View Full Version : The great 'No cookie list' mystery continues apace.
Flyvapnet
2013-03-05, 19:40
I paid for the full version of Spybot 2 Home Edition on 16 January 2013. I'd not had Spybot installed for the previous several months and began to miss it! Lo and behold, I was unable to find the list of cookies; consequently, all my log-in cookies for other Web sites vanished. Come to find out, there is no cookies-list function in Spybot 2.
:blink:
Not finding a relevant explanation here for this no-cookies-list phenomenon, I uninstalled Spybot 2 Home Edition and installed Spybot - Search & Destroy Version 1.6.2.0 System settings protector 1.6.6.32 in its place. Sure enough, there was a cookies list! But ... it was blank; and it remains blank as of this writing.
:banghead:
Can anyone explain this scenario to me? Why are cookie lists suppressed? Is it Spybot's doing, or is there something external to Spybot which is causing this? Your helpful suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
:yes:
Your login (and other) cookies may have vanished when you were using Spybot 2.0 if you fixed tracks after a Spybot scan,and cookies were checkmarked.
http://www.safer-networking.org/faq/usage-tracks/
To verify we're on the same page,it is the Ignore Cookies list that is blank in Spybot 1.6.2? :)
Could you let me know which operating system you're using?
And also which browsers you're using?
Flyvapnet
2013-03-06, 05:42
Yes, Zenobia, it is the "Ignore Cookies" list in the Spybot - Search & Destroy Version 1.6.2.0 System which is blank. My operating system is Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600. My default browser is Mozilla Firefox 19.0 and on infrequent occasions I use Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 8 Version 8.0.6001.18702.
:yes:
Thank you for coming to my rescue! Your further efforts to enlighten me will be greatly appreciated. I'm quite anxious to see a working "Ignore Cookies" page in Version 1.6.2.0 rather than a blank one. Also, is there in fact no such list whatsoever in the Spybot 2 Home Edition; or is it merely a matter of my not having been able to find it?
:kboard:
No,there is no ignore cookies list in Spybot 2.0 that I'm aware of,you weren't missing it. :)
There is a ignore list in Spybot 2.0 where you can choose to ignore "Cookies" in general,or you can ignore a tracking cookie on the ignore list if you search for it by name,but you cannot ignore individual non-tracking cookies like you could in Spybot 1.6.2,from the looks of things.
I've looked through the forum and found where there were a few times in the past that Firefox cookies were not shown on the Ignore Cookies list,but I've been unable to find anything where both Internet Explorer cookies and Firefox cookies did not show in there.
Since you use Internet Explorer infrequently,can you remember if you have used it since downloading Spybot 1.6.2?
Also,since downloading Spybot 1.6.2,did you do a scan?And were there any items listed in green after the scan?
Flyvapnet
2013-03-08, 08:43
Zenobia, from a mental-health standpoint I'm glad to learn there isn't an "Ignore Cookies" page in Spybot 2; but, on the other hand, I wish there was. My next project will involve trying to get my money back.
:banghead:
I can't recall whether or not I've used Internet Explorer 8 since installing Spybot 1.6.2.0; but I have run a scan since installation and yes, there were some items listed in green--and red--on the problems page afterwards. I ran a scan again today; and some green items showed up, but thankfully nothing in red.
:yes:
But, lo and behold, a lone Internet Explorer 8 cookie appeared on the "Ignore Cookies" page! Unfortunately, that page was bereft of any Firefox 19.0 cookies. At this point I remain bamboozled.
:surrender:
As it happens, I've not been prompt in responding to your posts because I've not received any electronic-mail notifications of replies. All the right boxes are checked, yet nothing notification-wise has so much as reached my Internet service provider: I'm using MailWasher Pro, which shows everything that's on the server and doesn't block anything unless I tell it to do so.
:scratch:
Zenobia, from a mental-health standpoint I'm glad to learn there isn't an "Ignore Cookies" page in Spybot 2; but, on the other hand, I wish there was. My next project will involve trying to get my money back.
