4 ms·

Clear cookies/reset browser doesn't delete your Flash cookies

23 points by wayne 18y ago

iofthestorm 18y ago
That's pretty interesting, I didn't even know about Flash cookies. Feels kind of weird to learn about technology first hand from the NYT, but pretty cool nonetheless.
cgranade 18y ago
To my mind, this isn't a problem with just the browsers, but with Flash as well. An in-browser cookie flush shouldn't screw with plugins unless they specifically request it. Thus, I think that there really should be an API for that kind of thing.
seiji 18y ago
There's also javascript persistent storage that doesn't count as cookies. Paul from Meebo gave a great presentation on all the sneaky persistence options a few months ago: http://www.slideshare.net/idontsmoke/client-side-storage http://www.slideshare.net/idontsmoke/client-side-storage Interesting takeaway: more visitors have some form of persistent storage than have cookies enabled.
- wayne 18y ago
  Wow, that's a great summarization of all the persistence technologies available. I found the stats at the end to be deceptive though. You'd have to code support for 3 different native client storage APIs in JavaScript + use Flash in order to cover enough users to rival cookies. It's no wonder most web devs just use cookies.
  - seiji 18y ago
    When looking for the talk slides, I found http://pablotron.org/software/persist-js/ http://pablotron.org/software/persist-js/ too. I haven't had a chance (or need) to use it yet.
  - teej 18y ago
    The end result isn't an alternative with a 1% gain over cookies. The end result is a system that writes & reads to all possible data stores available simultaneously. The gain from that is a site where an "always logged in" can be potentially much, much longer. There are still a large number of people who have terrible problems managing web site logins. Reducing the barriers to using your site for returning visitors is definitely a goal with a lot of value and clear ROI.
- pmorici 18y ago
  Do those stores get deleted when you clear private data from the browser?
ralph 18y ago
Firefox 3 also doesn't clear what zoom setting you like for each site on Tools -> Clear Private Data. https://bugs.launchpad.net/firefox/+bug/288236 https://bugs.launchpad.net/firefox/+bug/288236
arthurk 18y ago
I still remember when there wasn't a restriction on the size of flash cookies and you could put in as many MB as you wanted.
timf 18y ago
One heavy handed way around stuff like this is to use a VM (with shared storage to your laptop) for browsing and rolling back at the start of a session. Something polished and stable like VMware on Linux has never been overly annoying for me.
davi 18y ago
I didn't know about this either. Here's a way to manage plugin settings on Mac: http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplay...
maha 18y ago
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maha 18y ago
maha

23 points by wayne 18y ago

That's pretty interesting, I didn't even know about Flash cookies. Feels kind of weird to learn about technology first hand from the NYT, but pretty cool nonetheless.

cgranade 18y ago

To my mind, this isn't a problem with just the browsers, but with Flash as well. An in-browser cookie flush shouldn't screw with plugins unless they specifically request it. Thus, I think that there really should be an API for that kind of thing.

seiji 18y ago

There's also javascript persistent storage that doesn't count as cookies. Paul from Meebo gave a great presentation on all the sneaky persistence options a few months ago: http://www.slideshare.net/idontsmoke/client-side-storage http://www.slideshare.net/idontsmoke/client-side-storage Interesting takeaway: more visitors have some form of persistent storage than have cookies enabled.

wayne 18y ago
Wow, that's a great summarization of all the persistence technologies available. I found the stats at the end to be deceptive though. You'd have to code support for 3 different native client storage APIs in JavaScript + use Flash in order to cover enough users to rival cookies. It's no wonder most web devs just use cookies.
- seiji 18y ago
  When looking for the talk slides, I found http://pablotron.org/software/persist-js/ http://pablotron.org/software/persist-js/ too. I haven't had a chance (or need) to use it yet.
- teej 18y ago
  The end result isn't an alternative with a 1% gain over cookies. The end result is a system that writes & reads to all possible data stores available simultaneously. The gain from that is a site where an "always logged in" can be potentially much, much longer. There are still a large number of people who have terrible problems managing web site logins. Reducing the barriers to using your site for returning visitors is definitely a goal with a lot of value and clear ROI.
pmorici 18y ago
Do those stores get deleted when you clear private data from the browser?

ralph 18y ago

Firefox 3 also doesn't clear what zoom setting you like for each site on Tools -> Clear Private Data. https://bugs.launchpad.net/firefox/+bug/288236 https://bugs.launchpad.net/firefox/+bug/288236

arthurk 18y ago

I still remember when there wasn't a restriction on the size of flash cookies and you could put in as many MB as you wanted.

timf 18y ago

One heavy handed way around stuff like this is to use a VM (with shared storage to your laptop) for browsing and rolling back at the start of a session. Something polished and stable like VMware on Linux has never been overly annoying for me.

davi 18y ago

I didn't know about this either. Here's a way to manage plugin settings on Mac: http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplay...

maha 18y ago

maha