Google's Chrome deals with Flash cookie privacy

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTAL VERSION of Google's Chrome web browser has made it much easier to delete user behavioural information, but there's still word on whether it will provide a 'Do Not Track' feature like those already offered by Firefox and Internet Explorer.

This new version of Chrome deals in particular with Flash cookies, or what should properly be called 'local shared objects'. These are supposed to be useful for storing user preferences, such as your Flash video volume, but they can also be used by certain nefarious websites to restore Flash cookies even after you've tried to delete them.

Thanks to code in Flash Player 10.3, you can now delete Flash cookies and other local plug-in storage data by clicking Wrench, Tools and then Clear browsing data. Flash is the only plug-in where you can delete your user data like this, but Google is hoping others will follow suit.

However, some people might not think this goes far enough, as Google Chrome still hasn't added a 'Do Not Track' privacy feature, which Internet Explorer and Firefox already have and it's believed Safari will also have in the future.

This involves a simple tick of a 'Do Not Track' box, which allows you to opt out of behavioural advertising. Coincidentally perhaps, Google brings in most of its revenue by selling advertising. µ