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[Ally]

We've learned that clearing out our cashe and cookies periodically is a very good idea. Most of us here use the ATF cleaner to do this.

But then there are SuperCookies. They are generated by the dreaded Adobe Flash. Our browsers, on their own, can't delete SuperCookies due to Flash not being a native component of the browser. No matter which browser you use on your PC, Flash will always store its own cookies.

To find the super cookies on your computer, launch IE and in the address bar, type %appdata%. When that window pops up, double-click Macromedia, then Flash Player, then macromedia.com, then support, then flashplayer, then sys. You've finally arrived at where the SuperCookies are stored. You'll notice a bunch of folders, each with a "setings.sol" file in them. That is the SuperCookie.

If you want to manually remove these SuperCookies...

Close all your web browsers, then delete everything in the sys folder. But don't delete the sys folder itself because that can cause problems. Just delete the content inside the sys folder.

An Automatic way to remove the SuperCookies if you use Firefox...

If you use Firefox, you can use the "BetterPrivacy" add-on. What this will do is delete all SuperCookies every time the browser is closed. (There are also ways to edit the settings so you can keep certain super cookies on your computer if you want them.)

Better Privacy Add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6623

So, do we really have to delete SuperCookies? Not usually... But if you use web sites that contain a large amount of Flash content and something "goes weird" from time to time, chances are clearing out the SuperCookies will fix the problem.

Ally

This post has been edited by Ally: Mar 11 2010, 12:52 PM

[Rainbow]

TY Ally...I used to have this add on but wasn't sure if it was needed and deleted it.

This post has been edited by Rainbow: Mar 11 2010, 10:30 AM

[DesertFox]

Thanks, Ally! Good to know.

[Ally]

You're welcome Rainbow and DF!

[booky]

OK Ally....here's my dilemma(you know I am still new to my PC,right?) OK ..I was able to get to the folders, but I don't know how to delete what's in them without deleting the folder itself.

[Ally]

Booky, I assume from your question that you don't use Firefox and/or don't want to use the automatic add-on way of deleting these Super Cookies, right?

If that is the case, and you want to do it manually, then here is what you do:

When you find the sys folder, double click on it and you will see a whole list of folders.
The easy way is to "select all" and then "delete." Just don't delete the sys folder itself.
All the folders inside the sys folder are okay to delete.

Ally

[booky]

Sorry I left that off Ally

I do have IE and not Firefox. I will try to do this again using your last post. I just don't want to delete the folder and have something go wrong. Thank- you.

[Ally]

You're welcome Booky, and good luck!

Ally

[LA-Lili]

Thanks, Ally, will give it a go.

[Herbal Chickie]

Thanks for the link, Ally.

[mumsboys]

Thanks Ally I got the add-on

[Ally]

You're very welcome Lili, HC and Mums!

The add-on really does make the process easier. But I've done it manually, too, and it works just as well for those of you who don't use Firefox. There's just more steps of course.

Ally

[KingPutt]

Good tip. I appreciate it.

Using Flash every day, I clean those files with an old version of CCleaner, also known as Crap Cleaner. One click and those files are gone. In fact, the folders are gone also. They are re-created automatically when you go to the next page that has flash content. I often delete the "super cookies" twenty or more times a day, on the fly, without closing open windows or interrupting other tasks I have going on.

I realize that CCleaner has a registry cleaner, which can wreck a computer, but in order to use the registry cleaner function you have to specifically attempt to use it.

I cannot conceive of using the CC reg cleaner by accident. I never have understood why this program is considered risky. A person would be more apt to set his whole head on fire while lighting a cigarette than accidentally using the CCleaner registry cleaner.

[Ally]

You're welcome KP!

The author of the add-on specifically mentions that CCleaner can do the same thing. But with this add-on you don't have to open a separate program (CC cleaner), or click anything, or wait while it removes the supercookies. You don't have to do anything. BetterPrivacy just cleans out those cookies automatically every time you close your browser. You never have to think about it.

Ally

This post has been edited by Ally: Mar 12 2010, 05:44 AM

[Marty]

Thanks Ally.....got it installed in my FF.

[Ally]

You're welcome Marty!

[Puppy]

I cannot conceive of using the CC reg cleaner by accident. I never have understood why this program is considered risky. A person would be more apt to set his whole head on fire while lighting a cigarette than accidentally using the CCleaner registry cleaner.

Too many people think the registry cleaning component is safe to use, just because it's there, KingPutt.
They don't use it by accident, they use it because they don't know any better, and too many times we've seen people come here with problems as a result.
Problems that often end up being costly to fix.

[LA-Lili]

Got it added this morning and liked the feature where I can choose which supercookies I can keep as protected -- thanks, Ally -- can't be too careful with how our info gets out there. Appreciate your always sharing these great ideas!

[Ally]

You're welcome Marty and Lili! And I agree Lili, this add-on is rich with great features.

Ally