Guess Who's Watching Your EVERY Internet Move

with Ghostery you no longer have to guess

from WinCustomize Forums

Before I installed Firefox's Ghostery addon, I had no idea just how badly I was being tracked by Google and other advertisers, etc.

..... AND this is after I had already blocked them with No Script.

This is here on Wincustomize.... on EVERY page change/refresh.

This is on Imageshack...

Yup, it's on EVERY site and web page you visit.  You are being tracked by somebody..... primarily to target you with ads, but it could turn out to be something far more sinister than that.

There I go again... with my conspiracy theories, but hey, what about the bloke who visits the Playboy site without his missus' knowledge or consent????  Exactly... it's blackmail material for the unscrupulous webmaster, etc... and you just never know how low Google will stoop.  I mean, they went around hacking into peoples wi-fi connections.  So no, you can't put it past them.

Seriously though, if you want to block these unwelcome and slimy intrusions into your surfing experience and use Firefox, go to the addons page and do a search for Ghostery, which allows you to see who is tracking you... and block them.  It adds a menu to your progress bar and you can configure it to reveal AND block all trackers.  Also, the blocked site dialog balloon (seen above) can be disabled if you do not wish to see it.

OK, gotta go now!  Got me some web sites to visit so's I can play with this baby some more. :-" :w00t:

3,726 views 20 replies
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow!! I had no idea. Thanks for pointing me to this add-on starkers.
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Speaking of someone watching you check this one out. Someone found a new use for Google Earth http://msn-cnet.com.com/8301-17852_3-20012396-71.html?part=msn-cnet&subj=ns&tag=feed
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I just hope my local authority doesn't catch on to this.  No, I'm not worried about the un-permitted pool... but I wouldn't want the bastards eying off my cabbage patch and somehow deeming it illegal, would I???

Wow!! I had no idea. Thanks for pointing me to this add-on starkers.
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No worries, G3!  Yeah, I thought 'No Script' blocked these sorts of things, but apparently not.  I've had all the Google trackers, etc, blocked in 'No Script' for ages now, yet there they were, active as ever.  No doubt the devious bastards at Google and others will inevitably come up with a method to bypass Ghostery as well, so let's hope the equally devious on our side of the fence keep coming up with new methods to exclude these verminous intrusions.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Google Analytics is simply used for site owners to check statistics.  I don't know if Google uses or even has access to this data, but it's a great tool (I use it)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Google Analytics is simply used for site owners to check statistics.
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It'd be nice to think that's all it was used for, but I'm rather skeptical ... given Google's primary purpose is data collection for the purpose of ad placement/targeting.  If Google knows what a persons habits are it is easier to be ad specific... so why wouldn't they use Google Analytics to to ascertain a person's surfing habits, likes, dislikes.

I don't know if Google uses or even has access to this data, but it's a great tool (I use it)
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That's the thing, see, Google has access (rightly or wrongly) to pretty much everything on the WWW, so my guess is yes, they do have access... cos Google provides a service only when there's something in it for them.  With Google, what seems to be free on face value always has a hidden cost ... as in Google becomes your constant tag-along companion...everywhere you go it follows, in it's insatiable thirst for knowledge and power

Yes, I'm quite distrusting, but why would I trust anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of a cat's arse?

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

cool post Starkers,
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Yeah, thought I'd do a community service while taking an enjoyable swipe at my least favourite internet entity... and others. :w00t:

for use lazy ones heres a link
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Thanks for that. :thumbsup:

I had thought of it... but I didn't want to do that much of a community service.  My primary objective was to take a swipe at Google... and once I had, well all else went out the window.

Nah, seriously, I did overlook that bit. :-"

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Google Analytics is simply used for site owners to check statistics. I don't know if Google uses or even has access to this data, but it's a great tool (I use it)
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That is all it does in case anyone is worried, it is an analytic tool for site owners to analyze traffic coming to their site, nothing else.  I use it on my sites also.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Is this for Firefox users only?

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

it is an analytic tool for site owners to analyze traffic coming to their site
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I find myself wondering - what does it tell you?  Seriously, I'm curious.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Google Analytics is simply used for site owners to check statistics. I don't know if Google uses or even has access to this data, but it's a great tool (I use it)



That is all it does in case anyone is worried, it is an analytic tool for site owners to analyze traffic coming to their site, nothing else. I use it on my sites also.
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I dunno, Google comes across as a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" kind of company, so I find it hard to believe that they're providing site owners with google analytics free of charge and not making some use of it themselves.   What made me suspicious is when I was on Yahoo7 here in Oz to check the news, weather and TV guide... every page change/refresh and google analytics was there.  Hmmm, just seems strange that Yahoo would use its main competitor to monitor site traffic???

Oh, and this is for those who will say other companies do this kind of sneaky underhanded thing as well (mainly Kona ;P ).... I know other companies are out there tracking internet users to see how they can make use of them.  For example, on Yahoo I notice 'Doubleclick', 'RightMedia' and 'Yahoo Overture' are there at every page change, and I believe these trackers are designed specifically to extract information purely for advertising purposes.

Is this for Firefox users only?
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As far as I know, yes. :)

it is an analytic tool for site owners to analyze traffic coming to their site

I find myself wondering - what does it tell you? Seriously, I'm curious.
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Yeah, but I'm more curious as to what it tells Google???  I mean, they can identify your location and IP address, so why wouldn't they use your interests and surfing habits to target you with specific ads... particularly with clients ads local to you??   It is their primary business (advertising), and it's what they do, so I'd believe in the existence snowballs in Hell before I believed Google would pass up on an opportunity to advertise/sell.

