My default web brower is Firefox. Recently I noticed that on startup a Devon Tecnologies cookie appears in the list of cookies. I have not visited any of the DT sites, although I do have DT running.
I can delete the cookie but some time later it will appear again.
The cookie is probably benign but why is it there and what is its function?
Do you use the Clip to DEVONthink Firefox extension?
Yes, I have the Clip extension installed.
Could you post the cookie here? Just so that we can see what exactly that is. You can also IM me.
Firefox stores all cookies in a single file, most of which is gibberish when opened in a text editor. It looks as though a cookie is also installed when I use Safari. This one is described as: “Cache, Cookies, Local Storage and HSTS policy”
I’m reluctant to send the whole file since it will also include Banking details and probably saved passwords.
I think it’s fairly safe to assume that the Cookie is the product of the DT clipping extension.
I am seeing no cookie appear in Firefox’s cookies when using our browser extension, including when using the clutter-free option.
Did you activate a seat for DEVONthink in Firefox?
It’s certainly appeared for me. I don’t recall activating a seat using Firefox. As I recall I simply activated the standard version of DT with two seats using the app, although memory may be playing me false….
As I said one also appears in Safari, described as: “Cache, Cookies, Local Storage and HSTS policy”. Unfortunately I cannot see any way of singling out an individual cookie.
Best I can do is this image of a cookie presented by the Devon Technologies web site. I’ve no way of telling whether this is the one in the Firefox list or another one. It is listed as “devontechnologies.com”
Our blog is powered by the Kirby CMS.
Looks as though it’s kosher then. That it keeps reappearing even when I’ve not visited the Devon website must be something in my setup. At present cookies should be deleted when Firefox quits.
Thanks to all for the comments
That’s the session cookie when you visit our website or log in.
That may be. However I can logout, delete the cookie and perform a restart and it will be back. I’ve tried blocking it in Firefox prefs but it still appears.
It may be me, but I cannot see any reason why a session cookie should keep reappearing even though I’ve not visited the site. If it’s a session cookie it should be deleted at the end of the session/browser quit without manual intervention.
If it’s the Kirby session cookie then Firefox is visiting the website. The Clip to DEVONthink browser extension does not set cookies and especially not a Kirby session cookie as that ony belongs to our CMS.
Since the cookie is there when I’ve not visited the site, what must be happening is that Firefox is pre-loading it and caching it somewhere rather than making the site visible.
I find it irritating since you can get tracking cookies without realising it, although I appreciate the DT ones are benign.
Thanks for the help. At least I’ve learned something 
Maybe you’ve added one of our sites to the bookmarks and Firefox is checking them? Just doing some guesswork here… And when you remove Clip to DEVONthink and clear the cookies, do they stop reappearing?
No. Deleted Clip to DEVONthink and the cookie, but following a restart its still there. I can only think that it must be related to a Firefox cache somewhere.
As I said upthread I think it’s probably benign but it is strange how it keeps reappearing. My only explanation is that firefox preloads recently visited sites in the background hence the cookie. This pre-loading is increasingly common in an attempt to improve browser responsiveness.
Just deleted the cookie, cleared the cache, quit and restarted Firefox and it’s back
I asked Google “does firefox preload cookies and if so from where” and some interesting hits. The first item from Google AI (which may or may not be correct, but seems reasonable given your experience):
Yes, Firefox employs speculative mechanisms to improve browsing speed, which includes preloading or preconnecting to websites. This process often involves handling cookies.
More details follow, along with other links.
This isn’t something you should need to worry about depending on your Firefox settings. That’s somewhat the whole point of being able to customise your cookie and tracking preferences at the browser level. You can set which cookies Firefox will use (in the ‘privacy and security’ section of settings). Along with installing a good privacy extension (I use Ghostery in Firefox and Safari, along with an ad blocker). Once you’ve got the settings turned on it’s not something you need to think about much.
I’m not worried about this one since I regard it as benign. It’s the idea that the browser is doing something behind your back.
FWIW I use Ublock Origin which covers most things. There is a ‘lite’ version for Safari and some of the Chromium based browsers.
I should add that one peculiarity of Firefox also shared by Vivaldi is that when I try to post on this site. Click ‘Reply’ and the text window comes up but it’s absolutely dead. Cannot place the cursor in it or write any text. Use Safari and no problem, all works as it should.
It’s obviously something in my setup but why it should affect Firefox and Vivaldi but not Safari is a mystery. Since I also use Little Snitch, the only thing I can think of is that it is browser text input uses a different connection to that of the main discourse.devontechnologies.com/ site and something is blocking it.
Computers can really do your head in at times.
100% agree 
