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Why can I no longer accept or decline individual cookies?

RB1946
RB1946
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Before, every time a new cookie tried to install, I was given a popup with accept or decline for each new cookie. Now that's gone and I must either accept everything or decline all, then go bnback and remove cookies, even though cookie names often bear no relation to the sites.

This change is a great disservice to a journalist who has ever reason to avoid certain sites/parties tracking my interests.

Please restore the old option of allowing to accept or decline cookies as they arise!

Before, every time a new cookie tried to install, I was given a popup with accept or decline for each new cookie. Now that's gone and I must either accept everything or decline all, then go bnback and remove cookies, even though cookie names often bear no relation to the sites. This change is a great disservice to a journalist who has ever reason to avoid certain sites/parties tracking my interests. Please restore the old option of allowing to accept or decline cookies as they arise!

All Replies (1)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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This option was removed in Firefox 44. It apparently had a number of longstanding glitches that the developers decided were not worth fixing. We've had a few other threads expressing dissatisfaction about this, and I'm sure several feedback submissions here (sad face):

https://input.mozilla.org/feedback/firefox

For now, you have a number of options for managing cookies, including:

(1) Accept or block temporarily and revise afterwards; there are add-ons to make this easier, such as Cookie Monster;

(2) Accept cookies temporarily and have the cookies deleted after you leave the site (using the add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/self-destructing-cookies/; or

(3) Use an anti-tracking approach based on lists of known tracking servers, using either Firefox's built-in Tracking Protection feature or an add-on.

For #1, this is how I use it:

(A) Select a default cookie policy among these options on the Options page, Privacy panel:

  • Allow sites to set persistent cookies if they want ("Keep until: they expire")
  • Allow sites to set only session cookies ("Keep until: I close Firefox") (I use and recommend this)
  • Block sites from setting cookies (Uncheck the box for allowing sites to set cookies)

(B) Install an extension that makes it easy to make site-specific changes, such as Cookie Monster.

The Cookie Monster button on the toolbar allows you to see permissions for first party and third party cookies and to change them.

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/cookie-monster/

Sample screen shot attached -- the option to "Apply cookie settings to both HTTP and HTTPS" is turned on, which streamlines the menu. With this option you don't have to set/modify permissions for both HTTP or HTTPS on the same site.