Ever heard of zombie cookies? No, we’re not talking about a new Halloween treat or your grandma’s christmas morning delights here, but something that could give you a serious case of cyber-chills!
Imagine sneaky third-party cookies that refuse to stay dead and buried – just like the zombies from your favorite horror flicks. These aren’t your ordinary browser or internet cookies that aim to make your digital life sweeter.
Rather they rise from the grave every time you try to banish them, making you question reality itself! So, gather ’round as we uncover the mystery behind these spooky zombie cookies. We will shine a light on their ghostly presence, and discover ways of bidding them final farewell.
HTTP cookies – introduction
Let’s start right from the very basics. Imagine a cookie as a tiny piece of digital code that websites attach to your browser. These unassuming bits of data work behind the scenes, preserving information to enhance your browsing experience as you navigate a website.
Cookies come in all shades – there are beneficial ones too. Take first-party cookies, for instance. They’re the friendly helpers that ensure a seamless return to your favorite sites, recalling your preferences like items in a virtual shopping cart or the exact point where you paused that thrilling video. Pretty nifty, isn’t it?
Read more: Digital Sherlock Holmes: Exposing the science behind website tracking
However, not all cookies play by the same rulebook. Enter the world of persistent cookies, lurking even after you’ve bid a website farewell. These are the sneaky ones that discreetly gather data about your online escapades and craft those oh-so-tailored ads. But wait, there’s more to the plot – super cookies, or flash cookies, and the legendary zombie cookies.
Zombie cookies – overview
Attorney Joseph H. Malley created the term “zombie cookies” to describe HTTP cookies that are recreated after deletion.
Picture this: a zombie cookie, similar to its regular counterpart, plants its roots in your browser as you step onto a website. But here’s the twist – it’s not just a single entity. It’s a crafty creature that can clone itself and reside in multiple secret spots within your browser. Delete it from one spot, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it’ll resurrect itself using the formidable Quantcast technology.
The power of the zombie cookie stems from the vulnerabilities of Adobe Flash Player, which grants them a unique user ID for storing customer preferences. By melding a standard HTTP cookie with a super cookie, becoming virtually invincible. Even if you thought you could escape their clutches through incognito browsing, think again.
They are masters of the dark art revolving around cookie syncing. Zombie cookies synchronize their forces across different websites, using your user ID as a thread that weaves a web of your online interactions. According to TRUSTe, their ultimate goal is to gather data about your preferences and online behavior.
The data collected becomes an offering to various companies, paving the way for targeted marketing endeavors. So there you have it – a tantalizing glimpse into the spine-chilling world of zombie cookies, those shadowy agents that thrive in the ecosystem of digital darkness.
Guide to blocking zombie cookies
While zombie cookies may seem like an invincible menace, modern browsers have your back when it comes to dominating the information shared with those pesky third parties. Let’s dive into some nifty techniques that’ll help you keep those lurking zombie cookies at bay:
1. Take control with browser settings
Harness the power of your browser settings to take a stand against zombie cookies. Opt out of third-party cookies like a seasoned pro. Whereas, some browsers even offer advanced options to eradicate those elusive flash cookies, aka zombie cookies.
2. Take advantage of specialized software
When it comes to zombie cookies, a mere browser’s cookie-clearing routine might not cut it. Call in the big guns – consider using third-party tools like CCleaner to eradicate these digital pests. Just remember, always do your homework before introducing new software to your digital domain.
3. Regular cookie deletion
Though it might not give zombie cookies a knockout punch, routinely clearing your browser’s cookie cache is a brilliant strategy to fortify your privacy defenses. It’s like a digital detox for your browsing habits!
4. Say no to tracking
Remember that epic moment when a website asks for your cookie consent? Well, here’s your chance to be the ultimate decision-maker. Opt for essential cookies that enhance your browsing experience, while giving those sneaky third-party trackers a resounding “No, thank you!”
5. Embrace the power of privacy tools
For the ultimate protection against the relentless zombie cookies, consider creating a digital armor of privacy tools. PureVPN’s encrypted tunnel and threat protection feature stands tall, shielding you from targeted ads and the prying eyes of web trackers.
Read more: Can you be tracked with a VPN?
6. Choose browser wisely
Not all browsers are created equal, and some are more privacy-conscious than others. If you’re determined to put a stop to those undead cookies, consider switching to privacy-oriented browsers like Epic, Firefox, Puffin, FreeNet, or their kin.
But here’s the plot twist – even with all these heroic efforts, some super cookies are just stubborn. They’re like the villains who always manage to escape! These cookies, often wielded by your internet service provider (ISP), are notorious for being near impossible to banish.
Read more: Is Your ISP Tracking You?
Zombie cookies under scrutiny
The legal battlefield around zombie cookies is nothing short of a saga. Back in 2010, Quantcast faced a lawsuit in a U.S. courtroom, accused of violating federal computer intrusion laws. The verdict? Websites were ordered to wipe out users’ personal data and cease their intrusive collection tactics.
Across the Atlantic, an EU Directive in 2011 paved the way for internet users in Europe to wield the power of choice – to accept or refuse cookies from the websites they visit. As a result, you can now boldly opt out of cookies or opt in solely for the essentials, bolstering your digital armor against the undead trackers.
So there you have it! Equipped with knowledge and tactics, you’re all set to face the dark forces of zombie cookies head-on. Now, go forth and conquer the digital realm, one cookie at a time!
Furthermore, stay connected to PureVPN Blog to learn more about internet cookies and digital privacy.
