[walt17]

When I run McFee security scan it says there are 2379 tracking cookies on my computer. I have deleted all cookies via browser delete function. And searched for cookies on my hard drive. McFee still indicates the presence of the tracking cookies. Where are these stored so that I can delete them?

I use Firefox and IE. OS =WIN7

[NeedKarma]

Here's the info for Firefox: Cookies | How to | Firefox Help

As far as severity of concern tracking cookies are probably the lowest threat to a user. Both browsers have a feature to delete all cookies which may be a pain in the butt if you like your favorite log-in sites to remember you.

[walt17]

To clarify my question: I have deleted all cookies using the browsers delete cookies function. Then ran a scan without any intervening internet activity. McAfee showed 2379 tracking cookies. I expected that number to be zero. The scan results indicate that Firefox and IE are not truly deleting all cookies.

In fact I did find cookies in temporary internet files folder that IE did not delete. While this is not a huge security threat, the fact that cookies are being stored in out of the way places where they can't be found and deleted irks me.

Unfortunately, because they are not considered a threat, McAfee does not include an option to delete them as it does with viruses.

[NeedKarma]

You could try using Ccleaner and running a scan with only "cookies" checked off. You then get an option to delete all it finds.

I've never tried this one but I've read about it: Cookie Monster - An utility for managing cookies of most usual browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera & Gecko - AMPsoft

[Appzalien]

Somewhere deep inside the options where the cookies settings are located is a selectioon on which cookies to delete (older than 7 days) which means the cookie cleaner is leaving the last 7 days alone. You can set it to one day and keep your cookies while surfing sites that require them. You can manually delete them as well from the local > temp folder too. Ccleaner has a place in the options where you can tell it to keep certain cookies (askmehelpdesk.com) of sites you trust. If cookies are kept, and you check the box for "remember me" on the initial page for sites like this where you sign it. It will auto sign you in the next time to visit. If you delete the cookies, your more secure from being tracked, but you have to manually sign in each time.