delete evercookie?

Discussion in 'privacy technology' started by febainy, Jul 27, 2014.

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  1. febainy

    febainy Registered Member

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    I hear that evercookie is hard to clear from your system, I don't really know what it is, is it a set of different cookies kind like flash, http proxy, html5 cookies and etc? Or is it a software, if you installed it will damage your privacy? If it is just a set of cookies, can I delete all cookies and how?
     
  2. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    It's a set of cookie-like objects. I wouldn't count on being able to delete them. The best bet, I think, is confining them to one VM, and using multiple VMs. Firewall key things. One can go without taking out the rest. There's also the beater bike vs good bike thing ;)
     
  3. caspian

    caspian Registered Member

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    Are these objects all within the browser profile? If so, a person could delete all current browsers, run some cleaners, then reinstall them and always browser with Sandboxie (configured with Eraser). That would prevent future infections with ever cookie. I personally think the ever cookie should be outlawed. I think it's criminal. I think there should be jail time for anyone invading another person's computer like this.
     
  4. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    OK, I didn't know exactly what an evercookie is either so I did a startpage search. Below is some wikipedia excerpts. If what they say is anything to go by then AFAIC an evercookie is a virus. PERIOD! This is nothing but legalized spying. Bold Emphasis mine. Oh and what a sneaky dirty trick storing multiple copies. These definitely need the axe. :gack:

    Additionally go to the link to see 13 "storage mechanisms". I've quoted 2 extras they're "looking to add"

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evercookie
     
  5. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    On Linux you could wipe all your dotfiles (and /tmp and /var/tmp) and reboot. Unless it implements a userspace rootkit (some kind of process, injected library or code, etc. that can hide parts of it from other programs) it will probably not survive that. (But don't assume I know what I'm talking about.)

    Not sure about Windows, that platform has a lot of ways you can hide and protect files.

    In any case I have to agree that this should be illegal.

    (How would people like it if supermarkets could put RFID tags on their clothing to track where else they shopped?)
     
  6. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    Evercookie is a public demonstration of what commercial trackers are doing in secret.
     
  7. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    I always thought one of the key factors of a virus was that it replicates itself. It's nothing new for M$ to have hidden files that regenerate themselves if deleted, such as index dat files. Even though it may appear they've been emptied, how do we know they haven't been copied elsewhere to some hidden and buried location? One has to wonder then, how much of our OS's and software are a good part backdoored. Unless you're a coder or understand right down to how everything works on a computer, you're at the mercy of those who do. How many people actually have that sort of knowledge? Even then, how many would have time to look over all the code continually to make sure it's squeaky clean?

    Im very tempted to go Linux but I'm not sure anymore that that's safe plus I dont know if I can deal with yet another learning curve.

    RFID tags are on many articles you buy, well, buried in the packaging. I haven't done it for a while but where I see them or suspect them I rip the packaging apart to find those little suckers. When I bought an SD card a couple of years ago for a digital device, deep in the packaging I found little magnetic strips, barcodes and a tiny printed circuit.
     
  8. febainy

    febainy Registered Member

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    To Reality: wikipedia: Evercookie is a JavaScript-based application...

    So it's the point, does javascript-based application mean evercookie is an application that need to be installed? Manually or automatically install? Can you tell me a specific website that would be a evercookie? And at a new Linux installed system, what path do these evercookies storing?
     
  9. febainy

    febainy Registered Member

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    Are dotfiles the hidden folder and the files that prefix with '.'? Do I delete All the dotfiles in /tmp and /var/tmp or in the whole system?
     
  10. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    Yes, dotfiles are anything starting with a '.' character. They're only "hidden" by general consensus, not by any filesystem or system call tricks (that is, 'ls' and other commands just don't bother listing them normally).

    They also store all of your program preferences. ALL of them. So don't go deleting them unless you mean it.
     
  11. bo elam

    bo elam Registered Member

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  12. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    Im still learning about this febainy too. Just been back to look again, and it does appear to be something that gets installed but Im not sure.... its referred to as an "application", a "tool", so I wonder. It also makes use of ordinary cookies ...Ive quoted a few here..but follow my link further up to get the full list.

    Not sure about Linux question but GB has answered you there..

    Bo thanks for the link. This sounds good :thumb: . What about febainys question though... if there's something that gets installed it needs DITCHING. This/these darned thing/s still sound like a virus to me but that you get them every day and get rid of them everyday.
     
  13. bo elam

    bo elam Registered Member

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    They are cookies, I think you are using SBIE, just delete your sandbox and forget about them. They are not going to be around afterwards. :)

    Bo
     
  14. MrBrian

    MrBrian Registered Member

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    Test site: http://samy.pl/evercookie/

    To clear evercookies:
    1. Open all browsers that you normally use.
    2. Close all browser tabs of all browsers (so that no JavaScript is running).
    3. Clear all the browser storage locations in each browser. In Firefox, do this by using "Clear Recent History" with "Everything" for time range and at least "Cookies," "Cache," and "Flash Cookies" (if Flash is installed) ticked.
    4. Close all browsers. Not sure if this step is needed; it's to clear memory of anything not taken care of in step 3.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2014
  15. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    Yes Bo I use SBIE.
     
  16. noone_particular

    noone_particular Registered Member

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    On XP and earlier systems, the install monitor Inctrl5 could be used to find everything that the evercookie and similar tracking technology would drop on your system. Take a snapshot before a browsing session, then another when you're done. The report will show everything that was dropped or stored on your system, and any registry changes made during the browsing session. Once you know where all the locations are, it's a simple matter to write a batch file that erases them all on demand. I don't know if there's an equivalent to Inctrl5 for Vista and newer systems.
     
  17. MrBrian

    MrBrian Registered Member

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    I updated post #14; I forgot to mention Flash cookies.

    The reason for doing a given step for all browsers before moving onto the next step is because Flash cookies are cross-browser.
     
  18. febainy

    febainy Registered Member

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    I think if evercookies are the files storing in harddisk, we can delete all of them in another operating system, for example we can delete Window files from Linux, unless your information is stored in the place you can't control.
     
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