Hi mocr,

Don't know what's inserting the google cookies into FireFox. So can't say whether PrivacyBadger was the culprit in your case.

Even though I use most of the usual "privacy" addons, I don't use PrivacyPadger and I still got invaded.

The "delete cookies.sqlite" method discovered by Teri, that's mentioned in her post, solved the issue for me. However after re-installing FireFox (un-installed for a non-FireFox issue) & re-installing my addons - the google problem was back !

So I just zapped cookies.sqlite again. Fixed.

I sometimes use google in FireFox But the offending invasion doesn't seem to come from there. Google's cookies come and go as they should. Of course I use SelfDetructingCookies, so that helps.

So I thinks the infestation is either an installation problem or some particular website/program is the source - because once cookies.sqlite is zapped - they're gone - and (at least in my case) didn't return until I had to re-install FireFox.

Thanks again Teri.

Just an additional to my previous post - potentially relevant.

I usually use Ixquick, StartPage, DuckDuckGo or Wikipedia. These are the ONLY SearchEngines I have IN FireFox.

However, I often use Google as a last-resort tool if I can't find what I'm after (it can't be denied that google has the widest search capability - tis a pity that they don't understand the meaning of privacy).

But the point is - I access Google from a BOOKMARK - not FireFox's inbuilt SearchEngine section.

THIS may be why normal use of Google doesn't re-violated me.

Hi steve2017,

I have stopped using Firefox for anything from Google. That includes Youtube which is a wholly owned and corrupted Google product. I also have "blocked" both google.com and youtube.com in the exceptions file (Tools>Options>Privacy>Use custom setting for history)

For anything concerning Google, I use Chrome which I assume is inherently Google corrupted. In Firefox, I use DuckDuckGo for most searches or even Bing. If I need to use Google search I open Chrome and do the search.

At the end of the Chrome session, I delete everything from "the beginning of time" as they quaintly put it. I assume they're still tracking me anyway at least in Chrome. What they might see is pretty boring.

I tried Opera but discovered it's based on the same browser engine as Chrome. The problem with Chrome (and Opera) is that they do not have an offline mode like Firefox. I'm on metered internet (rural location therefore satellite) so that's something I want as some sites keep downloading something even though I've stopped loading the page. Google operates on the belief that everyone always has internet access from anywhere anytime. Such incredible arrogance!

So far, I have not seen a Google cookie since banning Google from Firefox. However, it does require discipline in my web usage.

I'm not one for conspiracy theories but I have a strong feeling that Google has a small army of people scouring the Mozilla code for hacks they can utilize. They of course won't reveal the hacks. "Do no Evil" indeed!

-- Teri

Hi Stephen,

I have rebooted and also restarted Firefox a couple of times, and here the issue is gone still. You might want to have a look at my other posting https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1014469#answer-617596 as cited. I followed the instructions on the given link http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2014/05/04/Fibbles_Firefoxs_unstoppable_zombie_Google_cookie/#c_2216056 and afterwards removed PrivacyBadger because of https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadgerfirefox/issues/103. Success.

I got so tired over the last weeks with the issue, so please forgive me I haven't actually tested which one (or maybe both) brought me relief.

Actually I grew quite angry that EFF (!) would release an addon that hires a goat as the gardener (den Bock zum Gärtner machen in German) - can I go on to trust httpseverywhere then ... :-(

Hi Teri,

Thanks for the reply.

As I've said, after I followed your advice and zapped cookies.sqlite, I've had no re-invasion.

I'm using google (at times)(from a bookmark) and watching youtube vids. I've allowed google to place cookies while I do so. SelfDestructingCookies kills them when I've finished - all good.

The only google-relavent cookie policy is NEVER accept 3rd party cookies. (I have some exceptions - but NOT google ones).

Other cookies are set at expiry date - but selfdestructingcookies gets 'em anyway.

This didn't happen before I killed the sqlite file - nothing would stop them re-inserting.

I'm beginning to think sqlite gets corrupted either at FireFox installation or addon installation.

Ive got 2 accounts running on this PC.

!: Admin. Firefox without google in search engine section, phishing/malware disabled. 2: User. FireFox with google in search engine section, phishing/malware enabled.

Both have noscript, addblockplus, betterprivacy, ghostery, selfdestructingcookies, requestpolicy. (plus an un-named password manager).

On both - after FireFox and addon installation, I had the corrupted sqlite file. After then deleting both sqlites, I've had NO recurrence.

That's about it as far as I can see.

All the best, Steve.

Hi mocr,

Please check the reply I just made to Teri - I believe I've stopped the invasion (at least for now).

Also refer to Teri's solution method (deleting cookies.sqlite).

