disable tracking cookies

Thank you for asking / posting this question as I was about to aks how to delete or even prevent tracking cookies on safari , I think you have answered part , I assume the next answer is to use Fire fox or another search engine

Ok... MightySoft's next browser release is to have some sort of do-not-track feature.

When is Safari going to get with the program?

I think it should be recognised that both Chrome's and Firefox's "do not track" feature, though they use different methods, rely on online advertisers respecting a user's request not to be tracked. In other words, only those advertisers who choose to adhere to a non-binding agreement not to track users (who have requested not to be tracked) will not track you. Hardly the pinnacle of online advertising achievements, given that those who would use your information unscrupulously are those least likely to listen to "do not track" requests.

Jus' sayin'.

S.

The First browser to really eliminate tracking will I will convert to in a new york minute. I am a loyal safari user, but this is a critical feature for me.

For anyone using Firefox, I think this webpage details a couple of interesting and useful pro-active anti-tracking extensions:

http://crypto.stanford.edu/sameorigin/

The opening paragraph also elucidates a little on how hard a truly anti-tracking browser is to implement without advertising industry support.

S.

SIRGadaBout -

Unfortunately, strong agreement about so far we are at the mercy of advertisers who care. Currently not a strong hand.

can't you just turn cookies off in Safari?

any way to delete tracking cookies ??? please help

Try MacUpdate

http://www.macupdate.com/find/mac/cookies/date

Rather easy with Windows, there are various tools. My guess is Intego AV or something would also.

You may find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Privacy, useful:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1764179&tstart=0

Regarding MacScan, First update the MacScan malware definitions before scanning. You can also contact their support team for any additional support - macsec@securemac.com

Security of OS X generally:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/security/

http://www.nsa.gov/ia/_files/os/applemac/I731-007R-2007.pdf

Security Configuration for Version 10.5 Leopard:

http://images.apple.com/server/macosx/docs/LeopardSecurity_Config_2ndEd.pdf

This Blog entry is also worth a read:

http://blog.damballa.com/?p=1055

Try this:

http://sweetpproductions.com/safaricookies/

It's not perfect, but I can't live without it.

I agree with 100 Watt Walrus (love the name!) but you should also get Flushapp:

From this website:

http://machacks.tv/2009/01/27/flushapp-flash-cookie-removal-tool-for-os-x/

For those who do not know about Flash cookies, more properly referred to as Local Shared Objects (LSO), they operate in a similar way to regular browser cookies but are stored outside the purview of your browser, meaning you cannot delete them from within your browser, whether Safari, Firefox, Opera or any other. Typically they are issued from sites or 3rd party sites that contain Adobe Flash content. Since virtually all internet advertising is delivered in Flash, Google/Doudleclick and all other internet advertising companies are sure to be tracking your browsing behavior with Flash cookies. These companies can see you traverse the Internet as you come upon the plethora of sites that contain their embedded advertising. Check out the Wikipedia entry here.

In Mac OS X they are stored in the following location:
/User’s Home Folder/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/#SharedObjects

The settings for the Flash cookies are stored in:
/User’s Home Folder/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/macromedia.com/support/flashplayer/sys

In OS X Local Shared Objects, or Flash Cookies, are appended with a .sol suffix. Flush deletes all the Flash cookies (.sol) and their settings.

Flush can be downloaded from that page.

If you want to retain certain Flash cookies but not others, the excellent add-on for Safari called SafariCookies does just that:

http://www.sweetpproductions.com/safaricookies/index.htm

which not only does that but much more equally useful stuff!

This article covers the issue in more depth:

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/you-deleted-your-cookies-think-again/

Flash cookies are also known as 'Zombie Cookies' and are used by a number of firms, including Hulu, MTV, and Myspace. Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at the internet security firm Sophos, told BBC News that the source of the trouble was Adobe Flash itself, which he called "one of the weirdest programs on the planet".

"I think it's highly unlikely that these large companies have abused Flash cookies - which are different from browser cookies - with malicious intent," he said.

"I think it's much more likely that the vast majority of users are simply oblivious to the bizarre way in which Adobe allows them to configure the software."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10787882

And a more recent article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/technology/21cookie.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=flash&s t=cse