Is there a way to actually to get rid of cookies?

A cookie distinction should be made:

"1st party" cookie "assets" are from the site you ask the browser to 'fetch'. They are usually helpful, usually harmless and are often required to view and interact with the site. It's actually better to keep these oft' visited site cookies.

The ones that make trouble and are not helpful are from 3rd parties; usually advertising, perhaps 'tracking' ability, and sometimes downright evil (as in 'malware' infested). http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=730...

Your primary strategy should be to stop those 3rd party 'assets' from even getting inside your system in the first place; then fall back to removal tactics with a 'scrubber', such as "CCleaner" (for the less evil 'stuff', Secure Delete not necessary); http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner and a malware remover (such as "MalwareBytes") for the really bad stuff; http://www.malwarebytes.org/

►FIREFOX: Tools> Options> Privacy> top drop menu set to "Firefox will use custom settings..."> Check 'Accept Cookies from sites'

& Un-Check 'Accept 3rd Party cookies'

My recommended Firefox Collection, for improved security, and a tad bit of 'appearance' mod's.

https://addons.mozilla.org/collections/dunbar-papp...

At minimum get "NoScript" which blocks scripted assets (and tons of leverage vectors) until you allow them...much better than trying to get rid of malware picked up by global allowance.

IE does not have exceptional "3rd party" blocking. For that reason, and many other security related ones (especially 'active scripting' rubbish), it should not be used except for sub-standard websites or Windows updates...but if you must know:

INTERNET EXPLORER: Tools> Internet Options> Privacy> Advanced:

here check 'Override automatic....'; 'Allow session cookies'; 'Allow 1st party cookies' & 'Block 3rd Party Cookies'.

you werent specific enough so...

yes give them to the homeless they could use the extra joy.

or...

your internet browser should have an option to clean out your cookies. it should be Tools>Internet Options.

your internet browser should delete all cookies after a set ammount of time. for firefox i think its 30 days. i dont know about IE since i dont use it much.

the application always has in the preferences a section to remove cookies and how to allow them.

go on

filehippo.com (legal and free and free of viruses)

type in super antivirus and go on the first one and download, this will pick up all adware cookies in a quick scan

Give them to the homeless, they will appreciate fresh baked cookies.

ccleaner slim by

http://piriform.com/

use options / than settings / (under secure deletions --use three passes )