Flash Cookies

[richc46]

Although this article is 3 years old, the information will be a surprise to many. Flash cookies can be installed on your computer (they are hard to find) and among other things reinstall regular cookies as soon as we delete them.
Flash Cookies explained

 

[marsmimar]

I found a free utility that is much more user friendly then the Adobe Settings Manager if you want to rid your machine of flash cookies. It's called Flash Cookies Cleaner v1.2 :

Download Flash Cookies Cleaner 1.2 Free - Removes every Flash Cookie from your system - Softpedia

 

[Anak]

Hi! rich,

Good article.
I am using FireFox 3.6.10, and have the "Better Privacy" add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6623/ Its job is to delete LSOs on demand or on exit of FireFox.

Have noticed no detrimental effects, and my

[Root drive]:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects\

And:
\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys subdirectory.

Are always empty.

 

[richc46]

They can be cleaned out with Ccleaner.

 

[richc46]

Here is the actual link to adjust your flash cookies
Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager - Global Privacy Settings Panel
The panel that you see is an actual link to the settings.

 

[Anak]

Here is the actual link to adjust your flash cookies
Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager - Global Privacy Settings Panel
The panel that you see is an actual link to the settings.

rich,

I've used that manager for a couple of years now, and the one thing that strikes me is why adobe feels the need to have it set up that way instead of being able to control the settings from your own system.

They (adobe) have always had this machiavellian attitude about their programs and it has only (IMO) been the recent activity concerning their outdated security programming that has spurred them into action.

But, why, do they stubbornly hold to this archaic thinking of on-line managing?

I can only see one reason, and that is profit from the uninformed masses that do not realize what is transpiring right under their noses by having "cookies" revealing where, what, who, and how the users of their (adobe) product are conducting business on the internet.

What are your feelings on this?

 

[richc46]

First, I feel that it is something that can be remedied quite easily; but it is not. The question, at hand, is why.
First, this is my opinion, dont know anything more than you. I do know, however, that flash software is on the market so that money can be made. That much is a given. It is interesting to note that one feature of these flash cookies, is that it gives the abilty to other companies to use Zombie Cookies; cookies that as soon as we delete are reinstalled. It would be my opinion that the company that placed the cookie has an immediate benefit. Could it be that Adobe benefits somehow from this arrangement? Several possiblites come to mind, but I rather not put it in print.

 

[Anak]

Then I can only surmise the reasoning for your original post would be to

Remain Ever-Vigilant.​

 

[richc46]

The only reason that I made that first post is because a stituation exists that all users of Flash should be made aware. Regardless of the method used to delete those cookies, knowldege of the situation is required.

 

[TOF]

One extension that you will never see in Google Chrome is "Better Privacy". This handy extension deletes flash cookies automatically and his highly configurable. Since Google needs Google Chrome to gather data about you for their clients, they aren't likely going to adopt this extension any time soon. Better Privacy Deletes Sneaky Flash Cookies From Firefox - PCWorld

 

[A Guy]

CCleaner doesn't natively delete all flash cookies. But you can make it with a few simple steps.

Note: You must have hidden files and folders on to do this

Open CCleaner> Options> Include

Add the following folders to Include:

C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects

C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys



Now open exclude and add the following:

C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys\settings.sol

I did not have this settings.sol file, but if you have not previously deleted it, it should be there. That's it, CCleaner will now delete all flash cookies.

A Guy

 

[Anak]

The only reason that I made that first post is because a stituation exists that all users of Flash should be made aware. Regardless of the method used to delete those cookies, knowldege of the situation is required.

Knowledge is power.

I did not have this settings.sol file, but if you have not previously deleted it, it should be there. That's it, CCleaner will now delete all flash cookies.

A Guy

That's the only one I had A Guy , and it is gone now to.

 

[richc46]

CCleaner doesn't natively delete all flash cookies. But you can make it with a few simple steps.

Note: You must have hidden files and folders on to do this

Open CCleaner> Options> Include

Add the following folders to Include:

C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects

C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys

View attachment 100308


Now open exclude and add the following:

C:\Users\User name\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys\settings.sol

I did not have this settings.sol file, but if you have not previously deleted it, it should be there. That's it, CCleaner will now delete all flash cookies.

A Guy

Thats what I do, but a PIA

 

[JMH]

Then I can only surmise the reasoning for your original post would be to

Remain Ever-Vigilant.​

Yes these posts are a timely reminder that the onus is on each computer user to read, digest, think, be proactive & wary constantly.
Ignorance is no excuse....

 

[marsmimar]

CCleaner doesn't natively delete all flash cookies.

A Guy

And that's why I posted earlier about Flash Cookies Cleaner. It's a small utility (about 97KB) that can run from the desktop and may be of benefit for those who don't want to use CCleaner.

Download Flash Cookies Cleaner 1.2 Free - Removes every Flash Cookie from your system - Softpedia

 

[A Guy]

And that's why I posted earlier about Flash Cookies Cleaner. It's a small utility (about 97KB) that can run from the desktop and may be of benefit for those who don't want to use CCleaner.

Download Flash Cookies Cleaner 1.2 Free - Removes every Flash Cookie from your system - Softpedia

Indeed, a nice little program I have on my pc and my USB as well. A Guy

 

[richc46]

TY Marsmimar, may give that one a try.

 

[Layback Bear]

Thanks richc46 for the reminder. Thanks to marsmimar for that great little program.

 

[Anak]

The war against persistent zombie cookies—cookies that never seem to lose your data, even when you delete them—rages on, as users learn more about the technology. While awareness is rising thanks to widespread coverage of Flash cookies and, more recently, HTML5's storage capabilities, we have a long way to go before Internet users can avoid persistent tracking. Like all zombie wars, this one will take some time to win; and if you thought things were bad now, they're about to get worse.

More here:
Zombie cookie wars: evil tracking API meant to "raise awareness"

Walt Disney's internet subsidiary and several of its partners have been sued for allegedly using cookies based on Adobe's Flash Player to track highly personal information about their users, many of whom were minors.

More here:
Disney sued for spying on kids with 'zombie cookies' • The Register



How do I tell my niece Samantha that we can't visit Cinderella's page at Disney.com?

 

[jav]

I see, you guys on war against cookies!!

There is a something for you: evercookie - virtually irrevocable persistent cookies

Enjoy.