangers of cookies on your computer. In all honesty, I don’t seriously believe that they’re the most dangerous form of movement or web tracking, but they can definitely be used to monitor more movements than a person should feel comfortable with.
What if there was a type of cookie that could:

* Stay on your computer for an unlimited amount of time
* Store 100 kb of data by default, with an unlimited max
* Couldn’t be deleted by your browser
* Send previous visit information and history, by default, without your permission

Okay… That’s a pretty scary cookie. As it is right now, the cookies we’re so deadly afraid of can store a maximum of 4 kb of information, are manage by your browser, and by default have reasonable defaults and restrictions.
This type of cookie exists on 98% of global computers, across all operating systems. it’s the Adobe Flash Player.

The Adobe Flash Player maintains proprietary cookies called Local Shared Objects or LSO’s. LSO’s are capable of storing 100 kb’s of information for an indefinite amount of time by default. When you clear your browser history in Internet Explorer, Firefox or Opera on Windows, Linux, or OS X LSO’s are not cleared from Adobe’s local repository.
In fact, all the information in those cookies will remain indefinitely until they’re removed by the issuing website, or by you via a cumbersome and ridiculous process.
Unfortunately, I haven’t even explained the worst of it.
There’s no easy way to tell what sites are using flash cookies to track your movements. There’s no list, and there doesn’t have to be a flash GUI or visible application for flash cookies to be present. In fact, most websites using flash for user tracking don’t create GUI’s, toolbars, or applications that you can actually see in your browser while browsing the site.
Many times a tiny flash module, 2 kb in size or less is loaded into your browser on every page visit in the same way a gif, jpg or other image is. The whole purpose of this tiny, invisible flash module might be to simply record the page request, and your username or other session variables.
Alright, so now you’re sufficiently convinced that this is creepy stuff. Let’s talk about how to get rid of it?
Lame as it might be, the Flash Player has no ability to delete cookies. And as I’ve already said, your browser can’t help you out. It doesn’t even know these cookies exist! Most of the privacy settings for Adobe Flash have be accessed via a flash application on Adobe’s website called the Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager.
If you want to access the Settings Manager, you can do so here. In fact, open it up now and let’s take a look.
If you’ve clicked the link above, then you’re looking at the Flash Player Settings Manager, and a list of all the sites currently storing information on the cookies stored on your computer.
Looking at my list, I see over 100 websites that have been accessing the same cookie for the last year (the last time I formatted my computer). Some of them are storing only 1kb of information, some are storing the full 100 kb’s. On my own computer, I see that my bank is storing flash information despite the fact that there isn’t a single flash application visible when I log in to check my balance. I see Youtube, CNN, Microsoft, Rotten Tomatoes and a ton more!
To delete all the Flash Cookies currently being stored on your machine:

1. Go to the Settings Manager (Website Storage Settings)
2. Go to the far-right tab
3. Click “Delete all sites”

To prevent websites from storing any more information on your computer:

1. Go to Settings Manager
2. Click the Second Tab from the left (Global Storage Settings)
3. Set the Storage Settings slider to None
4. Uncheck “Allow Third Party Flash Content to store data on your computer

There are several other “privacy” settings on the other tabs, but don’t be persuaded. Most of those privacy settings have to do with whether or not websites can access your microphone and webcam. There isn’t a single cookie option on any of the privacy tabs on the Settings Manager.
Adobe, as a global leader in browser technology (a 98% computer market share), has a responsibility to make Privacy Options easily accessible from within the Player application itself. They also have a responsibility to set reasonble default limitations. It’s ridiculous that they would enable websites to store cookies indefinitely, and in such large sizes.

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html

http://www.imasuper.com/66/technology/flash-cookies-the-silent-privacy-killer/

 

[Se7en kbs]

This is why I have got NoScript, stops scrips and flash things running unless I want them to, so I only allow trustworthy sites.

I'll take a look at the settings of my Flash Player in a minute anyway and see whats what though.

 

[Mark]

I had a look and this is all I found

 

[echrada]

Did you click on all the settings at the top? Also it is better to clear everything.

 

[Se7en kbs]

I stopped sites from saving stuff and cleared everything.

 

[Mark]

Well out of interest I didn't clear it and I run CCleaner and when I checked it again it was empty and I use that on a regular basis which explains why there were only two sites previously.

 

[garysgold]

Well out of interest I didn't clear it and I run CCleaner and when I checked it again it was empty and I use that on a regular basis which explains why there were only two sites previously.

Good to know. Thanks.

