Caches & Cookies

Question

Level 1

77 points

Caches & Cookies

I usually remove cache and cookies before leaving Safari. Recently when doing so, I noticed a ton of info, from websites I never even visit. Some were sites I have visited in the past (3 years ago,) but why would they still be showing up. I even removed the sites from bookmarks, and they still appear. I checked Safari only seconds after opening, and the info is still there. My mac is running fast, but I still am not happy about this. Does anyone have an idea why this is happening, and have a suggestion on properly removing them?

iMac early 2009 8 GB

OS X El Capitan

Version 10.11.6

Posted on Oct 8, 2016 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 8, 2016 8:17 PM in response to greenmind

I complained about this same issue already after installing Safari 10 and then later Sierra. However, today after having read some related entries here, I deactivated extensions BLUR and ADBlock, leaving only Ghostery. So far no old crap has returned. But, as I also previously complained, the Develop-Disable Caches won't work. The only thing (that I've figured out) is to regularly unmark the Disable, then use Empty Caches, and then again enable the Disable. Haven't tried (yet) whether or not the "unmark Disable" is needed, that is, if leaving enable enabled and clicking the Empty Caches really also does what it is supposed to do. Anyhow, I've done the manual "procedure" now since Safari & Sierra installs, so I've "grown into using the method."

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Answer 2

Oct 8, 2016 8:22 PM in response to seppofromca

I tested regarding the above "unmark Disable": there is no need to do so, the "Empty Caches" works without a need to disable.

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Answer 3

greenmind Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 9, 2016 6:32 AM in response to seppofromca

I am starting to think this might have something to do wt Facebook. My cache & cookies start piling up whenever I log into it.

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Answer 4

greenmind Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 9, 2016 7:51 AM in response to greenmind

I also disabled Adblock, & installed Ghostery. No change. I'm thinking that it's Spyware. Any ideas, of what I can do about this?

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Answer 5

Oct 9, 2016 9:04 AM in response to greenmind

I do NOT use Facebook (not even touching it with a 10-feet fishing pole). I mistakenly said previously that I got rid of the returning crap: it stayed away for a short while, but then continued to reappear. I have no other ideas. I'm currently completely "clueless."

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

685,299 points

Oct 9, 2016 9:38 AM in response to greenmind

Do a backup, preferably 2 backups on 2 separate drives.

Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library/Safari. Move all files beginning with History to your Desktop.

Restart the computer and test. If it works okay, delete the files from the desktop.

If the same, return the files to where you got it from, overwriting the newer one.

Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

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Answer 7

greenmind Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 9, 2016 4:55 PM in response to Eric Root

I've made the library folder visible before, but now for some reason when I select view options, it now gives me no way to view library. Any idea what's going on?

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Answer 8

Eric Root

Level 10

685,299 points

Oct 10, 2016 6:52 AM in response to greenmind

Do you have your user/home folder selected?

In Finder hold down the option/alt key while selecting the Go menu item. Select Library.

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Answer 9

greenmind Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 12, 2016 6:05 AM in response to Eric Root

I moved all files beginning wt history to the desktop, and this had little affect. Sometimes the cache is smaller, but usually I'm still getting 40 plus cookies and cache files to remove, even when I haven't visited anything but apple home folder, upon opening safari.

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Answer 10

Oct 12, 2016 11:58 AM in response to greenmind

I didn't even move, because I don't want to mess around and get even into deeper yogurt.

I spent over 46 years in MF IT, but the behavior of the cookies does not make any sense to me:

I'm getting every day back cookies related to sites that I've not visited in years, I get back related to sites that I've not lately visited (but perhaps weeks or months ago), and then also other sites' related cookies that I don't allow to stay. I do allow some (banks, etc.).

I also approx. a week or two ago posted that the "Develop-Disable-Caches" doesn't work: even that option marked, there are "TONS OF CACHES" after EACH browsing (tracking caches and other crap). Thus, compared with the previous Safari, I now remove ALWAYS after each browsing ALL CACHES. Also, many times a day I remove the new and returning cookies that I don't want on my iMac.

So-called: "NOT-AUTOMATIC-PROCESSING." 😕

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Answer 11

greenmind Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 12, 2016 3:04 PM in response to seppofromca

One thing I have noticed is that in older OS's it was much easier to remove website data, and you could do it all wt one click. Now you remove your website data through the preferences menu, your history and other website data through history, because simply removing history will not remove the same data as the preference menu. Finally if you want to remove your cache you have to use the hidden develop menu. It's almost as if Apple knows that the data won't be removed, so runs you through hoops to even try. When I used to have Snow Leopard, I had absolutely no trouble removing data. Could the website data be appearing from the Cloud?

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Answer 12

Oct 12, 2016 3:17 PM in response to greenmind

I'm NOT using iCloud or any other Clouds.

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Answer 13

greenmind Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 12, 2016 3:41 PM in response to seppofromca

That was just a thought. Did the website data problem start for you after you installed Mavericks or before? It started for me shortly after installing Mavericks.

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Answer 14

Oct 12, 2016 5:05 PM in response to greenmind

After Sierra install.

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Answer 15

greenmind Author

Level 1

77 points

Oct 12, 2016 6:04 PM in response to seppofromca

Thanx Seppo, I will not install another so called Mac upgrade, until they start treating their customers correctly, and release an OS, w/o a ton of problems. I used Macs since the mid 80's, and although they have improved as far as speed, size, & programs are concerned, every successive release has brand new problems. Macs may be better then a PC, but I'm not so sure there worth the higher price tag anymore. I'm not going to speculate, because that gets responses immediately removed. Still it does sound weird how two different users, had the same problem suddenly appear, after an OS upgrade. Especially when the upgrade isn't even to the same OS. I really hope we figure out an easy solution to this problem.

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