Restoring Privacy, Cleaning Your Computer's Cookies and Beacons

Photo by: KayVee.INC

Cookies Historical Cookies – Browsers have allowed websites to store small amounts of information on the computer. – Number of visits – Preferences – Login

Beacons/Bugs Historical 1x1 pixel transparent image Track customers across a web site Spammers use to determine valid s

What is tracked? IP address – general vicinity of your location Time you accessed the page / Computer type and operating system The browser you used Any previous information stored in cookies they stored

Turning Cookies Off Browsers allow you to turn cookies off. However, there is a downside: Many times the functionality of the website fails. For example, you may not be able to login to the site, or preferences are lost, shopping carts don’t work.

Third Party Cookies Cookies with a different domain than the site you are visiting. Quite often used in advertising to track the websites you visit.

Clearing Cookies Browsers typical allow you to clear the data stored in normal cookies. – When the cookie expires – When you close the browser – Ask before clearing

Flash Cookies Local shared objects (LSO) Latest versions of Flash do not allow 3 rd party sharing. Much larger data storage Little public awareness of LSOs Browsers are unaware of LSOs

New Information Collected Assess what you are doing on a web Determine your location Estimate your income Determine shopping interests Assess medical conditions

New Market Your profiles is built as you browse the web. Companies buy and sell your profile to target their specific ads to certain types of individuals.

Google Ad/Preference Video

iPhone / iPad 3G Track location (lat/lon) with time stamp and stored on iPhone or iPad -- Encrypt

Review ebay’s cookie policy Take a look at how ebay uses cookies and beacons web-beacons.html web-beacons.html

Discussion Is it of concern that advertisers are tracking you?

Opting Out Companies including Yahoo, Microsoft, Google and AOL will be adding links to their European ads that will allow web surfers to opt out of tracking.

Enhancing Privacy through Software Better Privacy Firefox Firefox, Safari, Chrome, IE McAfee Site Advisor Firefox Abine Privacy Suite Firefox, IE soon WOT – FF, Safari, IE, Chrome, Opera Addblock Plus Firefox, Chrome

Tips for Safe Browsing Use antivirus software Keep browser updated Update Adobe software – Flash, PDF readers Avoid clicking on malicious ads Only accept friend requests from those you know.

Removing Flash Cookies Global Storage Settings Panel entation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manag er.html Global Storage Settings Panel entation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manag er.html Flash announced in January they will provide a means for browsers to remove flash cookies. – So far Chrome has adopted

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Going Further WSJ article: html html

Add Ghostery/WOT to Your Browser Configure Ghostery Surf some sites and see who is tracking you