The Web is Watching You!!! (No Spam)

Jace · Post by **Jace** » Mon May 13, 2002 9:20 am

Check this out. Strathclyde Uni are developing (and soon to market) web traking software that does not rely on cookies.

Scotish Enterprise Proof of Concept Awards

I have not had a chance to have a good read yet, but I have heard that there has been a lot of controversy in some user groups.

I will post a bit more when I have had a chance to read and digest this.

Edit:- Sorry, I mucked up the link, but it works now

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon May 13, 2002 9:33 am

There's already web-tracking spyware that doesn't rely upon cookies. It regularly sends out brief messages via your web connection to sites that collect statistical data about your visits and purchases on the net. If you don't like this kind of thing, consider installing Ad-Aware, which can be found at http://www.lavasoft.nu/

Jace · Post by **Jace** » Mon May 13, 2002 9:40 am

I am not sure of the details, but from what I have heard the main problems here are things that are not on that page. The level of detail that this software can return is supposed to be impressive and nigh on imposible to prevent for the average person.

I should find out a bit more about this tonight.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Mon May 13, 2002 9:44 am

@fable:
Doesn't this spyware require you to download and install it? For instance, some versions of P2P file sharing programs have spyware built into them that email off your web surfing habits. It was my impression that these programs were treated like trojan horse viruses by McAfee and Norton and that you could cut down on their effectiveness with programs like ZoneAlarm which limit which applications can and cannot access the internet with your permission.

In reading the link that our friend Jace provided, it sounded like they were implementing some software on the servers, not on the browsers, that did the tracking and didn't need cookies. I am not sure how such a program would work, if it were based solely on the servers and were not invasive on the user's machine.