Cookies play a central role in our day-to-day web browsing. These tiny bits of code allow sites to offer personalized experiences based on your preferences and browsing history. However, not all cookies have your best interests in mind. Advertisers and other third parties leverage cookies to track you across the web.
If you use the privacy-focused Opera browser, you may be wondering how much control you have over the cookies saved on your device. Can you block creepy tracking cookies while keeping helpful functional ones? What‘s the best way to clear out old cookie buildup?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the ins and outs of managing cookies in Opera. You‘ll learn how cookies work, how to delete them, which to block, and how to take advantage of Opera‘s baked-in privacy protections. Let‘s dive in!
Contents
Cookies 101 – A Primer
Before we get into the specifics of Opera, let‘s make sure we‘re all on the same page about what cookies are and how they work.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored in your web browser that contain data about your online browsing activity. They can include information like logins, preferences, shopping cart contents, advertising IDs, and more.
Cookies are created by the websites you interact with directly, known as first-party sites. However, third-party sites like advertisers can also deposit cookies in your browser through things like embedded ads or analytics scripts.
How Do Cookies Work?
When you visit a website, it sends an HTTP header requesting to set a cookie in your browser. If you consent, the cookie gets stored in a cookies.txt file or database on your device. A unique ID links the cookie to the site that created it.
When you return to that site in the future, your browser automatically transmits the relevant cookies back to the domain. This allows sites to "remember" things like:
- Login status and shopping cart items
- Website color themes or text size preferences
- Pages you‘ve visited within the site
Cookies can be session-based (deleted when you close the browser) or persistent (stored for a set duration ranging from hours to years). Over time, your browser amasses cookies from many sites.
Common Cookie Uses
Cookies serve a variety of purposes, both benign and problematic:
- Functionality: Enables features like shopping carts, remembering form data, website personalization.
- Analytics: Tracks statistics like visitors, referrals, page views. Google Analytics relies heavily on cookies.
- Advertising: Behavioral ads depend on cookies to target you based on your browsing history.
- Tracking: Follows you across multiple websites to gather data for ads or analytics.
- Session Management: Temporarily links your activity across pages while logged into a site.
- Consent Storage: Saves your cookie consent preferences on sites with cookie notices.
Now that we understand more about cookies generally, let‘s see how Opera gives you control over your cookie jar.
Clearing Out Your Opera Cookies
Over time, Opera will accumulate hundreds or even thousands of cookies from the various sites you visit. Large cookie stashes can slow down browsing and pose privacy issues.
To start fresh, you‘ll want to periodically clear out old Opera cookies. Here are a few different ways to delete cookies in Opera:
Delete All Cookies
To nuke all stored cookies from your Opera browser, follow these steps:
- Click the 3-dotted Opera menu button in the top right.
- Select Settings > Privacy & security > Clear browsing data.
- Check the box for Cookies and other site data and click Clear data.
This will wipe all first- and third-party cookies stored by Opera in one fell swoop. For best results, enable the options for cached images/files and browsing history too.
Remove Specific Site Cookies
For more granular control, you can delete cookies from individual domains only:
- Go to Settings > Site Settings > All cookies and site data.
- Scroll through the list of sites with stored cookies.
- Click the trash can icon next to sites you want to remove cookies for.
This lets you selectively delete cookies from creepy third-party trackers while keeping helpful site-specific ones.
Auto-Delete On Exit
Instead of manual cookie clearing, Opera can also automatically wipe cookies each time you close it:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies.
- Turn on the switch for Clear cookies and site data when closing Opera.
Now you‘ll start each browsing session with a clean slate while avoiding tedious manual deletion.
Blocking Third-Party Tracking Cookies
Third-party cookies from sites you don‘t directly visit deserve special attention. These predominantly come from advertisers, analytics services, social media, and other external domains.
Third-party tracking cookies follow you around the web, compiling detailed browsing histories to target behavioral ads. They pose major privacy risks.
Opera enables you to block third-party cookies with a couple clicks:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies.
- Switch on Block third-party cookies.
This prevents invasions of privacy from third-party trackers. Note however that it can cause some sites to break. Video sites or web apps relying on third-party APIs may not function properly.
For those willing to tolerate minor usability impacts, the privacy benefits typically outweigh any lost functionality from blocking third-parties.
