[luci2a]

Hi all. Sorry if this is a really dumb question!

Running Vista, with the latest Firefox, AVG, Superantispyware and Spybot S&D.
Recently I've been having to login to every site I visit despite having FF set to retain cookies. It's specially annoying that I have to log in to my browser home page which is a personalised iGoogle page. (gives me the up to date travel news etc)
If I disable the "scan for tracking cookies" option in AVG it seems to go back to normal. If I don't, it complains all the time about "Hitbox", Atdmt and others.

Is it OK to leave this disabled? Is AVG being over-anxious about these particular cookies? Why has it suddenly happened? Is there something else going on? All scans are clean and definitions up to date.

Sorry to ask so many questions!

Thanks for your help.

[roddy32]

Hi luci2a

I am not a malware removal expert so maybe of of them might jump in also. I think you have 2 different problems here. I also don't use AVG so I can't really check that myself but I have another question. Do you use CCleaner? Also, how do you have the privacy settings set on Firefox? If you have them set for "clear cookies" and "clear saved passwords" that MIGHT be the sign in problem.

Depending on whether or not you have CCleaner, I will post some screenshots of how I have BOTH CCleaner and Firefox set up. I don't have to sign in anywhere so it works for me.

Hopefully someone else can help you with the AVG problem. Tracking cookies are not generally malicious other than tracking what you do but if someone can help you by telling you how to get ACG to block them silently it would be nice.

Also SpywareBlaster would block most of those too without bothering you.

[luci2a]

Hi Roddy

Thanks. I have Firefox set to retain passwords and cookies, and haven't changed anything since I got this new laptop at Christmas. I used to have CCleaner and SpywareBlaster on my old computer but have cut down a bit on programs on this new one. I can easily reinstall them both.

At present, with AVG's "scan for tracking cookies" disabled, all seems to be well. I just need to know whether this is a safe option really.

The other problem, of my login identities here getting muddled, seems to have gone back to normal.

It must be the weather here - the UK has collapsed under the weight of 6 inches of snow!

Thanks for your help.

[roddy32]

Here is an explanation of what the cookies are and what they can and can not do.
http://en.wikipedia....iki/HTTP_cookie

You said in your other thread that you reinstalled SpywareBlaster and CCleaner. SpywareBlaster will block MANY of these and CCleaner will delete the others so disabling that portion of AVG is OK IMO but I would still like the opinion of one of our experts.

Are you aware that you can SAVE cookies with CCleaner? If not, I will explain that. Open CCleaner and click on "options" and then "cookies". It will list the cookies currently on the computer. Scroll down the list on the left side and if you see any that you want to keep, highlight them and use the arrow on the program to move it to the right side where is says "cookies to keep".

Whether or not this will fix the login problem you have here at BFC I don't know but it is worth a try.

[luci21a]

Help Roddy - this is getting ridiculous!!

I can't reply to topics I started as my old identity!

Anyway, thanks. I do know what cookies are (very fattening) but was just worried about allowing ones that AVG describes as dangerous or potentially dangerous.

I'll have a look at CCleaner and see what it lists. I'm not sure what is happening here though......

[roddy32]

Like I said in my other post, SpywareBlaster is probably blocking those cookies anyway now.

I will see if I can get Peter or Rawe to look at your other problem and I will give them links for all 3 of these threads.

[luci21a]

Thanks roddy. I've had a look at the list in CCleaner and allowed them all. I have the same ones listed in the FF options, and allow them there too. They all look quite harmless.
SpywareBlaster didn't cause any login problems before; I'm just wondering whether my upgrade of AVG did for them?

Thanks for your help. I'd be glad if Rawe or Peter could return me to my old self!

[roddy32]

I didn't mean that SpywareBlaster caused your problem. I am sure it did not. What I meant was that SpywareBlaster, now that you have reinstalled it might be blocking the cookies that AVG was flagging before as dangerous so that particular problem might be gone now. SpywareBlaster is excellent. It draws no resources whatsoever. You update it when it has an update which is usually around every 2 or 3 weeks. (We post the updates in the security software forum), then enable all protection and forget about it until the next update. It sets killbits when you enable so it doesn't actually run in the background and take up resources.

I PM"d both Peter and Rawe about your other problem so hopefully when they are here at BFC they can help you. Please be patient though, they are both busy.

[ColdinCbus]

Moving this topic out of malware removal.

[luci2a]

Thanks to you all. I think I understand everything! I sem to be back to myself now and I've stopped worrying about the cookies now that I've reinstalled my old protection.

I had my new laptop for Christmas so it's been a busy time and I have only now got round to getting it all as I like it. Although I was worried about Vista I've got used to it and it does everything that I need. My daughters are thrilled with all the functions that they have on theirs, so we are satisfied customers so far.....

[roddy32]

It always takes a long time to get a new computer sorted the way you want it.

Check the other thread also because I just posted a possible explanation for the locked out of your account problem.