Here is an expanded 3049 word guide on clearing flash cookies from a cloud data security expert‘s perspective:
Flash cookies, also known as locally shared objects (LSOs), were previously utilized on websites using Adobe’s Flash Player platform to store data like user preferences, login information, and tracking data. With Adobe sunsetting support for Flash Player in 2020, the use of flash cookies has largely ended as websites transition to open web standards like HTML5. However, some legacy websites may still host outdated Flash content capable of depositing flash cookies on visitors’ devices.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into what exactly flash cookies are, how they work on a technical level, their privacy implications, and steps you can take to clear any remaining flash cookies on your system. We’ll also explore modern methods and tools to control regular browser cookies as online tracking continues evolving in the post-Flash landscape.
Contents
The Rise and Fall of Adobe Flash
To understand the backdrop behind flash cookies, it’s helpful to briefly recap the history of Flash technology and Adobe Flash Player.
Flash first emerged in the 1990s as a multimedia platform for adding animations, video, and interactivity to web pages. Initially created by Macromedia, Flash was acquired by Adobe in 2005. Adobe Flash Player was the browser plugin used to run Flash code (SWFs) embedded on websites.
At its peak, Flash was ubiquitous – by 2010, Flash Player reached penetration of over 90% of internet-connected desktops. However, major security issues plagued the platform. Flash had a long history of major vulnerabilities being frequently exploited by hackers.
Moreover, open web standards like HTML5 began supplanting the proprietary Flash platform. HTML5 offered built-in support for media and animations without plugins. In 2017, Adobe announced Flash would be discontinued in 2020. By the end of 2020, major browsers completely dropped support for Flash Player.
Timeline of Flash Usage and Security Issues
[insert timeline graphic]With Flash discontinued, websites have migrated to HTML5 and Flash content is no longer common. However, some outdated websites may still host legacy Flash content capable of depositing flash cookies on visitors‘ devices.
What Are Flash Cookies?
Flash cookies, also known as locally shared objects (LSOs), are data files that websites using Adobe Flash could place on a user‘s computer. Here‘s an overview of how flash cookies work under the hood:
- Flash cookies are stored as .sol files in the Flash Player folder located at:
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects\[random dir]\[random dir] -
Within .sol files, data is stored in key-value pairs associated with the site‘s domain. This allows sites to store complex data.
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Flash cookies can reinstate regular browser cookies if deleted. This makes them persistent across browsing sessions.
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Flash cookies can be accessed across browsers, unlike regular cookies which are browser-specific.
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Flash cookies have no expiration and are retained until manually deleted through Flash settings.
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Flash cookies can store unlimited amounts of data and aren‘t constrained by size limits.
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Settings for accepting Flash cookies aren‘t controlled through browser privacy settings. Flash Player manages permissions and storage separately.
In summary, flash cookies allow sites with Flash content to store persistent data files on your computer outside the purview of browser controls, posing privacy risks.
Flash Cookie Privacy Implications
The unique technical characteristics of flash cookies raised major privacy concerns when they were widely used:
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Tracking across browsers – Flash cookies bypass normal cookie controls by being shared across browsers on a device, allowing extensive cross-site tracking.
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Circumventing deletions – Sites can use flash cookies to simply restore regular cookies if a user deletes browser cookies. This makes deleting cookies ineffective.
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Large hidden data storage – The unlimited data capacity of flash cookies enables extensive hidden data collection compared to browser cookies‘ size restrictions.
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Lack of user control – Flash cookies can‘t be controlled through browser privacy settings and require managing Flash storage permissions separately.
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Persistent tracking data – Absent user deletion, flash cookies and their tracking data persist indefinitely due to a lack of expiration.
Comparison of Flash Cookies vs Browser Cookies
| Cookie Type | Storage Location | Accessibility | Capacity | Expiration | User Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser Cookie | Browser and OS specific (e.g. Chrome browser on Windows) | Isolated to browser where cookie was created | Limited (typically 4KB) | Can be set to expire after a duration | Managed through browser privacy settings |
| Flash Cookie | Centralized in Flash Player folder | Shared across all browsers on device | Unlimited | Never expire unless deleted | Controlled through Flash Player storage settings |
Are Flash Cookies Still an Issue?
Since Adobe ceased support for Flash Player as of December 31, 2020, websites can no longer create new flash cookies on users‘ devices. Major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari now completely block Flash content.
Per W3Techs, Flash usage had already declined to just 2.7% of websites in December 2019 as sites migrated to HTML5. By December 2020, Flash penetration had dropped near zero across the top 10 million sites:
Flash Usage Among Top 10 Million Websites
[insert pie chart showing Flash usage plummeting from 2.7% to near zero]Source: W3Techs
With the transition to HTML5 now complete, the era of widespread Flash cookies is over. However, legacy websites with old Flash content may still exist, so it‘s possible to encounter remnants of flash cookies on aging machines. But for most users, flash cookies no longer pose a meaningful threat with Flash discontinued.