If you want to block cookies at the network level before they even reach your browser, use a VPN or the Opera built-in browser VPN.
Managing Cookies with Extensions
Opera supports Chrome extensions, opening up many advanced cookie management options.
Here are some top cookie extension picks for Opera:
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Ghostery – Blocks over 5000 tracking sites. Customize individual site blocking. Also clears cookies and masks fingerprints.
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Cookie AutoDelete – Automatically removes third-party cookies when tabs close. Whitelists your chosen sites.
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Web Cookies – Visually browse first- and third-party cookies by site. Manually delete those you don‘t want.
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I don‘t care about cookies – Removes cookie consent notices and auto-clicks accept for you.
These extensions complement Opera‘s out-of-the-box controls with powerful customizable cookie blocking and deleting.
Opera‘s Built-In Privacy Protections
Beyond its cookie management features, Opera bakes in other privacy enhancements under the hood:
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Free VPN – Masks your IP address and location when enabled. Prevents geo-targeting.
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Ad Blocker – Removes many third-party ads and trackers including their cookies. Tracker blocking enabled by default.
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Cookie Dialog Blocker – Automatically dismisses annoying cookie consent pop-ups from sites.
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Fingerprint Protection – Obfuscates your browser fingerprint, making you look generic to sites.
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HTTPS-Only Mode – Forces sites to use secure HTTPS connections only for better security.
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Fun Mode – Surfs distracting social media sites like Twitter and Facebook in a separate colored browser tab to avoid wasting time.
These Opera bells and whistles further enhance your privacy and security as you browse the web.
Expert Cookie Management Best Practices
Based on my decade of experience in cybersecurity and protecting privacy online, here are my top tips for managing cookies like a pro:
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Review stored cookies weekly – Periodically inspect your Opera cookie stash to delete unwanted trackers.
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Clear cookies before and after online shopping – Wipes your browsing history and cart contents to avoid price discrimination.
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Use a private browsing window for sensitive tasks – Nothing gets stored in your main profile when private browsing.
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Don‘t accept unnecessary cookies – Disable third-parties and reject unnecessary cookie categories via site-specific controls.
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Say no to convenience cookies – Downsides of persistent logins outweigh small conveniences.
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Limit logins to private devices – Avoid logging into any account on shared or public computers.
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Clear cookies religiously – I clear mine daily for minimal tracking footprint. Don‘t let them pile up.
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Mask your identity – Use privacy tools like VPNs and Firefox to anonymize your web traffic.
Following these cookie best practices minimizes your exposure to online tracking while preserving website functionality.
FAQs About Opera Cookie Management
Let‘s wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions about controlling Opera cookies:
Where does Opera store cookies on my computer?
On Windows, Opera cookies are stored at C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Cookies. On Mac, they‘re located at Users/(username)/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.Opera/Cookies
How can I see how many cookies Opera has?
Navigate to opera://settings/siteData or go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Site Settings > All cookies and site data to view all stored Opera cookies.
Can I import cookies from Chrome or Firefox into Opera?
Yes! Opera‘s Import tool lets you transfer over cookies, history, bookmarks and more from other major browsers like Chrome and Firefox.
Does using private browsing mode prevent cookies?
Yes, Opera‘s private browsing prevents any cookies or other website data from being retained in your main browser profile after you close the tab or window.
How often should I clear out old Opera cookies?
Most experts recommend periodic cookie clearing every few weeks to a month. Frequent private browsing users or those highly concerned with privacy may clear cookies daily.
Can I select which sites to delete cookies from in Opera?
Yes, within Settings > Privacy & Security > Site Data you can view all stored cookies and delete those from individual sites you wish to remove.
What‘s the easiest way to manage cookies in Opera?
The simplest approach is to toggle on the "Block third-party cookies" and "Clear cookies on exit" options in your Privacy settings. This gives you adequate protection without much effort.
Take Control of Your Opera Cookies
Who knew such small pieces of code could be so problematic? When left unchecked, web cookies can slowly erode your privacy and browsing performance.
Thankfully, Opera empowers you to manage cookies with ease. Now that you know how to delete, block, and configure cookies in Opera, you can browse the web both freely and privately.
The next time you see an irrelevant ad or get annoyed by cookie consent pop-ups, put your new skills to work. Become the master of your browser‘s cookies and take back control of your web experience!
