Who's spying on you?

[griffinspc]

I thought you all might be interested in this. (This forum is read by more folks than internet and effects e-mail too)

In a recent issue of PCWorld there was mention of "clear" hidden java bugs (applets) imbedded in web pages. Some for site tracking (PCWorld) has them themselves and admit it but other sites never tell and sell the info gathered to advertisers and who knows.

Worse some people actually imbed them in other peoples web pages without their knowledge and track people who visit those pages and record that info. Turning cookies off has no effect so unless you have some way of identifying them you're being tracked without your knowledge.

(Other than complaining to a site or not visiting those sites you don't have much control other than at least knowing)

This is the link to the download URL of a hidden bug notification program, "Bugnosis". It automatically loads to your IE. When it's done (1 second) it's installed and running. If you don't see the little bug critter in your IE toolbar just go to toolbar customize and add it. Once the alert window is open you can choose options (right click) and make it appear and notify as you want (sound / visual).

It has a full uninstaller in the right click menu of the alert window so not to worry about getting rid of it.

At the bottom of the alert window is a help file, how to. It's well done.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...d,15783,00.asp

After using it for a day I couldn't beleive how many sites use these. Just thought you'd be interested as we all are more than casual PCer's.

PS: I forgot to mention they can be imbedded in your e-mail too.

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"Finest Kind"

[Welshjim]

Triple7's--Hi, 777's. Are you sure that security patch eliminates web-bugs? MS never explains anything in language I can understand, but,even after several readings, I do not feel web-bugs are covered by that MSKB article.
griffinspc--One disadvantage to Bugnosis is that it just tells you a bug is there, not what the bug is doing. (Some bugs, like PCWorld's seem to be benign.) Also, unless they have updated, it does not work on email (Outlook Express).

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Jim
WIN98, IE5.5SP2, cable
Norton AV, ZoneAlarm

[This message has been edited by Welshjim (edited 11-27-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Welshjim (edited 11-27-2001).]

[griffinspc]

very true to a degree, this is from an attached report:

You've crushed your cookies. You've munged your e-mail. But still the spam streams into your in-box. Where's it coming from? One threat to privacy that you may not have considered is a little-known Web design trick called the Web bug.

Also known as clear GIFs, Web bugs are tiny, invisible graphic images that Internet marketers and advertisers implant on their Web pages to track which pages are being viewed and by whom.

Web bugs aren't always a threat to your personal privacy--many Web sites, including PCWorld.com, use them simply to monitor site traffic without identifying individual users or IP addresses.

When combined with cookies, customer databases, and other information-gathering methods, however, Web bugs can tell Web-site operators who you are, what sites you visit, and when you visit them. If that's information you'd like to keep to yourself, it's time to start hunting down and exterminating the bugs.

If you use ad- or cookie-blocking software, you may already be able to block Web bugs. Programs such as InterMute's AdSubtract (the SE version is free) and Guidescope's free Guidescope utility offer Web-bug-blocking features. And if your Web browser blocks third-party cookies or supports the P3P security standard, you may already be safe from Web bugs that track your personal browsing.

The Privacy Foundation's free Bugnosis utility flashes a visible or audible ("Uh-oh!") warning when it detects a Web bug in a page you're browsing (see Figure 1). The program is currently available only as an Internet Explorer 5. x add-on, but the forthcoming Outlook and Outlook Express versions of Bugnosis will be able to detect Web bugs in HTML-format e-mail messages, which are the same as Web pages.

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"Finest Kind"

[This message has been edited by griffinspc (edited 11-27-2001).]

[FireFighter431]

Just a question on this, I have my IE set so that when it starts it loads a blank page. Before i go anywhere i turn on my anti popup windows progam, and a anti banner program. Obviously my anti popup stops popup windows from poping up. and the anti banner, does not load banners or most other advertising. With both of these programs in use, is there really a need for me to download this bugnoises? If i need to, i have no problem with that, i hate being followed on line. I have also disabled my cookies, and deleted all the one that were there.

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People think candles smell good, but nothing smells worse than the house we just put out because of the candle.

[griffinspc]

The program Bunosis doesn't actually remove any hidden gifs but identifies them for you.

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"Finest Kind"

[AnnMarie]

Hi griffinspc - you can block web bugs, third party cookies etc with Spyblocker. Its a freebie. You can check it out here Wilders

[griffinspc]

Hi AnnMarie, Yeah, Bugnosis is mainly for knowledge and though I might not want it active all the time I've found it interesting in what it's shown me already. Here's a quote from the attached article on the download site:

If you use ad- or cookie-blocking software, you may already be able to block Web bugs. Programs such as InterMute's AdSubtract (the SE version is free) and Guidescope's free Guidescope utility offer Web-bug-blocking features. And if your Web browser blocks third-party cookies or supports the P3P security standard, you may already be safe from Web bugs that track your personal browsing.

I thought I'd check the PCWorld page with those on and off when I get a chance and see what happens. At the beginning of every PCWorld page 2 Web bugs are installed.

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"Finest Kind"

[countrycompgirl]

I guess I must confess if i have'nt already that I am no computer whiz.. but won't you get one of those bug things pop up every time there is a counter on the page or a banner?
Thanks

[AnnMarie]

Hi again griffinspc - Spyblocker blocks 7 web bugs, 7 third party cookies and 7 ads on my own ISP's home page - lol

[AnnMarie]

Hi countrycompgirl - blurb on Spyblocker from Znet(which is also jammed packed with web bugs, third party cookies and ads)
"Many Web sites have ads that are distracting and a drain on bandwidth. Some sites send cookies and other files to your computer. Still others acquire information about you, your machine, and your browsing habits by using single-pixel Web bugs and other methods.
SpyBlocker monitors this type of Web activity and allows users to control or block the ads and tracking systems. But SpyBlocker goes one step further. SpyBlocker strips ads out of ad-supported software, disabling the ad module and tracking capabilities without disabling the functionality of the program."

[griffinspc]

Hi again to you too AnnMarie, what a tangled web we weave!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

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"Finest Kind"

[AnnMarie]

lol - gotta have a sense of humour