Who is watching you on line

[Deleted member 1258]

If they are harvesting information, and I'm sure they are, how effective could something like No Script be in reducing it? If I'm on a web page that I don't normally use I only allow just enough scripts to use the page, I only allow all the page if I feel I can trust a site.

 

[vernon]

Accidentally visit a porn site? A likely story

I've never managed to accidentally access a porn site ever.

I visited a few deliberately though - only for research though.....

 

[snailracer]

No, I don't think so. Incognito mode simply stops your PC from keeping a record of where you have been; it does nothing to stop those destinations from keeping a record of your visit.

Yebbut those destination sites recognize you either by your cookie store, and/or your IP address. Cookies can be deleted and your IP address changes frequently. Then, when you visit those sites, they have no way of identifying you.

 

[snailracer]

I used to have a fixed IP address but since changing to TalkTalk, I think am now getting a different one each time I reboot my router. Which reminds me, I want a fixed address back so I can tell various bits of website tracking software I use to ignore my visits. TalkTalk will provide that on a business account if you ask for it.

Aren't you then relying on the tracking software being trustworthy? Whereas a changing IP address helps you evade persistent tracking without need for trust?

 

[ColinJ]

Aren't you then relying on the tracking software being trustworthy? Whereas a changing IP address helps you evade persistent tracking without need for trust?

I'm tracking other people clicking on my links, but I want to ignore any clicks that I make on those links! (I tell the software what my IP address is and it doesn't log clicks from that address.)

 

[Gooner Mad Dog]

ISP s in UK are required now to store your online footprint and it can be accessed by authorities in a similar way a search warrant is issued.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Ach, Amazon, like Google, know me better than myself: they always manage to sell me something I did not know I wanted, making me spend money I did not know I had.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

http://donttrack.us/

 

[Ste T.]

All this makes you realise why recent governments, control freaks that they are, are so desperate to make broadband available to every home in the land. If there was somebody sitting on your shoulder everytime you read a book or newspaper, everytime you went to the postbox to mail a letter, everytime you watch a movie, tv programme and which adverts you click off and which you let run, you may br concerned. If you surf porn they even know your innermost fantasies that your partener may not even know. They have access to information on all of us that the East German Stasi would have never have had in their wildest dreams.
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't watching you.

 

[vernon]

I'm not worried about being tracked. I don't do anything to worry about on the Internet. If tracking and surveillance stops bad things from happening or brings criminals to justice then long may it continue.

One of the things that I have to teach to kids is Internet safety and one of the aspects of safety is the digital footprint that people leave behind. I set my kids the challenge of finding out as much as they can about me using Internet resources and they are shocked at how much information there is about me that is freely available, some of it going back to 1998, all of it without profanities. It makes them think about what they say and do on the Internet.

 

[PBancroft]

I'm not worried about being tracked. I don't do anything to worry about on the Internet. If tracking and surveillance stops bad things from happening or brings criminals to justice then long may it continue.

I agree with this. A large amount of the data we "share" online is pretty innocuous - most people aren't going to be all that interested in my collection of wedding snaps, for example. But that's not to say that there isn't some very scary stuff we put online quite freely - frankly I'd be more concerned about financial information we share with companies without a moments hesitation, and we all remember this particular state of affairs I'm sure. If you are at all interested in data security, have a read of the books by Kevin Mitnick - they are very enlightening.

But to anyone who is concerned about the Google situation head here. Have a look at the data Google is using to sell you stuff - if you don't like it clear it out (and otherwise snigger at how inaccurate it is). Similarly, if you are a regular Google user, and have a Google account, head here and do likewise.

And for what its worth, and without wanting to come across as too much of a Google fanboy, bear in mind that some other companies don't make it quite so easy to clear out your data.

 

[Arch]

But to anyone who is concerned about the Google situation head here. Have a look at the data Google is using to sell you stuff - if you don't like it clear it out (and otherwise snigger at how inaccurate it is). Similarly, if you are a regular Google user, and have a Google account, head here and do likewise.

According to the former, Google will be having an "Arch is a girl!?" moment sometime, and I'm at least 3 years older than I am. On the latter, under 'Sites' it says "There is nothing interesting here". Sums me up, I think.... (Does it mean I don't have a website of my own, or I only visit dull ones?)

 

[PBancroft]

According to the former, Google will be having an "Arch is a girl!?" moment sometime, and I'm at least 3 years older than I am. On the latter, under 'Sites' it says "There is nothing interesting here". Sums me up, I think.... (Does it mean I don't have a website of my own, or I only visit dull ones?)

Yeah, they're quite poor. BBC Click did a brief bit a few weeks back about how Google thought Kate Russell was a bloke several years older than she really is.

And yes, they're your sites. Under "voice" I get the same message - I'm often told I'm a dull speaker, but that just hurts.

 

[Bluebell72]

Wow, I just checked the preferences thing, and I'm male and aged 45-54.
Ha ha ha!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

http://donttrack.us/

Uhhh, why worry: my credit/switch card providers know what underwear I buy