This is in no way an official reply,and please don't take it as such,but under the order form for Spybot Home Edition,there is a terms and conditions page that does state no refunds for downloaded software. :)
http://www.safer-networking.org/terms-and-conditions/
If you also have a spam folder in your email,you could check to be sure your thread notifications aren't going in there.
At the top of this post where it says Thread Tools,you can click that to be sure that you're subscribed,and when you are replying to a post,if you look below your post you should see Thread Subscription with a pulldown menu for notification type.If you wanted Instant Notification,you could select that.
Also,in your User CP for the forum,if you click Edit Options and scroll down,there is a section called Default Thread Subscription Mode:
When you post a new thread, or reply to a topic, you can choose to automatically add that thread to your list of subscribed threads, with the option to receive email notification of new replies to that thread.
Default Thread Subscription Mode:
I have mine set to Instant since I'm here a lot,if you think you'd like yours that way you could try that,also.
I think I remember that there have been a few times in the past when the latest versions of firefox were installed that the cookies weren't visible in the ignore cookies list,but I haven't found anything on the forum to support that,and I have no idea if that's the case with the current version of Firefox,19.0.2.
http://www.safer-networking.org/faq/usage-tracks/
When you run a scan with spybot and fix the green items,one of the usage tracks found are Firefox cookies.That would remove them from appearing on your ignore cookies list,but a cookie or two should reappear once you open firefox again.
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?p=350599#post350599
A couple of years ago,when somebody couldn't see firefox cookies in their ignore cookies list,another member told them to close firefox first before opening Ignore Cookies,and then they could see them.I think I had a beta version of Spybot at the time without an Ignore cookies list,so I couldn't check if that worked for myself,but if you have had firefox open when looking at your ignore cookies list,try closing it and see if they're visible.
bbnetwork
2013-03-08, 13:15
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?p=350599#post350599
A couple of years ago,when somebody couldn't see firefox cookies in their ignore cookies list,another member told them to close firefox first before opening Ignore Cookies,and then they could see them.I think I had a beta version of Spybot at the time without an Ignore cookies list,so I couldn't check if that worked for myself,but if you have had firefox open when looking at your ignore cookies list,try closing it and see if they're visible.
Yes, for some reason, i dont knew why - but i guess its something into the architecture of Firefox and its siblings, which logg the cockies, the browser needs to be fully shut-down (means close Firefox and wait, till the process is'nt active in ram anymore) before the Cockies can be accessed and readen from another program (like the ignore cookies list).
Flyvapnet
2013-03-10, 07:03
Thanks for your input, Zenobia and bbnetwork! I've followed all your suggestions, but there's still "no joy" when it comes to the "Ignore Cookies" list. Now that both the new and the old versions of Spybot refuse to show cookies, I can't help but feel there's something afoot at the management level of either Mozilla or Safer-Networking (or both) and we're not being told about it.
:scratch:
Yes, for some reason, i dont knew why - but i guess its something into the architecture of Firefox and its siblings, which logg the cockies, the browser needs to be fully shut-down (means close Firefox and wait, till the process is'nt active in ram anymore) before the Cockies can be accessed and readen from another program (like the ignore cookies list).
Thank you.I never knew that for sure. :)
I think I remember that there have been a few times in the past when the latest versions of firefox were installed that the cookies weren't visible in the ignore cookies list,but I haven't found anything on the forum to support that,and I have no idea if that's the case with the current version of Firefox,19.0.2.
I still haven't found anything to support the above,but I have a feeling that it might be the problem. :)
Could you open Firefox,click the Firefox pulldown menu over to the left,then select Options->Options->then the Privacy tab.Under the history category,beside Firefox will:,what is Firefox set to:Remember History,Never Remember History,or Use Custom setting for history?
Flyvapnet
2013-03-10, 19:23
Yay! I have at last received an electronic-mail notification of a reply to my thread! Hopefully this encouraging scenario will become status quo ante, rather than a pleasant surprise, in future.
