CleanMyMac finds cookies Safari indicates it has cleared

Cat Songs wrote:

Again, curious is anyone else is finding Safari "hides" cookies — they remain active, even when the user is assured everything has been cleared.

Thanks!

Ah, the not so well known " SuperCookies " and sometime referred to as " EverCookies "

Evercookie is a Javascript API that produces extremely persistent cookies in a browser.

Its goal is to identify a client even after they've removed standard cookies, Flash cookies (Local Shared Objects or LSOs), and others.

This is accomplished by storing the cookie data on as many browser storage mechanisms as possible. If cookie data is removed from any of the storage mechanisms, evercookie aggressively re-creates it in each mechanism as long as one is still intact.

Evercookie can even propagate cookies between different browsers on the same client machine!

To remove "evercookies" (persistent tracking data) from Safari on macOS, the primary method involves clearing all website data from within Safari's settings and manually deleting specific local storage. 

https://askleo.com/supercookies_and_evercookies/

CleanMyMac is one of the worst apps one can add and run on their Macs. If you do a search in the various macOS communities for CleanMyMac you'll see hundreds of topics where CMM was the culprit.

There is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  

There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   

Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.

There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  

Unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they provide false security from a privacy standpoint.  Read these two articles: Public VPN's are anything but private and Security Risks: The Dangers of Using Free VPNs (eccu.edu).  

Additionally, a new study ("Apple Offers Apps With Ties to Chinese Military”) is specifically about VPN apps in Apple’s App Store.

Just some food for thought.

I very must 2nd the sentiments of the previous contributor

To add

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster. 

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale. 

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions 

Disk Cleaner 

CleanMyMac , aka “ BrickMyMac “

To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.

This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.

It does not touch the Operating System itself unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.

The Operating System may be  hosed

Safari tries to prevent third party apps from goofing around with its files. So, not a real surprise CMM couldn't clear them.

And why are you bothering to delete cookies anyway?

Why remove CMM? Because it's practically malware itself. Owl-53 already provided a link for you to see how often this app botches Macs. Here it is again.

CleanMyMac , aka “ BrickMyMac “

Cat Songs wrote:

I appreciated your candor, although it seems rather apocalyptic. Nowhere else have I heard such a damning report of CleanMyMac, although I'm not entirely sure you address CMMac directly.

All you need to do is use the Search option on top of this page and enter CleanMyMac. You can see for yourself the users who have been a victim of this piece of software and the problems it has caused. Deleting it can be tricky as often times it will want to leave files behind that continue to launch on startup. We have all seen this too often.

Are you sure CleanMyMac is accurate? Why?

Standard warning: Never install any app that claims to “clean up”, “tune up” or “speed up” your Mac. These apps exist for one reason: to extract money from the wallets of the inexperienced user. What they do can be done in other ways, and mostly what they do is unnecessary, but sounds good. Unfortunately in the hands of an inexperienced user they can do a lot of damage to a Mac OS installation. Avoid.

MacOS is the most secure operating system on the market. Privacy is at the very core of all Apple products and services.

I would advise against installing anything that interferes with that.

Don’t be fooled by clever marketing advertisement tactics that rely on fear to sell you a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

Many of us have been here for many years and have seen the unsettling results.

All the best! 👋🏼😉

Mahalo in Hawaii

OP wrote " Please direct me to a reputable source regarding CMMac — and/or any 3rd party app interfering with macOS — and I will read it (and take action) "

Let me answer your question with a question

What exact Sources will the user ( you) accept a Reliable Sources ?

Once we get that out of the day

We will do our best to comply with your specific request

Before we and I mean the collective we as in all who appear in your question

Judging from the combined Years of all 4 Contributor equals approx. 80 years combined of experience across multi disciplines

When that much experience is brought to bear on the usage of CMM BrickMyMac

Normally that would be testament in itself

This does not preclude your request once you have defined what are Reliable Sources

I have one simple question . . . why do you want to "clean" your Mac . . . is it performing badly in some way?

The only maintenance that is ever normally required is to restart it now and again and never let your drive get more than 80% full.

Another scam is centred on apps that free up your RAM. If you use Activity Monitor you will notice that even when idling your Mac is using most of its RAM.

The obvious conclusion is that you need to free it up with some third party app. An even worse conclusion that most people jump to is that they need to buy a new Mac with extra RAM at £200, £400 and £800 a go!

Both conclusions are incorrect as that is the way the Mac is designed . . . to use most of the RAM most of the time.

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🦉-53

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