CNET Editors' review
Flash cookies are tiny pieces of software that Web sites place in your PC to store log-on data, passwords, and other personal information to save you the trouble of re-entering it all every time you visit the site. Many Flash cookies also store information about your Web browsing habits and other private data you may not want to share. Flash Cookie Cleaner is a small piece of portable freeware from ConsumerSoft. It identifies Flash cookies in your system and gives them the opportunity to delete them, if you want to. Of course, some cookies are good for your system, and some aren't. Flash Cookie Cleaner offers advice to help users decide which cookies to keep and which can be pitched.
A simple but colorful interface opened when we clicked the program's executable file. This tool has three main controls--Scan Cookies, View Cookies, and Delete Cookies--but it scanned our system automatically when we opened it, identifying our cookies in the Flash Cookies tab by the address of the Web site that placed them and displaying selected cookies' details in a right-hand panel. We could highlight cookies for deleting or click the Ignore Cookie button, which moved them to the Ignored Cookies tab. A message on the interface notes that users may want to ignore cookies from banks, games, and other trusted sources, since they're for your convenience. We selected a Flash cookie we didn't need clicked Delete Cookies. The program removed the cookie, just like that.
We clicked Get Help and Learn More on the menu bar and received information about Flash cookies as well as links to program documentation and advice. However, there isn't very much to this simple tool. Its chief advantage is helping you keep an eye on any Flash cookies installed in your system and removing the ones you want to remove. The worst thing that can happen when you delete the wrong cookie is you'll lose your saved scores or log-on data and have to re-enter them when you return to that site.
Publisher's Description
From ConsumerSoft:
Flash Cookie Cleaner lets you view, manage, and clean your hidden Flash cookies. Flash cookies are hidden cookies used to track you online, store marketing data, and save website settings. Flash Cookie Cleaner 2.0 lets you keep Flash cookies you trust and delete those you don't want.
What's new in this version:
- Scheduler for automated cleaning
- Options for daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning
- Ignore List for Flash cookies you don't want to delete
- Can check for updated versions
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 25 votes
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Current version:
4.2 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-4 of 4
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"This cookie doesn't crumble!"
Version: Flash Cookie Cleaner 2.0
Pros
Wicked quick easy way to clean cookies, the auto clean all flash cookies is awesome!
Cons
Can't believe it's free!
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"Simple, clean, effective"
Version: Flash Cookie Cleaner 2.0
Pros
Brings cookies into one place for easy editing
Cons
Criteria for deciding which to remove are not clear; you have to recognize teh source to decide whether to delete or ignore.
Summary
Very useful if you know what you want to do.
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"Solid stand-alone flash cookie manager."
Version: Flash Cookie Cleaner 2.0
Pros
Easy to use, attractive interface, auto-updates, can be stored anywhere you like in your system, and carries a light footprint.
Cons
Advertisements on the opening splash screen (but no big deal, really)
Summary
I've been using the Firefox extension "Better Privacy" for some time now, and recently started using NirSoft's excellent "flashcookiesview", so I felt right at home with FlashCookieCleaner. The 3 programs all do the same thing, but go about it in different ways: whereas "Better Privacy" is a Firefox extension, it can only be accessed by opening the browser and drilling down a couple of menus to get to it. "flashcookieview" is more closely tied in with the OS (it displays the program interface using Notepad and stores protected cookies in your documents file) and is a fairly bare-bones program, lacking the flashy GUI that many users are accustomed to. With FlashCookieCleaner you get the benefits of the other 2 programs, including the ability to auto-clean all flash cookies, in an attractive package that's very easy to use. Simply choose the cookie you want to save and press the "Ignore" button.This moves it to the "Ignore File" , which saves the cookie and prevents future deletion by the program. Slick and easy. I'm not sure yet whether cookies in FlashCookieCleaner's Ignore File are protected from deletion by similar programs as I haven't had enough time to play with it yet; hopefully, it will be like Better Privacy, whose "protected folders" are not detected by the other programs - time will tell. In the meantime, if you don't use Firefox, ( or want another program to use for when it crashes) and prefer the look and features of a "consumer-friendly" tool (as opposed to the more technical operation and look of a "developer-type-tool), then FlashCookiesCleaner is for you. Highly recommended.
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"Solid 6 7 8 9 10"
Version: Flash Cookie Cleaner 2.0
Pros
Much better than previous version, you can save needed cookies.
Cons
As I have no cons this is ten characters + to satisfy your ridiculous minimum and be allowed to post my review.
Summary
Good product, and you can't beat the price
Results 1-4 of 4
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