Setup CCleaner to completely remove flash cookies

[A Guy]

As I told in the earlier posts flash cookies are toughest to remove from a PC. Even if you’ve deleted all your browsing history and normal cookies, flash cookies are still there and offer unlimited user tracking.

CCleaner is one of the best privacy cleaning software and it can also remove flash cookies from your PC, but there are Flash Cookies which aren't removed by CCleaner.

Here is how to completely remove flash cookies from Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.


For Windows XP users: Run CCleaner and add the following two folders to the Include List. For that go to Options – Include – Add Folder, and then navigate to:

C:\Documents and Settings\ User name\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects

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


Now add the following file to the Exclude list. For that go to Option – Exclude – Add file and browse the following file.

C:\Documents and Settings\ User name\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys\settings.sol


For Windows 7 and Vista users: Add following two folders to Include list

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

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


In the Exclude list add the following file:

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


[Note: 'Please enable ‘Show hidden files and Folder Option before proceeding. For Windows XP go to Windows Explorer – Tools – Folder Options – View and enable ‘Show hidden files and Folder’ option. For Windows 7 & Vista got to Windows Explorer - Organize - Folder and Search option - View – and enable ‘Show hidden files, folder, or drivers’]

http://www.jkwebtalks.com/2010/02/setup-ccleaner-to-completely-remove.html

A Guy

[cwu]

cool, never heard of flash cookies before. this technique wont hurt my laptop when i run ccleaner with these changes right?

[luffy]

Thanks for sharing.

[saturn]

I heard of this before.You say that hidden files and folders must be enabled before trying this.Has anyone else tried this?

[riolionel]

This tip is not more necessary in latest CCleaner version.

All my flash cookies are deleted properly without that exclusions/inclusions.

[dking]

Thanks but what are flash cookies, anywyz, will try this out.

[tado]

Mozilla Firefox has the BetterPrivacy extension, now in its version 1.47.

I can't remember now, but I've been using BetterPrivacy for quite some time. It can also be configured to automatically flush (potentially menacing) flash a.k.a. "super" cookies along with all other tell-tale browser residue, such as in conjunction with permanently enabled Private Browsing or at least setting to clear history traces completely each time you close Firefox.

The tip A Guy has shared here has global effect, and employs the powerful, on-demand capabilities of CCleaner. I still strongly suggest to complement it with BetterPrivacy if you're a Firefox user like me.

Thanks, A Guy, I'll modify my CCleaner settings accordingly.

[hellnoire]

I actually use BetterPrivacy and set it to autodelete on close... so that was to be my suggestion.

Flash cookies, for those that don't know, are like browser cookies: little bits of information that tell a site if you've visited or not. Most times, that's all they are, and nothing more. But sometimes, they can be rather... odd. There has been reports of tracking cookies, that watch where you go completely, then report back to the site you came from. It's mostly just a privacy issue.

[jelson]

Thanks for the share A Guy.

I too use BetterPrivacy, a link its page is HERE.

There are also a couple of links on the page for more info on Flash-Cookies.

[bonishah88]

for all those above who asked what are flash cookies :

Flash cookies are a new way of tracing your movement and storing a lot more information about you than with normal cookies. One major disadvantage of flash cookies is that you can’t locate them in your browser. They are not shown in the list of cookies that you can see when you take a look at the cookies that are currently saved in your web browser.

Some more sites if you are interested :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Shared_Object

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/you-deleted-your-cookies-think-again/

http://www.ghacks.net/2007/05/04/flash-cookies-explained/

visi this link to find out the flash cookies stored on your PC : http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html