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How to delete cookies, cache and history in all major browsers

17 points by pkrumins 16y ago

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
Andrenid 16y ago
This also doesn't get rid of Flash Cookies / LSO's. The wiping of LSO's badly needs to be part of standard browser functionality. When I click "Clear All History & Cookies" it should actually clear ALL history and cookies... not all local cookies while leaving all the flash stuff tracking me.
- morgantwenty 16y ago
  Agreed. Better Privacy for Firefox is pretty good for this but I would like to see secure deletion of user data for plugins be a core part of the browser and not an extension. They added stupid "personas" before deleting secure history deletion :(
- pkrumins 16y ago
  Oh snap, I totally forgot about these. Writing a script to clear those and updating the blog post. Thanks!
morgantwenty 16y ago
Good post but two things I would change. Firstly I would use sdelete from Microsoft (formally Winternals). It is a free command line secure delete utility. Just replace del /q /s /f in the Firefox example with sdelete -p 2 -s and it will securly delete the files with 2 passes (although 1 should be fine for everyone to be honest). Secondly there is no need to compile the OPs regdelete app as you can use the built in reg.exe to do this Just do reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs" /f And the same job is done :)
- pkrumins 16y ago
  I couldn't get that reg working for some reason. But awesome tip on sdelete!
wwrap 16y ago
Depending on how thorough you want to be, don't forget evercookies http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/09/evercookies.html http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/09/evercookies.ht... http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2010/10/it-is-possible-to-kill-the-evercookie.ars http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2010/10/it-is-possible-...
e40 16y ago
Doesn't this delete bookmarks, too? I have a file called "bookmarks" in the directory that is deleted by the script.
- substack 16y ago
  Which browser are you using?
  - e40 16y ago
    Sorry, Chrome.
makuro 16y ago
Also, for Windows, CCleaner. http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner
CGamesPlay 16y ago
I feel like it's important to note that this is actually obliterating the entire user profile. Bookmarks, saved passwords, and extensions included. Unless I'm mistaken, which is certainly possible.

17 points by pkrumins 16y ago

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

This also doesn't get rid of Flash Cookies / LSO's. The wiping of LSO's badly needs to be part of standard browser functionality. When I click "Clear All History & Cookies" it should actually clear ALL history and cookies... not all local cookies while leaving all the flash stuff tracking me.

morgantwenty 16y ago
Agreed. Better Privacy for Firefox is pretty good for this but I would like to see secure deletion of user data for plugins be a core part of the browser and not an extension. They added stupid "personas" before deleting secure history deletion :(
pkrumins 16y ago
Oh snap, I totally forgot about these. Writing a script to clear those and updating the blog post. Thanks!

morgantwenty 16y ago

Good post but two things I would change. Firstly I would use sdelete from Microsoft (formally Winternals). It is a free command line secure delete utility. Just replace del /q /s /f in the Firefox example with sdelete -p 2 -s and it will securly delete the files with 2 passes (although 1 should be fine for everyone to be honest). Secondly there is no need to compile the OPs regdelete app as you can use the built in reg.exe to do this Just do reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs" /f And the same job is done :)

pkrumins 16y ago
I couldn't get that reg working for some reason. But awesome tip on sdelete!

wwrap 16y ago

Depending on how thorough you want to be, don't forget evercookies http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/09/evercookies.html http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/09/evercookies.ht... http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2010/10/it-is-possible-to-kill-the-evercookie.ars http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2010/10/it-is-possible-...

e40 16y ago

Doesn't this delete bookmarks, too? I have a file called "bookmarks" in the directory that is deleted by the script.

substack 16y ago
Which browser are you using?
- e40 16y ago
  Sorry, Chrome.

makuro 16y ago

Also, for Windows, CCleaner. http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner

CGamesPlay 16y ago

I feel like it's important to note that this is actually obliterating the entire user profile. Bookmarks, saved passwords, and extensions included. Unless I'm mistaken, which is certainly possible.