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Security Protection - Harry Waldron (CS)

Security Best Practices, Breaking News, & Updates

Adobe Flash Cookies - Privacy concerns

Adobe Flash Cookies - Privacy concerns

As with regular HTML cookies, the special Flash cookies have some potential for misuse.  While most sites are safe, clearing both types of cookie files on a periodic basis can be helpful in safeguarding privacy.

Adobe Flash Cookies - Privacy concerns
http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2009/08/flash_cookies_are_tracking_you.php
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1446862

QUOTE: This is a pilot study of the use of 'Flash cookies' by popular websites. We find that more than 50% of the sites in our sample are using flash cookies to store information about the user. Some are using it to 'respawn' or re-instantiate HTTP cookies deleted by the user. Flash cookies often share the same values as HTTP cookies, and are even used on government websites to assign unique values to users. Privacy policies rarely disclose the presence of Flash cookies, and user controls for effectuating privacy preferences are lacking.

How to control Flash Cookie and other options
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/help02.html