I do hope it works for you as well.

But being realistic, if you use any google or Microsoft product, expect that ALL' is under observation !

Good luck, Steve.

Hi again, and thank you all for the many useful suggestions that will stay on my radar :)

Surveillance online is a vast area. We're talking about being spied on via webbrowser here. Remember, you can nearly always be identified via IP, your specific browser settings (try https://panopticlick.eff.org/ to see what this is), your device's MAC address and who knows. It's simply a matter of who wants you, for what they want you, what they are allowed to do and if they obey the law, if there is a law that applies to them at all, and so on. But still I want to do what I can to feel mostly comfortable while browsing at home. Using mobile devices is something totally different in that respect.

Now, maybe all this has gotten offtopic here, but for the record, this is my approach with Firefox:

Tick/untick the wanted privacy settings in the preferences in the first place.

As "cleaning" addons I use Disconnect, Ghostery, Adblockplus not only to evade tracking but also to keep my tiny connection (4 Megabit at most) faster without the litter. I want to go to websites as fast as I can and do not want to wait seconds for a page to show up until Google and Facebook and everyone else have decided what to add for me - although I do not use any social networks myself. I use the EFF's httpseverywhere, too.

In about:config I have deactivated all nanny/big brother links that I decided I do not want (safebrowsing, update, discover addons etc) and disabled a few other (prefetching, referrer ("referer"), geo, telemetry, you get the idea, and yes, one has to be CAREFUL not to cripple the *wanted* functionality). Also, it has to be absolutely clear that SAFETY may be affected. You decide! I woke up at http://blog.kapsobor.de/archives/2008/07/26/deactivating_firefox3_behind-the-curtain_requests/ some years ago and went further since.

In preferences, I do not accept any cookies at all. I use Permit Cookies 2 (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/permit-cookies-2/) as a temporary whitelister which I find very handy for my needs.

As a Linux user, after installation I make sure the folders ".adobe" and ".macromedia" are totally empty and then set them to read-only (so Flash cannot write on my system).

Last not least I use the addon Eraser A LOT (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/eraser-13009/). It has a nice shortcut that empties everything and closes all tabs in Firefox without having to restart (depends on how you configure it).

This is the most practical, handy and still privacy ensuring Firefox-setting I could figure out so far. I use a lot of search engines and sometimes want to have a look at Google, too. Now I can do that in Firefox without having to worry too much.

There are a few sites that I do not want to kick out all the time, so there I use a different browser, in this case, Chromium (that is Chrome for Linux) with different restricting addons. And if I want to connect to my bank account, I use a totally different browser again, e.g. Midori, to keep things apart. If I sometimes come across sites that I think might be crippled by my firefox settings, I use yet another browser, e.g. Qupzilla, in the default settings. And of course I can always start Firefox with a different profile that is not messed up by my paranoia ;)

Now that the dreaded zombie cookie is gone for me, I am a happy Firefox user again. Though I will check if the cookie list stays empty more often again.

Hi mocr,

Thanks for your suggestions. I particularly found your kasobor link informative. I'd already killed geolocation/safebrowsing etc.

I,m using Win8 here, but have been trying Ubuntu for the last few weeks, and plan to move almost all of my use across to Ubuntu as soon as I feel competent enough. Just to get away from Microsoft.

I sometimes use a VPN, and occasionally TOR. However these are really only half-measures because I access MY personal sites from this machine/location. I'm also sure the "Snowden" incident that "appeared" an embarrassment will in effect be, and may well have been designed as, a way to encourage users with stuff that they would prefer remain private, to funnel flows via such channels. Sure does make it simpler for THEM to set-up/infiltrate a few channels that have a sign up saying "please don't look here" !

As you're no doubt aware, I should do my "other" browsing from a completely separate platform/location with ABSOLUTELY no past/present/future reference to ME.

I am NOT disturbed by BigBrother overwatch as such.

It's just that the backdoors Microsoft/Google/Apple etc have built-in to their systems to allow BigGov snooping also allow cybercrims etc in.

In this modern world THEY should be looking for potential threats - that's what we pay them for.

What DOES concern me is long-term storage of such data. Who knows what radical/narrow-minded policies may be in place in the future - with retrospective punishments. If some of the insane power structures around at present had power over ME, I'd probably have already been executed ! Additionally use of past browsing data would be & probably already is being used as a perfect blackmail tool. Just think of all the ultra-moral politicians who watched/still watch porn etc - what leverage !

I'm in Australia (where a disrespect for authority is a happy national pastime - tax-evasion our most practiced sport) , and even our Gov is now ramping up metadata retention laws - so the potential danger is only going to get worse.

No, your NOT paranoid, you just can imagine a very UNPLEASANT possible future. Free thought is an option NOW, probably NOT for much longer. I pity our grandchildren. Aldous Huxley was right, just a little premature.

Keep on resisting, Steve.

Hi all google zombie-cookie victims,

Update :

I've been using FireFox on Ubuntu 14.04 for a few weeks now, with no ggogle cookie invasions until this morning. Started FireFox & all my extensions went haywire, losing settings etc, my FireFox prefs were lost and my homepage was reset to default with GOOGLE ! And worst of all - the Google ZOMBIE COOKIE was BACK !

SelfDestructingCookies was doing its best, zapping the Google cookie every 10 secs, but it kept reincarnating.

The only reason I can think of, after weeks of clear operation, was that a Noscript update had occurred. So I'm blaming Noscript at present - but I really have no idea.

So I restored all my saved extension settings, fixed my FireFox prefs & promptly deleted cookies.sqlite AGAIN.

Problem fixed - until Google re-attacks my machine - this should be illegal.

Hi steve2017,

Not sure about Linux but my BIL told me last weekend that in Windows there is a (normally) hidden folder that is in Windows named "Prefetch" . He said this folder is a Windows "feature". I suspect Linux has a similar "feature". I haven't any idea where the equivalent Linux folder resides. Any Linux gurus out there?

He said to wipe the contents of the C:\Windows\Prefetch folder. He said he found out about this folder (from some forum) being the problem of a zombie virus he kept getting. He found that his anti-virus failed to find the virus source and it kept reappearing on subsequent virus scans after re-booting. He said there is no harm in wiping the contents of the folder as Windows will repopulate it as your use any browser like Firefox will recreate the cookies.sqlite file if deleted.

I can't verify this action as being the solution to zombie Google cookies but if someone keeps getting zombie Google cookies, this MIGHT work. It would be a public service if someone can verify this as a solution.

"Problem fixed - until Google re-attacks my machine - this should be illegal."

It probably is in some countries but Google as most multi-national corporations are simply amoral. Money may not be the root of all evil but it certainly accounts for a significant portion of it.

BTW, My BIL works for a well known multi-national computer consulting company and is deeply involved in computer systems research operations for clients.

-- Teri

Hi Teri,

It's an interesting battle, but we'll never win without employing MUCH more aggressive tactics. Unfortunately I'll have to leave that option up to others. I just find the fight (vitally important as it is) entertaining. I see it as just a symptom of the REAL major dilemma facing humanity - overpopulation - but THEY won't address that issue any more.

Had 2 PCs, one Win8, one Ubuntu, but my Win8 machine had a stroke & had to be put down. My new Win machine won't be born for a few weeks.

I'm aware of prefetch, used to use SystemMechanic (not a recommendation) to kill prefetch files on my Win PC.

I am now pretty convinced the google invasion is occuring during the installation/update phase of FireFox. It only happened (to me) during FireFox installation or FireFox/extension updates. I am now accepting that I'll have to every so often re-kill cookies.sqlite. (thanks again, you saved me many frustrating hours there).

It is expected that Google/Microsoft/Apple etc will do stuff like this. It is sad, given Mozillas STATED ideology, that Mozilla now seems to be complicit. They must be aware, and even if they can't stop it, they should at least advise users of the problem. Even so, I have to keep using FireFox, the alternatives are even worse.

I have long been aware of the potential TOTALITY of modern coms surveilance. VPNs, TOR, RSA encryption etc - ALL breakable - but still useful for keeping the little bad guys upset. The ONLY secure coms tactics are the ones that have been around for thousands of years.

BUT if I have to resort to running around in disguise, never accessing any personal data via my secure channels, never carrying a mobile, avoiding ALL the cameras etc - I'll be doing something MUCH more proactive than sending coms ! Perhaps THEY'RE lucky I'm not 21 anymore.

As you can see Teri, this stuff gets me UPSET.

Anyhow, good to hear from you, keep at it, Steve.

Sorry,

Forgot to add.

Not only did the FireFox extension update process re-infect my PC with the GoogleZombieCookie, it also re-set some of my config settings.

SafeBrowsing/Malware/Geolocation/BrowserSendPingsRequireSameHost, plus others, were all re-set back to default.

So Google was AGAIN able to know everything I did & where I was !

The battle is never ending, Steve.

Don't know much about this kinda stuff people, but......

I do agree, that Google is an INFECTION.. Their ADSENSE advertisments are spam, and a waste of bandwith and I wish I could stop them.

To Teri & all Google adversaries,

The only reason I started using FireFox was in an attempt to avoid Google. I had hoped that even a partial reduction in their intrusion was worth the effort. I was wrong. Using all the available privacy settings & extensions only provided an illusion of privacy. Mozilla's stated aims were NOT lived up to. Continually my settings were overridden and Google was allowed in.

Mozilla forum admin/moderators ARE aware of this issue, and declined to explain Mozillas inaction. Such is their prerogative.

I would prefer to use Chrome & KNOW I was under Google watch than be deceived.

This is my final post regarding FireFox.

(I still like Thunderbird though - at least it's easy to kill unwanted ads)

i have this problem in firefox with loads of privacy addons eg Better Privacy, Google Disconnect and not using google to search or logging in (use Thunderbird for email, don't other services). My only google thing is i have it as a search option that i very rarely use - not once a week, so there's no reason the cookie keeps re-appearing every session to be manually deleted again. I did have problems with some cookies in PaleMoon outlasting Self-Destructing Cookies but Better Privacy got rid of Telegraph.co.uk and others. So i checked in Firefox - and i had the same Google problem.

As for the panopticon EFF website, tried that with all the addons that are supposed to change it, with my normal ones, with none, with different browsers, always gives me the same result so it's just nonsense

NB it's the fox for me till death do us part, but i do use Xombrero and Epic on occasion, the former is hardcore (and jams all the time), the latter is for people like me who can't figure out how to use even the simplest proxy setting

Hi maiamaia,

Surprised to get your reply - I bailed out of FireFox a while ago.

My earlier posts on this thread detail my attempts to keep google out, plus the unsuccessful results. I'd tried ALL available settings/extensions etc. Worked for a while, but during update phases was re-infected.

Teri posted a great solution to kill the continually re-incarnating google sleeper cookie - delete the sqlite file in your profile.

I've given up this fight. Google has just become to powerful. Just like Microsoft, Apple etc. The surveillance agencies (of all flags) have sub-contracted out this task to them. Whether I believe this is proper or not is irrelevent.

So I now use Chrome (or Chromium) and KNOW they're tracking me.

If I ever wish to browse/contact any site that I wish to keep private, I simply use a machine with ABSOLUTELY NO PAST/FUTURE REFERENCE TO ME ! Admittedly a real PITA, but a lot less stressful. Old School & Low Tech can be inconvenient but SO much safer. ALL modern encryption methods are breakable if one has the resources - and THEY do. Additionally if THEY are really after you, they'll simply break in to your home and surreptitiously subvert your machines - or worse.

So I don't have to worry anymore - except for continuing to try to keep cybercrime at bay.

All the best though, Steve2017.

Hi maiamaia,

As Steve2017 replied, deleting the cookies.sqlite file in your profile folder will kill the zombie google cookies (assuming you don't visit any of their sites afterwards). See my ""solution" in https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1002062#answer-603477

Also, in my reply dated 8/30/14 9:49 AM https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1002062?page=2#answer-621814 , I posted another possible sneak attack path thanks to Microsoft in their prefetch folder. As I said, it does no harm to completely delete the entire contents of the prefetch folder contents as it will "regenerate" it self like the Borg.

What I did was to have small subset of acceptable cookies and delete all others. I then made a copy of the minimal cookies.sqlite file as a "master" copy to replace any zombie attacked cookies.sqlite file.

So far, due to careful use of normal Firefox brower windows, I have not been attacked again. I do use a private browsing window for all else and if I "need" to go to a Google site (like Google News) I use Chrome in "Incognito" (same as Firefox private window) mode. I kill the window as soon as I'm through with that visit and open a new "incognito" window in Chrome if I must do any more Google searching. Otherwise I use Firefox Private Windows most of the time as there are more and better addons in Firefox compared to Chrome's limited add ons. I can't say for certain if that stops Google from tracking me but it most likely limits them to fragmented tracking data they can sell or use.

Best of luck to you, Teri

I haven't tried this, but maybe it works.

http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2014/05/04/Fibbles_Firefoxs_unstoppable_zombie_Google_cookie/#c_2216056

but maybe it works. I'm too computer illiterate to be easily able to find 'profiles' or 'sqlite' or all these things, this sounds slightly more basic. To try and find out what's causing it, i'm going to carry on with google search engine removed (came with firefox although i installed and use startpage).

I will try what you suggest though. Anything i learn i will report back. Thanks for your help!

Ya got that right Steve! Google is becoming a VIRUS. It is everywhere. Their ad sense adverts are popping up stealing bandwidth every page except this one, that I go to.

I think its going to take legal action against google to force them to stop.

Hi maiamaia, the comment on The Register that you linked to in your reply probably explains how people could get a Google cookie without intentionally visiting the site: Firefox retrieves a blocklist of malware and phishing sites from a Google site on a regular schedule. Disabling phishing protection stops that download.