How to get rid of all website data stored on my iMac

Question

Level 1

47 points

How to get rid of all website data stored on my iMac

Problem: data stored by websites cannot be made to go away.

OS: 10.10.5 System updates: OS and Safari OK. The only ones needing update are Photos and garage band

Safari preferences: Privacy - allow from current website only; prompt for each website once each day; ask websites not to track me

Have done (repeatedly): Safari – preferences – privacy – manage website data – remove all – done – and close Safari. Then repeat the process and these three always show up again: citi.com, rei.com, microsoftstore.com

Furthermore, after doing the above I immediately restart my iMac and then open Safari preferences again there are 55 websites that have stored data.

How do I get Safari to do what I ask it: remove all website generated data and cookies???

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Apr 21, 2017 8:55 AM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

64,998 points

Apr 21, 2017 9:33 AM in response to peregrineguy

Take cursor on top menu bar safari > clear History

Another window appears choose clear all history from drop down arrows , and click on clear History .

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

685,215 points

Apr 21, 2017 9:26 AM in response to peregrineguy

Safari/Browsers – can’t delete cookies

Evercookie

Quit Safari.

In Finder go to Go menu and then Go to Folder.

Copy and paste this ~/Library/Safari/Databases.

Delete the contents of the folder.

Launch Safari again and check if all is ok.

If that doesn’t work, copy and paste this ~/Library/Safari/Local Storage.

Delete the contents of the folder.

Test.

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Answer 3

Apr 25, 2017 4:56 PM in response to Eric Root

This issue of not being able to clear stubborn website data (a problem I noticed after updating to macOS Sierra 10.12.4) was resolved by copying and pasting ~/Library/Safari/Databases to the Go to Folder and then deleting the contents of the folder. Thank you, Eric!

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Answer 4

peregrineguy Author

Level 1

47 points

Apr 25, 2017 6:36 PM in response to Eric Root

Note: when I tried local storage I get "the folder can't be found".

The first folder -- safari databases-- was there and deleting contents did eliminate message "these websites have stored data..." HOWEVER, after restarting I do get the message again for 52 websites. Could something be happening as part of the boot process?

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

685,215 points

Apr 26, 2017 6:44 AM in response to peregrineguy

I made a typo in that post. It should be LocalStorage (no space).

Try clearing your history. Cookies from your Top Sites and Favorites will auto repopulate as the link is reestablished.

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

685,215 points

Apr 25, 2017 5:20 PM in response to Runway4221028725

You are welcome.

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Answer 7

peregrineguy Author

Level 1

47 points

May 1, 2017 9:07 AM in response to Eric Root

I did figure that out, but still have the occasional repopulation of data after re-booting. Strangely, it is infrequent. Anyway, thanks to Eric as I consider this 98% solved.

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Answer 8

Eric Root

Level 10

685,215 points

May 1, 2017 9:33 AM in response to peregrineguy

You are welcome. As the 2nd article points out, they are capable of regenerating after deletion with files that go to many parts of the system.

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