In this article, you’ll get a detailed overview of the supercookies, how they store on your device, the dangers associated with them, and how you can protect your computer or any device from them.
What are Supercookies?
Supercookies are similar to tracking cookies, except it is used for more malicious purposes.
Their functions and storage methods on the device are likewise different from the conventional tracking cookies.
Should I clear supercookies by clearing the browser cache and history?
Clearing your browser’s cache and history doesn’t remove spy cookies from your device.
Because a supercookie is not a cookie in the traditional sense, it is not saved to your browser.
Why are super cookies more dangerous?
There is a huge possibility for privacy violations since cookies are typically linked to a particular website and cannot be shared with another website.
A Unique Identifier Header (UIDH) is available to any website that requests access and includes a potentially enormous amount of information about a user’s habits and history.
The fact that Verizon was promoting this capacity to its partners was not surprising either.
This particular usage of a supercookie was probably designed to collect a large amount of information to sell it for target advertisements and other malicious use.
Furthermore, a supercookie, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), is a cookie that may be used by marketers to effectively resuscitate deleted cookies from a user’s device and connect them to new ones, thereby bypassing any methods that users could use to avoid monitoring by third parties.
How to protect computers from supercookies
Disable storage of standard HTTP
You may prevent the storing of regular HTTP cookies by adjusting the privacy settings in your browser.
The unfortunate reality is that a large number of prominent websites are now tracking users using unique data packages that are intended to bypass your browser’s privacy protection.
These supercookies use alternative storage locations inside your browser to save unique bits of code and duplicate that site’s HTTP cookie if you block or remove spy cookies.
Manually wipe these supercookies
Should I clear cookies manually?
Supercookies can be manually removed from your computer with a little time and effort, but removing all of the additional code that transforms a normal cookie into a supercookie is a difficult procedure that takes considerable time and effort.
For example, to prevent Flash cookies from being saved on your computer, you must first go to the Adobe Website Storage Settings panel and click “Delete All Sites” to delete any data that has been stored in Flash on your computer.
After that, navigate to the Global Storage Settings panel and stop third-party Flash content from saving data on your computer in the future.
Cleaning supercookies using software
Should I clear cookies using tools?
Cleaning up any supercookies using free flash cookie removal tools is much simpler if you’re willing to download any open-source software.
The use of such tools is particularly recommended for those concerned about supercookies.
Because these tools have some functions that enable you to preserve cookies from trustworthy websites such as your bank while removing all other cookies, there are also Mac-compatible versions of these cookie removal tools available.
Still, OS X users may also use the free Flash cookie removal software.
Using VPN
Does a VPN protect me from cookies?
When a VPN connects you to remote servers, it hides your IP address from being tracked.
As a result, it sends tracking cookies misleading data.
Even some VPNs can block trackers.
If you are looking for a VPN to prevent trackers from monitoring, you can try VeePN.
You can use VeePN by just adding a VPN extension to Chrome and enjoy its features to protect your computer against supercookies.
You can add a VPN extension to Google Chrome and in other browsers too.
Third-party extensions
Last but not least, third-party extensions that prevent supercookies from infiltrating your browser should be installed.
They help ensure you remain anonymous when browsing the web.
Moreover, extensions for Firefox make it simple to carefully filter which web scripts are permitted to execute on your computer.
Hence, guaranteeing that internet marketers will have a tough time following you without your consent.
How do you delete cookies properly?
Chrome:
- Go to the official website of the Adobe flash player and open the Flash Settings Manager page. From there, you can delete or manage all the browser cookies.
However, keep in mind, if you have to click to enable Flash Player to run in your browser, it does not function in Chrome.
You may have to modify your browser settings to allow Flash to run.
The “First Ask” configuration in Chrome for Flash media may cause the Flash window not to load correctly.
In that case, try the following Chrome steps:
- Go to a new page
- On the left-hand side of the URL bar, click the padlock symbol
- Now, click Site Settings
- Click the drop-down option next to Flash and click ‘Allow.’
- You are all done, now reload the page and follow step 1 to remove all spy cookies.
Firefox:
When you click to enable Flash browser in Firefox, you may be provided with a drop-down option that asks you if you want to allow Flash on the website.
Make sure that you click “Allow.”
The page will automatically reload to display the Flash player.
When you first launch the Manager, you’ll see that there are many tabs to choose from.
Our first visit will be on the local storage settings page, which has a yellow folder and a green button but no globe image (the Global Settings Panel).
After that, you will go to the global storage settings panel.
This page allows you to view which cookies have been written to your computer and the option to DELETE them all at the same time.
That is something we highly advise you to do.