Author Topic: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies  (Read 4668 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

vista7

  • Guest
Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« on: January 17, 2014, 04:19:23 PM »
I have been using Avast Internet security for a while. It worked well and detects viruses from pen-drives (Autorun) and I am really happy with it. I just tied to test whether my PC is having any infection which avast is not detecting using another security software( not mentioning the software name here because I am not a promoter of the product). And ran a full system scan. fortunately it has detected more than 12 viruses. the fact is that they are all cookies named cookie.Ru4, cookie.rub,cookie.zedo etc... security experts may know about it and for those who are not aware can google it. But it doesn't detect any other viruses. But why avast is not concerned about the cookie issues. because it is highly related to privacy issues. I don't know whether it can be removed by using software like ccleaner. If no is there any way to get rid of it.
Thank you
 :)

AdrianH

  • Guest
Re: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2014, 04:51:09 PM »
Cookies are not malware or a virus >> http://www.allaboutcookies.org/  <<

If you are worried about privacy you can use a " tracks" cleaner like CCleaner.


Offline DavidR

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 88899
  • No support PMs thanks
Re: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2014, 06:17:30 PM »
You can deal with cookies at source in your browser settings; don't allow third party cookies; you can clear cookies when you close your browser.

Depending on your browser, you may be able to use add-ons to control cookie use, such as CookieMonster add-on for firefox.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline Pondus

  • Probably Bot
  • ****
  • Posts: 37506
  • Not a avast user
Re: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2014, 06:31:10 PM »
Are cookies really spyware and are they dangerous?   
http://superantispyware.com/supportfaqdisplay.html?faq=26
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie

And yes, CCleaner will empty cookie folders

« Last Edit: January 17, 2014, 09:01:41 PM by Pondus »

Matrix Leader

  • Guest
Re: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2014, 08:00:31 PM »
I use SUPERAntiSpyware FREE to remove the harmful/tracking cookies. It finds cookies that my Norton Antivirus misses.

PS: Yes I've switched to Norton temporarily until avast! fixes their buggy avast 2014

Offline CraigB

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Serious Graphoman
  • *****
  • Posts: 11239
  • No support PM's thanks
Re: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2014, 08:04:52 PM »
I use SUPERAntiSpyware FREE to remove the harmful/tracking cookies. It finds cookies that my Norton Antivirus misses.
As already mentioned cookies aren't harmful and can be easily removed with CCleaner, plus you can set your browser to block third party cookies and also have your browser set to delete cookies when it's closed.

Offline abruptum

  • Massive Poster
  • ****
  • Posts: 2460
Re: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2014, 08:29:41 PM »
ABP or AdFender with EasyPrivacy filter list,SpywareBlaster etc.

Randissimo

  • Guest
Re: Why Avast is not concerned with Cookies
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2014, 09:43:00 PM »
MVPS HOSTS File also do a great job:
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

Aside from that, simply delete every file in the following folders:

C:\users\your_username\appdata\roaming\microsoft\windows\cookies\
C:\users\your_username\cookies\

This might also help if you're using Firefox:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/betterprivacy/

also http-cookies != flash-cookies. While it's sufficient for the first type to just let the cookies be deleted automatically or to use private browsing mode, the latter is harder to remove. In those case, ad-blockers like ABP or ABE (or tracking protection in IE) and specific HOSTS files and extensions such as better privacy come in handy, since they can either completly block them or delete them when you close all opened browser windows (in this case: better privacy).

« Last Edit: January 17, 2014, 09:48:31 PM by Randissimo »