Self-Destructing Cookies – add-on for Firefox • Hacker News Board

Add a feature where the plugin collects all cookies that are commonly blocked and then shares that info back to a server. With that info that plugin can get a list of all the cookies on a page and query the server to rank those cookies from most blocked to least blocked.

This way users of this plugin can rely on the wisdom of the crowds to quickly see which cooks people who know better commonly block.

Should every user look over the entire list of cookies on a site? Yes, in an ideal world. But since that isn't realistic, the best we can do is present them with those they will mostly likely want to block right at the top.

Re: Self-Destructing Cookies – add-on for Firefox

#6

Post by k_bx » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 5:14 AM UTC

As I understand -- I'll have to sign in to every website I visit each time? (or manage white-list) Well, then it seems like a not a fit for me.

But still, thanks for reminding that I can disable 3rd-party cookies -- I just did that for my firefox.

Re: Self-Destructing Cookies – add-on for Firefox

#7

Post by dotmanish » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 5:18 AM UTC

Please make this non-shocking for non-geeks.

Upon the first run, without warning, I see this: "If you read this, all of your cookies that are not currently in use just self-destructed. Don't panic. You can undo this if you prefer to keep them for now." . . . "Undeletes happen in batches. If you had a lot of cookies, you might need to restore more batches. Click SDC's icon again. Select Undelete (more) cookies from the menu. Repeat this until you get a notification stating that No more undeletes are possible."

Couldn't the extension have simply asked me once before proceeding with the delete in the first run? Basic usability.

Re: Self-Destructing Cookies – add-on for Firefox

#8

Post by dotmanish » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 5:20 AM UTC

k_bx wrote: post #6

As I understand -- I'll have to sign in to every website I visit each time? (or manage white-list) Well, then it seems like a not a fit for me. But still, thanks for reminding that I can disable 3rd-party cookies -- I just did that for my firefox.

Yes, there's a whitelisting feature where you have to mark "Delete cookies Never for this website" while you're at that website (or there's an Options panel for this - I haven't explored enough yet).

Re: Self-Destructing Cookies – add-on for Firefox

#9

Post by dotmanish » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 5:22 AM UTC

What looks to me as a counter-feature is that if I'm logged in to GMail, and want to stay logged-in, I have to whitelist the "google.com" cookies.

Wouldn't that allow all the Adwords tracking cookies as well, across sites?

Re: Self-Destructing Cookies – add-on for Firefox

#10

Post by benologist » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 5:23 AM UTC

malandrew wrote: post #5

Add a feature where the plugin collects all cookies that are commonly blocked and then shares that info back to a server. With that info that plugin can get a list of all the cookies on a page and query the server to rank those cookies from most blocked to least blocked. This way users of this plugin can rely on the wisdom of the crowds to quickly see which cooks people who know better commonly block. Should every us…

Ghostery does that although I'm not sure if they share that data back.