How to Clear Flash Cookies
If you notice any websites still asking to store Flash data, you likely have some outdated Flash content that should be removed or updated. To clear any legacy flash cookies still lingering on your system, use these steps:
- Open the Flash Player Settings Manager by navigating to:
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html- Click "Website Storage Settings". This will display all sites you‘ve visited that stored flash cookies:
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To delete flash cookies from a specific site, click the "Remove All" button next to the site name.
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To purge all flash cookie data saved on your computer, click "Delete All Sites".
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Confirm you want to delete the selected flash cookies when prompted.
Once completed, any lingering legacy flash cookies on your system will be wiped clean. With Flash support discontinued, taking these steps should eliminate most remaining flash cookies.
Modern Methods to Control Browser Cookies
Now that we‘ve covered how to clear out old Flash cookies, let‘s discuss approaches for controlling browser-based cookies that are still highly relevant:
Browser Privacy Settings
All major browsers provide options to clear cookies and change cookie behavior:
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Cookie deletion – Manually clear all cookies to wipe your cookie data intermittently.
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Third-party cookie blocking – Prevent cookies from advertisers and third-party sites from tracking you across visited websites.
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Privacy modes – Use private browsing windows or incognito modes that don‘t retain cookies after the session.
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Do Not Track – Enable the Do Not Track setting to opt out of behavioral advertising cookies.
Secure Browsers
Specialized privacy-focused browsers offer enhanced protections:
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Brave – Blocks third-party ads and trackers by default without any extensions needed.
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Tor – Routes traffic through encrypted Tor network and blocks cookies, trackers, and fingerprinting.
Cookie Consent Management
Cookie consent platforms help manage compliance with regulations like GDPR by customizing cookie consent banners and policies.
Browser Extensions
Handy browser extensions provide additional cookie controls:
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Cookie AutoDelete – Automatically removes cookies when browser sessions end.
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I don‘t care about cookies – Automatically accepts/rejects cookie prompts based on whitelists.
VPN
A VPN routes all traffic through an encrypted tunnel, hiding your IP address and location. Many VPN providers include ad and malware blocking features that can also block cookies:
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NordVPN – Offers CyberSec suite for blocking ads, trackers, and malicious sites.
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ExpressVPN – Router-level ad and malware blocking available to block tracking via cookies.
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ProtonVPN – NetShield blocks malicious sites and allows whitelisting specific sites.
Best VPNs for Cookie Protection
| VPN | Speed | Servers | Platforms | Cookie Protection | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Fast | 5,600+ | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux | CyberSec ad & tracker blocking | $3.29/month billed 2-years |
| ExpressVPN | Very Fast | 3,000+ | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers | Router-level ad & malware blocking | $8.32/month billed 6-months |
| Surfshark | Fast | 3,200+ | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV | CleanWeb ad & tracker blocking | $2.21/month billed 2-years |
Ad & Tracker Blocking
Specialized ad blocker tools can prevent sites from setting tracking cookies in the first place:
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uBlock Origin – Open-source ad blocker for Chrome and Firefox that excels at blocking trackers.
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AdGuard – Cross-platform ad blocker with advanced filtering capabilities tuned for privacy.
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Disconnect – Blocks trackers in addition to ads with categories for ad, analytic, social, and content trackers.
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Ghostery – Veteran ad/tracker blocker with options to block various cookie categories.
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Privacy Badger – Uses heuristic learning to identify and block cookie-based trackers.
Outlook on Post-Flash Cookie Tracking Landscape
While blocking and clearing cookies provides protections, companies have continued developing more advanced tracking techniques that don‘t rely on cookies:
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Browser fingerprinting – Combining data points like browser version, plugins, hardware specs to create unique fingerprint to identify users.
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IP addresses – Can be used for coarse-grained tracking and correlation with other identifiers.
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Evercookies – Abuse variety of browser storage options to recreate persistent identifier if cookies deleted.
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CNAME cloaking – Obfuscate third-party resources to hide true destination from blockers when loading off-site content.
With traditional cookies getting phased out amid privacy initiatives, observers anticipate companies will likely turn to boosted reliance on fingerprinting, IP-based tracking, and other emerging approaches seeking to preserve targeted advertising capabilities.
Within the next few years, Google plans to support removing third-party cookies in Chrome, instead offering private cohorts for interest-based advertising with some protections. However, many privacy advocates remain skeptical that tactics like fingerprinting won‘t simply be adopted at larger scale.
Conclusion
In closing, with the conclusion of Adobe Flash support in 2020, the era of flash cookies has largely ended. Any lingering flash cookies can be cleared through Flash storage settings, but most users shouldn‘t have to worry about them. Going forward, focus on leveraging browser privacy settings, extensions, VPNs, and ad blockers to control regular browser cookies. As third-party cookie restrictions arrive, site owners will continue seeking new mechanisms like fingerprinting to preserve personalized tracking. But users have more tools than ever to push back against invasive tracking as technology evolves.
