Clearing Your Cookies All the Time Makes the Web More Annoying

[learninmypc]

Websites can store small files called “cookies” on your computer to remember your preferences and login state. Cookies can also be used to track you across websites to better target ads. But think twice before you just disable them. FULL STORY

 

[DelJo63]

Beg to differ with the conclusions.

• most browser cache is configured too large and thus take EXTRA time to scan and fail, not less for scan an Use.
• being continuously logged in is a security risk - - we SHOULD always log out, but most do not.
• asking first-time questions is GOOD, not bad.

We're getting so lazy we open the door for intrusions and infections. Cookies can store inconsistent data with a current session and cause Failure To Connect issues - - hence the need to Clear Cookies when there are connection issues.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

Edit Post by Cal Jeffrey

Speaking of intrusions and infections. How come when I went to the linked article the page tried to download a file to my computer?

Edit: I thought it was a fluke, but I was able to repeat it. It appears to be a text file named "usnc."

Edit: Here's a screenshot of the file info.

 

[DelJo63]

Boo humbug! Point me to the specific link you clicked - - the assumption is, that DL should not have occurred

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

Boo humbug! Point me to the specific link you clicked - - the assumption is, that DL should not have occurred

I went to the link provided by the OP. Specifically: FULL STORY

And I'm not assuming anything. Only making the observation that when I clicked on the OP's link a file was downloaded to my computer, which is something that is completely out of the ordinary in my 10 years using a Mac and browsing with Safari. Normally the only time this happens is when clicking on a specific download link, not while following links to other websites.

 

[DelJo63]

I went to the link provided by the OP. Specifically: FULL STORY

And I'm not assuming anything. Only making the observation that when I clicked on the OP's link a file was downloaded to my computer, which is something that is completely out of the ordinary in my 10 years using a Mac and browsing with Safari. Normally the only time this happens is when clicking on a specific download link, not while following links to other websites.

Agree. Using the link myself, I did not get a download.
If that behavior is repeatable, then I would suspect your browser.

 

[learninmypc]

I went to the link provided by the OP. Specifically: FULL STORY

And I'm not assuming anything. Only making the observation that when I clicked on the OP's link a file was downloaded to my computer, which is something that is completely out of the ordinary in my 10 years using a Mac and browsing with Safari. Normally the only time this happens is when clicking on a specific download link, not while following links to other websites.

If it matters, this is the full link https://www.howtogeek.com/298429/clearing-your-cookies-all-the-time-makes-the-web-more-annoying/

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

I was able to repeat the download twice, but subsequent attempts did not trigger the download. I was curious what the file contained so I took a peek.

"<img src="//sync.c1exchange.com/sync/user?k=ffuid&v=1438261201&pid=p17&s=aHR0cHM6Ly9hZHMuc2VydmVib20uY29tL3BhcnRuZXI_Y2I9NDIzNiZzdmM9dXMmaWQ9MjAmdWlkPSRDMVhVSUQ%3D" width="1" height="1" style="visibility:hidden;display:none"/>"

 

[DelJo63]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!

The so-called "img" is hidden, so the content doesn't matter. The file is on the sync.c1exchange.com server and it invokes a program (GULP!).

@Julio Franco ; This is virus level stuff :sigh:

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!

The so-called "img" is hidden, so the content doesn't matter. The file is on the sync.c1exchange.com server and it invokes a program (GULP!).

@Julio Franco ; This is virus level stuff :sigh:

Yeah when I saw the 'width="1" height="1" style="visibility:hidden;display:none"' I smelled something was funky.

Oddly, I've been to How To Geek in the past and never had something auto download like that.

 

[learninmypc]

Yeah when I saw the 'width="1" height="1" style="visibility:hidden;display:none"' I smelled something was funky.

Oddly, I've been to How To Geek in the past and never had something auto download like that.

I got this from their newsletter & have never seen anything this happen. Although its not my fault, I'm still sorry

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

I got this from their newsletter & have never seen anything this happen. Although its not my fault, I'm still sorry

Don't sweat it. It was not your fault. In fact, it is only because Windows and OS X do things differently that I even noticed. I haven't used Windows in over 8 years now and perhaps it's different now, but back in the day, this was the type of thing that Windows would have just stashed it in your cookies or cache without you even knowing.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

BTW ... Although usnc is the name of this file, the usnc extension (.usnc) is associated with known Trojans.

https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/malware/troj_necurs.usnc

 

[learninmypc]

Don't sweat it. It was not your fault. In fact, it is only because Windows and OS X do things differently that I even noticed. I haven't used Windows in over 8 years now and perhaps it's different now, but back in the day, this was the type of thing that Windows would have just stashed it in your cookies or cache without you even knowing.

Thanks & good luck

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

Thanks & good luck

Don't need luck. I own a Mac.