:yahoo:
That's the good news. Zenobia, the following are enabled under "Tools > Options > Privacy >":
Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
Remember my browsing and download history
Remember search and form history
Accept cookies from sites
Accept third-party cookies
Keep until: they expire
Thanks again for your greatly-appreciated help in this matter of cookie revelation (or, rather, lack thereof) on the part of Safer-Networking's otherwise marvelous Spybot - Search & Destroy. We're doing the testing Safer-Networking itself should have done and should be doing, but in the minds of corporate management we're merely Beta testers with wallets.
:kboard:
bbnetwork
2013-03-11, 08:28
Yay! I have at last received an electronic-mail notification of a reply to my thread! Hopefully this encouraging scenario will become status quo ante, rather than a pleasant surprise, in future.
:yahoo:
That's the good news. Zenobia, the following are enabled under "Tools > Options > Privacy >":
Thanks again for your greatly-appreciated help in this matter of cookie revelation (or, rather, lack thereof) on the part of Safer-Networking's otherwise marvelous Spybot - Search & Destroy. We're doing the testing Safer-Networking itself should have done and should be doing, but in the minds of corporate management we're merely Beta testers with wallets.
:kboard:
Ok, as far as i knew this could be the problem:
Firefox use custom settings and is set to keep and save history and cockies. This way it logg this infos and other app can not access them.
As for the Testing-Statement:
Spybot have been in a long Beta but it is for every Programmer impossible to create a Program in this way, wihout the possibility there wont be a problem on the thousends of dufferent Systems into the World. Else MS would not need to update its Os after released.
I'm glad the email notification worked. :)
Okay,those custom settings in Firefox shouldn't affect cookies being saved.And Clear history when firefox closes is not checkmarked,Flyvapnet?
Flyvapnet
2013-03-12, 05:58
Bbnetwork and Zenobia, what you're saying is that I should enable the "Clear history when Firefox closes" function? All right, I'll give that a go. But ... there's a "Settings" button which wakes up when one enables the above-mentioned function; and the resultant dialog box contains:
Settings for Clearing History
When I quit Firefox, it should automatically clear all:
History
Browsing History [Enabled]
Download History [Enabled]
Form & Search History [Enabled]
Cookies
Active Logins
Cache [Enabled]
Data
Saved Passwords
Site Preferences
Offline Website Data
"Enabled" is just my word for indicating what's checkmarked or ticked. Should I enable other categories, or disable ones presently enabled, or leave it the way it is? I sincerely thank you for your continued help and patience!
:scratch:
No,I didn't want you to checkmark "Clear history when Firefox closes".I asked about it because I wanted to double check that it wasn't checkmarked.If it had been,I would have asked you to click the Settings...button and make sure that Cookies were not checkmarked under "When I quit Firefox, it should automatically clear all:" :)
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/settings-privacy-browsing-history-do-not-track#w_use-custom-settings-for-history
Could you click the Show Cookies...button?Is there quite a few cookies listed in there?
bbnetwork
2013-03-12, 08:30
I too did'nt say to enable the clear history Option.
Im not sure if the ignore-cookies-list will work with Firefox now at all.
Lets see if there cookies saved at all, like zebonia suggested. If there are cookies i would like to ask, if u tryed to close FF fully and if this did help?
Flyvapnet
2013-03-14, 04:06
Thank you once again, Zenobia and bbnetwork, for your advice! I'm sorry to have misinterpreted your intentions, regarding the "Clear history when Firefox closes" checkmark at Tools > Options > Privacy. I did check it, however, then closed Firefox and waited several minutes before opening Spybot - Search & Destroy. No cookies appeared on the "Ignore Cookies" list.
:slap:
Since the notification-of-reply messages have stopped coming, after that brief interlude of proper communication a few days ago, it was only much later that I read your most recent replies here. So, I unchecked the "Clear history when Firefox closes" box and closed Firefox; then, after another several minutes' wait, I opened Spybot. This time a single Internet Explorer cookie appeared on the "Ignore Cookies" list, but there was still no sign of any Firefox cookies.
