Flash cookie management on 64-bit Windows

Flash version 10.3 now has a local control panel for managing "Flash cookies".  These are identifying strings, like browser (web) cookies, that can be used to track you across sessions or record settings information.  Previously it was really difficult to see and manage this separate set of cookies.

You can read more in the Flash Player 10.3 Release Notes and Flash Player: Settings Manager.

I run Windows Vista 64-bit and I was puzzled that my Flash 10.3.181.26 install didn't show anything in Control Panel - then I checked carefully and realised there is a 32-bit Control Panel icon.

Note: Unlike Vista, Windows 7 64-bit does not separate the 32-bit control panels, the control will show in the main window as Flash Player (32 bit).

For more information about the information tracked using cookies you can read the Privacy Commissioner's pages Cookies – Following the crumbs: FAQ and Web Tracking with Cookies.

Here's the Windows Vista Control Panel icon

the 32-bit Control Panel items I have

and the Flash Player Settings Manager

You probably want to look at Local Storage Settings by Site, Remove any you don't want, and then set it to Ask me before allowing new sites.

Comments

[Peter Murray]

I like the fact that they have implemented the middle choice -- 'ask me before allowing new sites to save information on this computer.' I have been using the Better Privacy plugin for Firefox but that only clears cookies on shutdown. Hopefully this function will come to MacOSX soon, too.

[Richard Akerman]

@dltj The Mac does have this, at least in MacOS X 10.6 with Flash 10.3.181.26 - Under System Preferences the Flash Player control appears in the Other section.