If there's anything I dislike... er, hate more than bankers and politicians, it's effing advertisers.  The bastards ply their trade in every free space and location imaginable... and it is so unsightly 99.9999% of the time, with billboards and advertising placards desecrating the scenery.  

So yeah, look out if you happen to be chucking a brown-eye (mooning) at the referee for a bad decision during the game.... expose it for too long and they'll slap an ad on yer arse.

:-" ;P

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I find myself wondering - what does it tell you? Seriously, I'm curious.
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Nevermind, I decided to quit being so lazy and just googled it.  Predictably it came right up.:dur:

If there's anything I dislike... er, hate more than bankers and politicians, it's effing advertisers.
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Hmm, not sure about that one.  All 3 are high on the aggravation scale, but it seems like the bankers and politicians tend to do a lot more real damage.  'Course when you talk about politicians you're usually just talking about a big wad of advertising anyway.  Gets kind of blurry.

I dunno, Google comes across as a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" kind of company, so I find it hard to believe that they're providing site owners with google analytics free of charge and not making some use of it themselves.
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Ya I'd say that's a pretty safe bet.  Even if they're just stashing information they really have no immediate use for, just so they can have it handy when they might figure out something to do with it.  Certainly information junkies.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hmm, not sure about that one. All 3 are high on the aggravation scale, but it seems like the bankers and politicians tend to do a lot more real damage. 'Course when you talk about politicians you're usually just talking about a big wad of advertising anyway. Gets kind of blurry.
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Yep, it gets real blurry when you mention politician, bankers, lawyers and advertisers all in one go.... but at the end of the day, each of them has specialised in their own peculiar way to extract your cash from your wallet.

I dunno, Google comes across as a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" kind of company, so I find it hard to believe that they're providing site owners with google analytics free of charge and not making some use of it themselves.

Ya I'd say that's a pretty safe bet. Even if they're just stashing information they really have no immediate use for, just so they can have it handy when they might figure out something to do with it. Certainly information junkies.
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I look at Google the same way as I look at those software developers who released freeware that's a highly limited version of something you have to pay for.... the freeware is just a teaser designed to sell you something else/more.  And it's the same with Google... their freeware/services are just a lure to get peoples information.   I remember there being a big stink over Google's licensing agreement some years ago, where Google reserved exclusive rights to any and all information and/or materials belonging to users of various Google sites/services... so yeah, they are certainly information junkies.

And regarding all those trillions of terabytes of data, my concern with Google has always been, why do they need it all... and when do they stoop so low as to sell it (sensitive data, etc) to the highest bidder... any bidder.  I mean, they must think it is ALL valuable, right... otherwise why keep it???

Oh, look out... the black G van with the tinted windows is outside again.  *_*   Yup, after all the derogatory things I've said about them here in the forums over the years, I'll bet they're out there with all sorts of snooping devices to see if they can get some dirt on me to shut me up.   Nah, never, I say, their scare tactics aren't gonna silence me... Never, I say... Never!!!!

;P :P :rofl:

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I find myself wondering - what does it tell you? Seriously, I'm curious.
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Google Analytics gives you information on how many visitors you get on your site, how many of those are unique (first time visitor), how many page views you have had, how long the average visitor spends on your site, what browser they are using, whether or not your visitors are direct links or visit from another site, what countries predominantly visit your site, etc, etc.  Information a successful site owner would find useful to cater to their visitors and see if their goals are being met.  It does not collect any personal information, just useful statistical data.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting starkers, reply 5

but why would I trust anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of a cat's arse?
End of starkers's quote

You don't trust the veterinarian?

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting LightStar, reply 14

I find myself wondering - what does it tell you? Seriously, I'm curious.


Google Analytics gives you information on how many visitors you get on your site, how many of those are unique (first time visitor), how many page views you have had, how long the average visitor spends on your site, what browser they are using, whether or not your visitors are direct links or visit from another site, what countries predominantly visit your site, etc, etc.  Information a successful site owner would find useful to cater to their visitors and see if their goals are being met.  It does not collect any personal information, just useful statistical data.
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IMO, it's just another tool of the trade. Whether we like it or not, I imagine some sites will live or die by those statistics, much like the TV Nielson Ratings. Get low ratings and your site gets "canceled"

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

but why would I trust anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of a cat's arse?

You don't trust the veterinarian?
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Nah, and why would I???   Let's just say that I don't fancy what one would likely prescribe for a stomach upset, for example.

Sheesh, have you seen the size if those horse pills... not to mention the freakin' enemas. o_O

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Darn, it's too late to delete all those pr0n links...

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, just to 'stir the pot', where it is written that you can trust FireFox?  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I will now go and sit in the corner with my pointy hat on, no you don't have to show me where it is, I have dibbs on the corner.  :sun:

 

 

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Darn, it's too late to delete all those pr0n links...
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Ah, but you don't have to.  You can keep the links and go visit your fave seedy sites all you want.  Just remember to activate Ghostery and block all the trackers.... and on seedy sites I can imagine there'd be as few.... dozen or more.

:-"

Okay, just to 'stir the pot', where it is written that you can trust FireFox?
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Not sure where it is written, and I'm not so sure I'd believe it anyway, but I'd trust Firefox over Google Chrome any day.  Now there's another free something else with strings attached that Google has put out there in its never ending quest for information... it phones home regularly.

I will now go and sit in the corner with my pointy hat on, no you don't have to show me where it is, I have dibbs on the corner.

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Um, that corner over there?   Sorry, but the cat couldn't get out and it somehow lifted the carpet and it... well you get the picture.  It was cleaned up, and I notice somebody put a can of air freshener over there... but you know cats... near impossible to get rid of the smell, so you might wanna try another corner. 

Mine's currently vacant if you're interested in renting it. :-" ;) :rofl: