Google.com cookie is created each time I open Opera

[exchequer]

exchequer last edited by

When I launch Opera a cookie from Google.com is created without loading accessing any Google site.

I delete this cookie, close the browser and launch it again, and this cookie is created again.

I do not even use Google as the default search engine, I've put the DuckDuckGo and that cookie is still being created.

Have they sold users to Google to spy on us?

[burnout426]

burnout426 Volunteer last edited by

I'm assuming Opera's fetching the favicon or something from google and that's enough to set a cookie. I didn't check though.

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

I just want to say you that ghostery is tracking too. So if you are concernt about privacy uninstall it and use another addon. I would recommend you ublock origin with an anti-tracking list. There is one installed by default.

[A Former User]

A Former User @burnout426 last edited by A Former User This post is deleted!

[operafanuk]

operafanuk last edited by

To Opera Devs - Can we please have an explanation why Google.com is setting a cookie EVERY time when starting Opera, and that's before doing anything? This has only started with recent updates.

First thought is an invasion of privacy by Google?

[leocg]

leocg Moderator Volunteer @operafanuk last edited by

@operafanuk Google is start page's search engine as well as instant page's one for most people. Maybe it's related.

Also, Opera is based on Chromium.

[operafanuk]

operafanuk @leocg last edited by operafanuk

@leocg Thank you Leo. My default search engine is DuckDuckGo and has been so for a long time. This has become a recent issue with present Opera updates where it wasn't happening previously!
Interestingly, Even when changing Opera default cookie setting from recommended to "Block sites from setting any data", "Google.com" still sets a cookie upon start.

Am aware Opera based upon Chromium, but surely when the user has set default settings and restarted, one should not expect this intrusive cookie to appear?

[burnout426]

burnout426 Volunteer last edited by burnout426

I think the cookie in question (channel id) has something to do with http://www.browserauth.net/channel-bound-cookies for google.com

Besides Google DNS queries, with your specific setup, all I see for HTTP connections to Google is for google.com and it's for http://www.google.com/favicon.ico. And, I don't see it on every startup. There's also no set-cookie header in the response.

[operafanuk]

operafanuk @burnout426 last edited by

@burnout426 Thank you for the info. I've read the browserauth.net url you mention and would agree there lies the answer. Worth a read to those like myself having concerns, though I would hope Opera give their own explanation.

Perhaps Opera devs may at some point add that info, or similar, to blogs.opera.com, in order to help loyal Opera users understand?

[exchequer]

exchequer @Guest last edited by

@jannis I use both, uBlock Origin for ads and Ghostery for trackers for weeks now.

What is not blocked by uBlock Origin is blocked by Ghostery, and I have my user logged in Ghostery to sync blocked trackers with all the browsers I use (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera).

As @operafanuk says, this Google.com cookie is created with the last version of Opera, so the issue is related to Opera devs changes in the last version.

[A Former User]

A Former User @burnout426 last edited by

@burnout426 @operafanuk that link is not at all relevant. it does not answer why a cookie is loaded without visiting a site.

[A Former User]

A Former User @exchequer last edited by

@exchequer same thing is happening to me with 2 cookies; neither is from google. google is my default search engine so that is not the reason.