FYI for Yahoo users

[TARogue]

On Tue, 12 Nov 2002, Travis Roy wrote:

> Using something like AdSubtract, Junkbuster, or other ad filtering
> software will usually get rid of this crap..
> 
Using galeon, with preferences set to
     "Load images" -> "From current server only"
also eliminates this problem. Also handy: how to handle animated gif's 
and whether or not to allow pop-ups.

> I have some details at
> http://scootz.net/removing_online_advertising.html
> 
> What I can leak out is somewhat limited.. Ask me again in 4 years when
> my NDA that I signed at BURST! Media runs out (www.burstmedia.com) :)
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gnhlug-discuss-admin at mail.gnhlug.org 
> > [mailto:gnhlug-discuss-admin at mail.gnhlug.org] On Behalf Of 
> > bscott at ntisys.com
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 11:34 AM
> > To: Greater NH Linux User Group
> > Subject: Re: FYI for Yahoo users
> > 
> > 
> > On Tue, 12 Nov 2002, at 7:59am, mcostolo at yahoo.com wrote:
> > > I was recently made aware of Yahoo's use of "Web Beacons" ...
> > 
> >   Additional FYI:
> > 
> >   The practice of embedding single-pixel images in an HTML 
> > file for the purposes of tracking page usage is common place. 
> >  These are also called "web bugs" (because they track your 
> > position like a "bug" in a spy movie).  "Web beacons" is the 
> > marketing term for them.
> > 
> >   The way it works is as follows: A image is embedded in an 
> > HTML file (e.g., web page, or some email) via the standard 
> > IMG tag.  When people view said HTML, the image is retrieved. 
> >  This can be noted in server log files.  The image is often 
> > hosted on a server shared by many customers (e.g., 
> > DoubleClick's ad servers).  Said servers will often give a 
> > cookie to the user's browser, allowing the browser to be 
> > tracked from web page to web page.  In email and other 
> > individually-generated HTML files, unique identifying 
> > information is often embedded in the image URL, allowing 
> > tracking without cookies.
> > 
> >   The image does not, in fact, need to be a single pixel; the 
> > single-pixel trick just makes the image hard to spot.
> > 
> >   More information on this and other privacy-invading 
> > marketing tricks (and counter-measures you can employ) is 
> > available at the JunkBusters web site (http://www.junkbusters.com).
> >   
> > -- 
> > Ben Scott <bscott at ntisys.com>
> > | The opinions expressed in this message are those of the 
> > author and do 
> > | not | necessarily represent the views or policy of any 
> > other person, 
> > | entity or  | organization.  All information is provided without 
> > | warranty of any kind.  |
> > 
> > 
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> > 
> 
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> 

-- 
TARogue (Linux user number 234357)
 We grow tyrannical fighting tyranny. The most alarming spectacle today
 is not the spectacle of the atomic bomb in an unfederated world, it is
 the spectacle of the Americans beginning to accept the device of
 loyalty oaths and witch-hunts, beginning to call anybody they don't
 like a Communist. -E.B. White, writer (1899-1985)