Tracking cookies found after downloading Firefox

Hi,
Downloaded firefox today & ran spybot after download & it found several tracking cookies that were not previously there. As far as I am aware these are quite harmless. When I had Spybot to "Fixed Checked" they were removed, however, when I scanned again they returned? Details are as follows:-
Advertising.com - 4 entries
Avenue A, Inc. - 1 entry
CasaleMedia - 2 entries
DoubleClick - 1 entry
FastClick - 4 entries
LynkSynergy - 3 entries
MediaPlex - 3 entries
Statcounter - 2 entries
TargetNet - 3 entries
ValueClick - 1 entry
Web Trends live - 1 entry

So, how do I get rid of them & why have they appeared.
Thanks in advance.

 

Those cookies did not show up because you downloaded Firefox, but rather because you visited some websites. And, you will be surprised how sneaky some of those sites are. It is no problem deleting them. Just go to your Tools|Options|Privacy|Cookies|View Cookies, and delete them.
Now, the way you worded your post, it appears that you just downloaded Firefox, and did not install it or use, and that you are talking about some other unnamed browser. You are not going to get all those cookies by downloading a program.
How do you prevent the reoccurrence of these minipests? You install a program like Spyware Blaster, which is frequently updated, and protects your IE and Firefox. I don't have any of those cookies, but I found four ad-related cookies, which I deleted .

 

westside, thanks for your reply. In answer to your post, I did install firefox & used it to browse the internet. I also have spywareblaster installed. So, have I done something else to allow these cookies?

 

strange

strange

 

If you keep Spyware Blaster up to date, you should not get those cookies.
I, periodically, check my cookies manager. Casalemedia.com was there, but is not included as spyware. There is an update to Spyware Blaster, today.

 

timeoutgang,

You can block cookies in Firefox. Click on Tools | Options | Privacy
In the Cookies area click on the "Exceptions" Tab and block the cookies you don't want.

 

timeoutgang,

Did you find those cookies in a folder like 'C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Cookies', or in Firefox's Tools | Options dialog? If the former, some "other" browser left them there.

To add to what others have suggested about blocking cookies, you can have FF allow cookies but erase them (with specified exceptions) when you close the browser. Some sites just won't work with cookies completely disabled, but at least erasing them every session prevents tracking your repeated visits. And just to be clear, a tracking cookie only tracks you as an anonymous visitor (perhaps as one who has been there before) unless you leave some identifying information such as by filling in a form, or, at sites such as this one, you register, and log in each time you visit.

-jeff-

 

When you open Spyware Blaster and click on the Mozilla/Firefox tab is the box checked for Prevent ad/tracking cookies?

 

I think that that check mark is there by default, but it should be confirmed.