:banghead:
That's the bad news. The good news is that I did as Zenobia suggested, clicked on the "Show Cookies" button at Tools > Options > Privacy and beheld a bunch of cookies. Yay! Their hiding place is discovered! I deleted the ones with unrecognizable names, in case they might be "bad" cookies, but kept the ones which readily identified themselves via easily-understandable names.
:cleaning:
At this point, I am assuming either (a) Firefox refuses to show its cookies to Spybot or (b) Spybot refuses to show them on its "Ignore Cookies" list. Just which corporation, Safer-Networking or Mozilla, is at fault here is a moot point since there's nothing I can do about a second party's intransigence. The "Ignore Cookies" era for Firefox users seems to have come and gone, perhaps never to return. But I'm sticking with Firefox!
:FF:
When I run a Spybot scan and green items show up, it seems "good" as well as "bad" cookies are deleted when those green items are "fixed"; and I then have to go through the tedious sign-in process at all my regularly-visited Web sites. That any Firefox cookies at all are deleted seems odd, since (judging by the now-useless "Ignore Cookies" function) Spybot supposedly can't find Firefox cookies. It sure finds them when it scans and when it "fixes" green items!
:scratch:
So, I'm out the money I paid for that new Spybot and the old one doesn't do all it used to. What a dilemma! Anyway, that's the state of affairs here as of now. If you've any further advice for me, be assured I'll welcome it! Thank you again for your help.
:greeting:
If you would prefer that your "good" cookies weren't deleted after the Spybot scan,deselect the checkmark next to the green Cookies before you press Fix Checked,and Spybot should skip fixing them.
That's about all I know of to try to get cookies to show in Ignore Cookies.
I have been trying to think back and remember if running as administrator affected cookies being shown in Ignore Cookies or not,but I just can't remember.
Is your User Account on XP an Administrator's account,or a Limited account,Flyvapnet?
Flyvapnet
2013-03-14, 10:54
Zenobia, "administrator" is one of those things I've never appreciated. I log on when the local machine starts up, but just who the machine thinks I am is anyone's guess. Am I being recognized as an "administrator" or just as the guy who uses this machine all the time?
I can see the value of having an "administrator" function in an office setting where there are many machines, but I'm at home and have just this one machine. Bear in mind it was given me, with Microsoft Windows XP Professional already installed. The guy who kindly gave me this setup did some things enabling me to use it, but exactly what he did remains a mystery.
Anyway, under Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Computer Management (Local) > System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users my full name appears as the Full Name next to "Administrator"; but there's also "ASPNET", "boinc_master", "boinc_project", "Guest", "HelpAssistant", "Joe" (with the Full Name "Flyvapnet") and "SUPPORT_388945a0". I used to run some Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC) software, but I haven't done that in a long time; so maybe I should just delete those two "boinc" entries, if possible.
But I digress. Nevertheless I'm scared to death of trying to log in under a different (shall we say) identity and, by some happenstance, becoming forever locked out of my one and only surviving machine! This password system we're all stuck with is nothing but a load of old cods, as far as I'm concerned, because it assumes the machine's user or users will perpetually remember all manner of passwords.
:scratch:
bbnetwork
2013-03-14, 12:59
Hello Flyvapnet,
the question about beeing Admin, could be maybe part of the problem with the cockies, since Firefox logg its cokies and stuff, in newer Versions and so they are'nt this easy accessable.
But as far as i remeber, beeing Admin or not beeing Admin, did become to a problem a bit later, with Windows Vista and above, when MS changed the User-Control and addend the UAC, in XP these problem should'nt have been as much present.
However, there are more as one Administartor-Account possinble.
The built-in Administrator account is hidden from Welcome Screen when a user account with Administrator privileges exists and enabled (if you are the only user, it is usually this way) and you are enabled as Administartor, but this Administartor is not the same as the build-in-Administartor!
In Windows XP Home Edition, you can login as built-in Administrator in Safe Mode only.
For XP Professional, press CTRL + ALT + DEL twice at the Welcome Screen and input your Administrator password in the classic logon window that appears.
