Scripps Employees Called 'Hackers' For Exposing Massive Security Flaw
Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Adobe initiative to let you easily clear 'Flash cookies' from your Mozilla or Google Web browser
In a strong, head-held-high missive, Adobe has detailed a new initiative to bring Flash local storage clearing to Web browser UIs. The new API, NPAPI ClearSiteData will let Firefox and Chrome users clear Flash's Local Shared Objects, or 'Flash cookies,' in the same way that you currently clear cookies and temporary Internet files.LSOs are very commonly used throughout the Web, but unlike conventional cookies they're a little harder to delete. A lot of websites use them to track you across the Web, but they're also used by sites like YouTube to store your video preferences.
The thing is, you've always been able to delete these LSOs, it's just a bit of a pain in the ass. You have to visit the Flash Global Storage Settings Panel -- and honestly, how many of you knew that? The difficulty of deleting LSOs led to the creation of evercookie, which is likely the main reason behind this new effort from Adobe.
As for when the new API will be rolled out, Chrome Dev will be the first, hopefully in the next couple of weeks. There's no word of when it will be implemented in Firefox, but presumably it will be after the launch of Firefox 4. Opera and Internet Explorer -- who knows!
Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsCougar AbogadoJan 13th 2011 11:58AM
Awesome, I'm looking forward to the simplification.
I definitely agree with you about how obscure LSO deletion (and the underlying concept) can be. I think the first time I ever learned about either was when Pandora wigged out on me recently and its help files suggested clearing the Flash LSO (and I was pretty confused about how to actually do the thing, even with Pandora's "help").
Martin-TJan 13th 2011 12:00PM
I use the BetterPrivacy add-on in Firefox to take care of this problem. The adaptability of Firefox is the reason it's my preferred browser.
Dr_whiteJan 13th 2011 12:06PM
Anything that enhances privacy and de-crapifies my system is a win.
minibarJan 14th 2011 3:28AM
my bank relies at least in part on flash lso (super cookies) so i use advanced settings in better privacy firefox addon to not erase that. this keeps my bank happy. hopefully chrome will eventually get an addon with similar features.
aMIGA_dUDEJan 14th 2011 6:35AM
I have this batch file that is stored which on Windows is loacted in Startup. So when boot Windows it run's a deletes all pointless cookies.
@echo off
rem http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager04.html
cd "%userprofile%\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash Player\"
del #SharedObjects /s /q/a *.sol
del macromedia.com /s /q /a *.sol
Sebastian AnthonyJan 14th 2011 6:37AM
@aMIGA_dUDE Hehe, neat :) Thanks for sharing.
DonJan 17th 2011 1:22AM
Does CCleaner do this? Because that's what I've been using since it was CrapCleaner.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 17th 2011 5:26AM
@Don Good question -- go find out, and report back :)
(Also, I had no idea its name was short for Crap Cleaner...)
SilverWaveJan 25th 2011 2:12PM
hmm this seems to do the trick on Linux
rm -r /home/silver/.macromedia
SilverWaveJan 25th 2011 2:14PM
>the main reason behind this new effort from Adobe.
Well I think that could well be arm twisting from Google...