Gary

 

[Joe]

There are hundreds of applications out there from spyware cleaners to built-in browser features that eliminate cookies on the spot, and even let you set cookie policies on your computer regarding what can be stored in your machine, and for how long. I’m assuming that if you’re here reading this post, you already know all of the dangers of cookies on your computer. In all honesty, I don’t seriously believe that they’re the most dangerous form of movement or web tracking, but they can definitely be used to monitor more movements than a person should feel comfortable with.
What if there was a type of cookie that could:

* Stay on your computer for an unlimited amount of time
* Store 100 kb of data by default, with an unlimited max
* Couldn’t be deleted by your browser
* Send previous visit information and history, by default, without your permission

Okay… That’s a pretty scary cookie. As it is right now, the cookies we’re so deadly afraid of can store a maximum of 4 kb of information, are manage by your browser, and by default have reasonable defaults and restrictions.
This type of cookie exists on 98% of global computers, across all operating systems. it’s the Adobe Flash Player.

The Adobe Flash Player maintains proprietary cookies called Local Shared Objects or LSO’s. LSO’s are capable of storing 100 kb’s of information for an indefinite amount of time by default. When you clear your browser history in Internet Explorer, Firefox or Opera on Windows, Linux, or OS X LSO’s are not cleared from Adobe’s local repository.
In fact, all the information in those cookies will remain indefinitely until they’re removed by the issuing website, or by you via a cumbersome and ridiculous process.
Unfortunately, I haven’t even explained the worst of it.
There’s no easy way to tell what sites are using flash cookies to track your movements. There’s no list, and there doesn’t have to be a flash GUI or visible application for flash cookies to be present. In fact, most websites using flash for user tracking don’t create GUI’s, toolbars, or applications that you can actually see in your browser while browsing the site.
Many times a tiny flash module, 2 kb in size or less is loaded into your browser on every page visit in the same way a gif, jpg or other image is. The whole purpose of this tiny, invisible flash module might be to simply record the page request, and your username or other session variables.
Alright, so now you’re sufficiently convinced that this is creepy stuff. Let’s talk about how to get rid of it?
Lame as it might be, the Flash Player has no ability to delete cookies. And as I’ve already said, your browser can’t help you out. It doesn’t even know these cookies exist! Most of the privacy settings for Adobe Flash have be accessed via a flash application on Adobe’s website called the Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager.
If you want to access the Settings Manager, you can do so here. In fact, open it up now and let’s take a look.
If you’ve clicked the link above, then you’re looking at the Flash Player Settings Manager, and a list of all the sites currently storing information on the cookies stored on your computer.
Looking at my list, I see over 100 websites that have been accessing the same cookie for the last year (the last time I formatted my computer). Some of them are storing only 1kb of information, some are storing the full 100 kb’s. On my own computer, I see that my bank is storing flash information despite the fact that there isn’t a single flash application visible when I log in to check my balance. I see Youtube, CNN, Microsoft, Rotten Tomatoes and a ton more!
To delete all the Flash Cookies currently being stored on your machine:

1. Go to the Settings Manager (Website Storage Settings)
2. Go to the far-right tab
3. Click “Delete all sites”

To prevent websites from storing any more information on your computer:

1. Go to Settings Manager
2. Click the Second Tab from the left (Global Storage Settings)
3. Set the Storage Settings slider to None
4. Uncheck “Allow Third Party Flash Content to store data on your computer

There are several other “privacy” settings on the other tabs, but don’t be persuaded. Most of those privacy settings have to do with whether or not websites can access your microphone and webcam. There isn’t a single cookie option on any of the privacy tabs on the Settings Manager.
Adobe, as a global leader in browser technology (a 98% computer market share), has a responsibility to make Privacy Options easily accessible from within the Player application itself. They also have a responsibility to set reasonble default limitations. It’s ridiculous that they would enable websites to store cookies indefinitely, and in such large sizes.

Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager - Website Storage Settings panel

I’m A Super.com » Flash Cookies: The Silent Privacy Killer

Excellent post! It has now been stickied. I want everyone to know about this one. I was shocked to learn about it and welcomed the solution.

 

[Airbot]

Yes, excellent post echrada,

I too only had the bin.clearspring one but I dropped the storage down to zero. Thanks, didn't know about this. I think like Mr. Grim said, ccleaner clears these.

 

[bambi]

That is some good info there. Thanks man, scarey stuff!

-baMBi-

 

[NickDanger]

Amazing!! I always took flash as a "nice guy". My guess it's the Adobe part that is not so nice!! Anyone know if flash was like this under Macromedia?

 

[echrada]

Yes Adobe basically just changed the name and 'made to fit' the rest.

 

[pooch]

Do I visit the wrong sites?? My list was not very big at all !!

Still cleared and turned it off though

Thanks for this echrada

Pooch

 

[echrada]

You're welcome Pooch.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks echrada!



















Later Ted

 

[Lebon14]

Good one!!! thanks a lot! *bookmarks*

 

[24seVen]

I too thank you for a fantastic thread. Also I also had 1 item to remove due to ccleaner.
Thanks echrada

 

[crazydude007]

Superb post man! Thanks for it! It will really save me in the future.

 

[HikerRemastered]

Thanks for the great tips. If CCleaner indeed does clean them out, I should be good though....

*checks anyway*

 

[wosully]

Glad to know. Well done documenting this for us.