Are there commercially available real-time during-session cookie managers (delete, protect) for browsers?
I am looking for an cookie manager application that will either run independently or attach/add to a browser. I want it to be dynamic in the sense that I can immediately see cookies in real-time as they appear during a browsing session. During that session, I want to be able to (1) delete and block cookies immediately or (2) protect cookies immediately, or (3) delete cookies after session. It would be good if I could have a separate, big enough window, outside of my browser.
The problem with existing cookie managers is that they cannot handle cookies until after the session/browser is closed. Even then, it is hard to identify which cookies to keep and which cookies to delete. Having to type in every cookie to protect is undesirable, because it is a real pain if the cookie is updated and tracked. Frequently, cookie managers offers a tiny windows to view 300-400 cookies only 10 at a time.
There are times I am logged into my bank or other secure site, where cookies are installed, but mixed with all kinds of cookies picked up when my browser is opened. I have to call the Bank or other Vendors support team to identify their security cookies, which frequently do *not have the <bank>.com cookie with their name on it. Other times I want to delete/block cookies that appear *while I am browsing, yet keep the main cookies, while I am browsing.
Yes I am aware that browsers have 3rd party blockers and tracking cookie blockers, and you can set up your virus/spyware application to block real time, but neither is flexible enough show me ALL the cookies on a real-time basis. I would still like to go to the next level to understand what actual cookies are popping up during my specific browsing session, and selectively delete/block or protect them *during* the session.
Is there any commercially available software specifically dedicated to do this?
Thanks!
Joe
All Replies (6)
Go to the Mozilla Add-ons Web Page {web link} (There’s a lot of good stuff here) and search for what you want.
You can let the cookies expire when Firefox is closed to make them session cookies.
- Firefox/Tools > Options > Privacy > "Use custom settings for history" > Cookies: Keep until: "I close Firefox"
You can create a cookie "Allow" exception to keep specific cookies.
You can set network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly to true on the about:config page to make third-party cookies behave as session cookies that expire when Firefox is closed.
In case you use "Clear history when Firefox closes" or otherwise clear history.
- do not clear the Cookies
- do not clear the Site Preferences
- Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" > Settings
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/remove-recent-browsing-search-and-download-history
- clearing "Site Preferences" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exception for password and other website specific data
- clearing cookies will remove all selected cookies including cookies with an "Allow" exception you may want to keep
FredMcD and Cor-el,
Thank you for your quick response!
I am still learning about the different ways to control these varmints and their websites. I was hoping to tap someone else’s experience with applications offering various flavors of cookie management, before I went through and studied all the bells & whistles of the FF add-ons.
I appreciate the suggestions, but I would like to take action in real time, rather than passively filter them all … or blow them all away … or type in every nit-picking website … or handle them *after the session is over.
In other words, I wanted to see the actual cookie, as it pops up in real time, then decide to block it temporarily/permanately or allow it temporarily/permanently *during the browsing session.
Since I wrote this question, I discovered that IE has a way to have the 3rd party ask for permission to add a cookie … in real time … which you can immediately choose to block or allow it. This is close to what I am looking for, and it seems to remember its blocking/enabling after the browser is closed and reopened. Am I just overlooking this feature somewhere in FF?
Thanks again for your feedback!
Cookies are sent by websites. You can tell Firefox to not allow sites that you choose by following these directions.
Type about:preferences#privacy <enter> in the address bar.
The button next to History, select Use Custom Settings.
Under History, turn on Accept cookies from sites and Accept third-party cookies. At the far right, press the Exceptions button. Place those websites you don't want here.
View Cookies {web link} It adds a tab to the Page Info dialog box, which shows the cookies belonging to the current page.
Fred, thank you for the "View Cookies" link !! ... I have added it.
As a test, I went to CNN's world news site (http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/) and noticed the Page Info's new "Cookies" Tab gave several lines of cookies and their values, whereas most had ".cnn.com" listed as their domain. However, they do not have the actual website name that was trying to install that cookie, which prevents me from blacklisting them via the Customer settings of the History.
If I go to the same page (http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/) via IE, I get about 20 messages with each one identifying the cookie's actual website: (actual name).com has requested to save a cookie which I can immediately block or accept.
Anyway, I am getting closer, and I thank you for your help! If I find a better way to refine it, or the magic bullet software, I shall come back and share it.
Note that you can easily inspect cookies and passwords for the domain in the currently selected tab.
- click the "Site Identity Button" (control center 'i' button) at the left end of the location/address bar
- click the arrow to expand the security message
- click "More Information" to open "Tools > Page Info"
- click "Permissions" to inspect and modify permissions
- click "Security" to inspect and modify cookies and passwords in a standalone window
- click "View Cookies" in "Tools > Page Info > Security" to inspect the cookies from the domain in the currently selected tab
You can clear the search filter in the Cookie Manager to see all cookies including third-party cookies from other domains.