Ceebler: An HTTP Proxy for Secure, Fine-Grained Access Control of Cookies

Due to the Prevalence of cookies on the Internet, consumers need to understand how cookies can be abused. Due to their essentially uncontrolled nature, cookies pose a security risk because they can contain important data within them. This paper examens how Internet cookies are used and abused, the pervasive nature of cookies, compares the various tools currently available to manage cookies, and proposes an alternative tool called Ceebler (keb lEr). This research was motivated by the prevalence of cookies on the Internet, their potential for abuse, and the need for better cookie management software. We discuss our results from our studies on cookie prevalence, and an assessment of the currently available cookie management software. We then describe the result of two years of research, culminating in the construction and testing of Ceebler.