You also could do one of the following to enable Admin:
-1. use the classic Windows application without the welcome screen:
To do this, go to "Start" in the "Control Panel" and select "User Accounts" from. Including "Change the way users log" you will find where to remove "Show Welcome Screen" check the box before. Then click on the button "Apply Options".
-2. use manual registry edit:
Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe
Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ SpecialAccounts \ UserList
Use the File, Export option to backup the key
Create a new DWORD Value named Administrator
Double-click Administrator, and set 1 as its data
Exit the Registry Editor.
This may work with XP Professional only.
-3(a). Open the Control Panel:
Double-click the User Accounts icon.
Click the user account you wish to grant administrative rights to.
Click "Change the account type"
Select Computer administrator and then the Change Account type button.
-3(b). Alternative method:
From the Windows Desktop right-click on My Computer.
Click Manage, which should open the Computer Management Window as shown below.
Click the + next to Local Users and Groups or double-click it. Note: If you cannot access this section it's likely you do not have administrator rights to the computer.
Click Users and in the right pane you should see all user accounts setup on your computer.
Double-click the account you wish to view the rights of.
Click the Member Of tab.
If the user is a Member of "Administrators" that account already has administrative rights. If this group is not listed click the Add button.
Type "administrators" and then the Check Names button. If successfully found you should get your computer name followed by \administrators and have it underlined. For example, HOPE\Administrators.
Click Ok.
If you dont knew the Password for the Admin-Account, please have a look here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305/en
But once again, im not sure, if beeing the real Admin, will solve the cockie-miracle.
bbnetwork
2013-03-14, 13:28
i think the promlem is located into this:
In some browsers, each cookie is a small file, but in Firefox all cookies are stored in a single file, which is stored in the user profile.
(found on http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsupport.mozilla.org%2Fde%2Fkb%2Fcookies-informationen-websites-auf-ihrem-computer (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsupport.mozilla.org%2Fde%2Fkb%2Fcookies-informationen-websites-auf-ihrem-computer))
And this one file is, as far as i knew, also encrypted.
So maybe, if you are not Admin, Spybot can not access the profile-data from Firefox, as they are located into %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ and this path is usually hidden.
But this may not be the only problem, even if you, as Admin (root-Admin = build-in-Admin) can access the file, the file still is, as far as i knew, also encrypted, which may make it impossible to read it from within another program then Firefox
It sounds like you have an administrator account,Flyvapet,but the XP computer I have here doesn't have Local Users and Groups under system tools,probably because it's a Home Edition,and yours is XP Professional,so I can't tell for sure.
Could you go to Start,Control Panel,User Accounts.Is the account you use to login to the computer listed there as Computer Administrator?
Nevertheless I'm scared to death of trying to log in under a different (shall we say) identity and, by some happenstance, becoming forever locked out of my one and only surviving machine! This password system we're all stuck with is nothing but a load of old cods, as far as I'm concerned, because it assumes the machine's user or users will perpetually remember all manner of passwords.
Don't worry,that's not what I had in mind.I just wanted to see if the account you are using is limited or admin,and if that might be the problem with Ignore Cookies or not.
I'm doubtful on it,but it's a last ditch effort. :laugh:
bbnetwork
2013-03-14, 17:39
Even if the Account Flyvapnet is using is listed into the Control-Panel as Administrator-Account this dont mean it really have Admin-Rights.
But let us give it a try. ;)
Flyvapnet
2013-03-14, 22:29
Thank a bunch, bbnetwork, for all that information! I really appreciate it. Well, Zenobia and bbnetwork, it appears I'm the "Computer administrator" even as we speak. Apparently, I've held this exalted position for some time: I've logged in as "Flyvapnet" for as long as I can remember; and the Start > Settings > Control Panel > User Accounts box assures me that "Flyvapnet" is, in fact, the "Computer administrator".
But, due to what bbnetwork pointed out, I don't know if that means I'm the "real" administrator or just an honorary one--like a Kentucky Colonel. I await your further advice and am grateful for it.
