avast! Antivirus (Home and Pro) also detects and removes TRACKING COOKIES?

[iris_9018]

   
I read in a video in the comments that avast! not detected tracking cookies, this is true?


avast! detects tracking cookies, or not?

[YoKenny]

Tracking cookies in of themselves are not a virus so avast! does not detect them from what I know but there are other applications like CCleaner that will show you the cookies stored on your system and the use of the HOSTS file to prevent them from installing on the system in the first place.

HOSTS files I use:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download

Managed with HostsMan and I use its HostsServer proxy to speed up browsing:
http://www.abelhadigital.com

[RejZoR]

People make too much of a big deal out of these cookies...

[DavidR]

Personally tracking cookies aren't worth looking for, even in those applications that report them. They are a minor privacy issue and not a security issue. Those making the big deal of them are many anti-spyware applications trying to justify their existence.

I have the tracking cookie part disabled in my SAS scans.

There are plenty of tools to manage cookies some YoKenny mentions, I use CookieSafe add-on in Firefox, you can also stop third party cookies from being saved (typically it is these that are considered tracking cookies). You should also periodically purge your cookies in your browser settings.

[lukor]

Hi, your web settings (cookies) are pretty easy to delete from your browser. I believe you can even configure it to not remember any cookies or ask you everytime a cookie is about to be saved...if you wish. And the adjective "tracking" :-) well, yes, can be used. OTH do you have a facebook or similar social net? That's what I call a tracking!!!

[YoKenny]

Personally tracking cookies aren't worth looking for, even in those applications that report them. They are a minor privacy issue and not a security issue. Those making the big deal of them are many anti-spyware applications trying to justify their existence.

I have the tracking cookie part disabled in my SAS scans.

There are plenty of tools to manage cookies some YoKenny mentions, I use CookieSafe add-on in Firefox, you can also stop third party cookies from being saved (typically it is these that are considered tracking cookies). You should also periodically purge your cookies in your browser settings.

As I am a Firefox protagonist and do not need the bloat of CookieSafe impeding my browser experience I would rather use the HOSTS file to stop those silly tracking cookies in Opera as well.

I am starting to like Opera quite a bit.

[DavidR]

I'm also of the school that a large HOSTS file could also impede browsing.

The CookieSafe add-on isn't bloated, it certainly doesn't get in my way as for the most part sites don't 'need' cookies to run only those that need to store data like forums, on-line sales, ebay, etc. and that can be done on a one of addition to whitelist the site (but not third parties).

[YoKenny]

I'm also of the school that a large HOSTS file could also impede browsing.

One of your countrymen Steven Burn of hpHosts fame debunks that myth:
http://forum.hosts-file.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=684

Having the DNS Client service active will slow down the browsing experience if running but that service is only necessary if the system is part of a corporate domain:
http://www.simpledns.com/kb.aspx?kbid=1089
http://www.sturmnet.org/blog/archives/2005/02/09/xp-dnsclient

I have the DNS Client service disabled and use OpenDNS for faster lookups plus it disables going to known bad sites.