Genie -

You should understand that a "plug in" is not (in usual terms) the same thing as a cookie.

A cookie identifies that your computer has been "someplace" and can also indicate whether or not you logged in at a place. Since some cookies can be read by other sites, even if they're not the ones who placed them on your machine, cookies of that kind are called "tracking cookies," and most popup/cookie blockers will remove them or block them from being loaded. In some cases the cookie serves a purpose on the site that issues it but you'd like to be rid of it when you leave that site. Some cookie/popup blockers can handle "using them as needed and deleting them when not."

A plugin, also referred to as an "add on," as usually defined, is a "program" that allows a site to provide information that your computer otherwise wouldn't understand. The most commonly annoying ones are probably the Java and/or JavaScript plugins, but even those are necessary in enough places that you probably want them present on your computer.

In most browsers, and I would assume that it's the same for Safari, it's usual to have the plug in on your computer, but to have it "turned off" (deactivated) when you're not actually using it.

When I site wants to send you something that requires the plugin, it's "turned on" until you're done looking at whatever "content" the plugin was supposed to display. You should be able to select whether sites can turn these things on automatically when needed, or must ask for your permission to turn them on. A few sites may turn them off when they're done, but that's pretty rare.

As a "convenience" in your browsing, it is a good idea to have the plugins already downloaded and on your computer. (This also allows you to make sure you have the latest versions, and won't be downloading obsolete and vulnerable versions from random sites.) It's generally a good idea to have most of them "turned off" except when you actually need them, although many users feel that many of them are "safe enough" to be left on.

Most browsers have settings where you can decide whether they'll be inactive whenever they're not needed, but having them "handy," already installed on your computer, will avoid the delays attendant to downloading and installing a new one each time one is needed.

Provided that the plugins are ones that serve a useful purpose in your internet browsing you should not try to delete them. You should find the place in your browser where you can turn them on and off, so that you'll know what you have and what they're doing for (or to) you.

Flash (probably in your browser as "Shockwave Flash") is an addon/plugin.

Your PDF reader is an addon/plugin

Your Media Player probably is an addon/plugin

You probably have a Java addon/plugin

Your Google toolbar, or Bing, or any others you use are all plugins.

By all means, turn them off if you're worried about them, but if you just delete them all you'll spend the time when you could be enjoying the web just downloading the ones you need, everytime you change sites and need a new one to see (or hear) what's on the web. And every time you go to a new site, they're likely to download one or more that's needed for the content on that site.

John