:2thumb:
But, due to what bbnetwork pointed out, I don't know if that means I'm the "real" administrator or just an honorary one--like a Kentucky Colonel. I await your further advice and am grateful for it.
It is possible to have a computer administrator account in XP without proper administrator privileges,but I believe that would be a rare problem.
There is a method listed here to check for sure:
http://kb.sagesoftwareonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14175/~/how-to-determine-if-you-have-local-administrative-rights-in-microsoft%E2%AE-windows%E2%AE
I don't know of any other things to try to get Firefox cookies to appear in Ignore Cookies at the moment.If I see or think of anything else,I'll post it here. :)
bbnetwork
2013-03-15, 07:51
Im sorry Zenobia and Flyvapnet if i did not not explain exact what i mean.
The first user account added is always the Computer-Administrator and shown as Administrator-Account and he is also add to the Group of Administrators.
But there is always also the build-in Administrator - Account.
The second one is like the Super-Admin or Root, only he can manage the other Admin-Accounts, the Groups and can access the System-Internals.
This is also the reason, why u need to run some Programs in Vista and above with Admin-Rights even if u are using a Admin-Account already.
I dont knew if this matter for the cockie-issue but i did like to give full info.
Flyvapnet
2013-03-15, 11:04
Zenobia, I ran those checks and (Ta da!) it appears I'm the honest-to-goodness administrator. Watch out: I'm drunk with power! Now, if only those damned cookies would show up....
:bomb:
I guess we're at the end of our collective rope, bbnetwork and Zenobia. Your advice and information has been greatly appreciated! Indeed, if either of you discover new insights into why Spybot doesn't show Firefox cookies anymore please post them here. Thanks again for sticking with me during this inconclusive albeit interesting adventure! Cheers!
:beerbeerb:
bbnetwork
2013-03-15, 11:34
Indeed, if either of you discover new insights into why Spybot doesn't show Firefox cookies anymore please post them here.
Well actually, this is'nt this easy to say, it's possible its because the difference between Admin, not Admin and Super-Admin, its maybe because Firefox save the Cockies all together in one single file and not each cockie in a own file or because of the place where Firefox save the cockies or mixture of all of thise or maybe something else - as for me, to be honest, right now i dont have an idea.
It could be a tought, it matters if you install Spybot before or after Firefox, but very unsure about this.
Maybe Zenobia have another idea, else, if i ever find something out, i will let you knew, Flyvapnet.
Thanx so much for all the testing you have done with us.
Im sorry Zenobia and Flyvapnet if i did not not explain exact what i mean.
The first user account added is always the Computer-Administrator and shown as Administrator-Account and he is also add to the Group of Administrators.
But there is always also the build-in Administrator - Account.
The second one is like the Super-Admin or Root, only he can manage the other Admin-Accounts, the Groups and can access the System-Internals.
This is also the reason, why u need to run some Programs in Vista and above with Admin-Rights even if u are using a Admin-Account already.
I dont knew if this matter for the cockie-issue but i did like to give full info.
I will explain where I was going with this to clarify. :)
I know about the hidden built-in administrator account,but didn't think it would be significant here.The Computer Administrator account Flyvapet saw in control panel would have much more privileges than in Windows 7 or Vista:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ua_c_account_types.mspx?mfr=true
Power Users have more privileges than Limited,but as I understand it,would have been listed as an Unknown Account type in Control Panel->User Accounts.
If Flyvapet would have been on a Limited Account,it would have been noticeable,i.e. when Flyvapet attempted to install Spybot 1.6.2 to begin with,they probably would have gotten a message that they didn't have sufficient privileges to do so.That is why I was doubtful that was the problem,and checking the account type in Control Panel->User Accounts was just a last ditch effort,since I had ran out of ideas.
I guess we're at the end of our collective rope, bbnetwork and Zenobia. Your advice and information has been greatly appreciated! Indeed, if either of you discover new insights into why Spybot doesn't show Firefox cookies anymore please post them here. Thanks again for sticking with me during this inconclusive albeit interesting adventure! Cheers!
Cheers. :)