Disconnect for the Google Chrome web browser makes that extra step by disabling third party tracking in the browser. It for instance disables third party tracking by Google, Yahoo, Twitter, Facebook or Digg without requiring any setup or configuration.

The extension places an icon in the Chrome address bar that indicates the number of third party tracking scripts and cookies that have been blocked by the extension. A click on the icon reveals the exact count for each service supported by the Google Chrome extension.

A click on a service unblocks the service on all websites. This requires a reload of the website in question before the changes become visible. The ability to unblock services helps users who use one or some of the third party tracking services on the Internet. The setting is remembered between sessions.

What are some of the benefits of disabling third party tracking. Privacy is obviously the main concern here. The extension aids users who search on Google or Yahoo by blocking identifying cookies.

Chrome users who would like to disable third party tracking by Google, Yahoo, Twitter, Digg or Facebook should consider installing Disconnect. The extension is directly available at the Google Chrome Extensions gallery.

The detection of third party cookies by security software does not mean that they pose the same danger as a computer virus, trojan or worm to the user. Tracking cookies are placed on the computer by online advertising companies. These companies track the user’s movement on the Internet for statistical and relevancy reasons.

One of the main purposes of cookies in general is to save temporary data, for instance language preferences or login information. Tracking cookies on the other hand are only created to track a users movement. The movement can still only be tracked if the user visits a website that displays the advertisement scripts of the company that has a cookie stored on the system.

Tracking cookies raise privacy issues, as they allow companies to partially track an Internet user’s movement on the Internet. The detected cookies can be deleted easily in the security software. Some web browsers, like Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, offer settings to handle third party cookies. The term third party cookies might confuse some users, but it is actually fairly easy to understand. A first party cookie is placed by the website itself, it would for instance be a first party cookie if Ghacks would place a cookie on your system. A third party cookie is placed by scripts from other services, mostly advertisements that are loaded on the page.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer users can clear all cookies in the web browser by clicking on Tools > Internet Options, and then the Delete button in the General tab. This opens the Delete Browsing History menu. Cookies is one of the items available in that menu. Keep in mind that this will delete all cookies, it may mean that certain site preferences are reset to their default values. It may also mean that a login prompt is displayed on some sites on the next connection.

internet explorer cookies

Cookies will be written again on the next connection. The third party cookie behavior can be configured in the Privacy tab of the Internet Options. The default setting is medium, which blocks some third party cookies but not all of them. Moving that slider to medium high, high or “block all cookies” will reduce or eliminate cookies in the web browser. A better approach, that blocks third party cookies completely, is to click on the Advanced button to open the Advanced Privacy Settings in Internet Explorer.

advanced privacy settings

Activate “Override automatic cookie handling” and change the third party cookie selection to Block. This blocks all third party cookies in Internet Explorer without affecting third party cookies at all.

Opera

Opera users can delete cookies by clicking on the Menu button at the top left of the web browser, and then Settings > Delete Private Data.

opera delete private data

A click on the Manage Cookies button after enabling detailed options in this menu lists all cookies with the option to delete them selectively instead.

Opera offers options to change the default cookie behavior and block tracking cookies. Press Ctrl-F12 to open the Opera Preferences. Switch to the Advanced tab and select cookies from the left sidebar menu.

Change Accept cookies to Accept cookies only from the site I visit to disable third party cookies in Opera.

opera block tracking cookies

Google Chrome

A click on the wrench and the selection of Options opens the Google Chrome Options window. The Under the Bonnet tab contains options to clear the browsing data and set the default cookie behavior.

A click on Clear browsing data opens a new window with the option to delete stored cookies, among other data.

delete cookies google chrome

General cookie behavior can be set in the Content settings menu. Cookies is one of the options in that menu. Locate the checkbox “Block all third-party cookies without exception” to block all tracking cookies from being set on the computer.

google chrome block tracking cookies

Mozilla Firefox

The keyboard shortcut Ctrl-Shift-Del opens the Clear Recent History menu in Firefox. Here it is possible to clear the cookies immediately.

clear recent history firefox

The Firefox options, located under Tools > Options offer controls to block third party cookies in the web browser. Locate the Privacy tab, and there the entry Accept third-party cookies. Remove the checkmark next to the preference to block tracking cookies and other third party cookies in the Firefox web browser.

firefox block third party cookies

Verdict

All popular web browsers offer controls to block third party cookies. Some advertising companies use Flash Cookies to track users. Please follow the link to the article linked above to find out how those can be deleted from the system as well.

The first would be to disable it manually by opening about:config from the address bar. Search for network.cookie.cookieBehavior and take a look a the value. If it is set to 0 you accept all cookies, 1 means you only accept cookies from the same server, 2 means you disable all cookies. Setting it to 1 has the same effect that the option in the old firefox browsers had: it disables third party cookies.

I promised a second option. You could install a add-on as well that blocks third party cookies. One of the many extensions that does that is called CookieSafe. This one for instance makes it possible to disable all cookies and allow them only for specific sites (whitelist). There is no need that most sites store cookies when you are visiting them unless you have an account on that site.