Is all the `tracking` necessary ?
I did notice something interesting eartlier.
When I go on PlusNet`s HOME page, then like with most pages, I do get a `Privacy Report` icon at the bottom
of my screen.
When I double click on it, this is what it says :
PRIVACY REPORT
Based on your privacy settings, some cookies were restricted or blocked.
Website with content on the current page :
http://ad-emea.doubleclick.net/activity:src=143170 ; blocked
Underneath it then states thus :
To view a site`s privacy summary, select an item in the list, and then click Summary.
So I selected the ad-emea.doubleclick item - and then clicked on Summary.
Unfortunately it is not possible to copy and paste the info that is contained in that summary.
I dont profess to know anything about ad-emea.doubleclick.net/ - but sufficient is it to say that one of my
excellent Security programmes deems it risky enough to have `blocked` it.
I`m not even sure which of my programmes has done this - but the 2 most likely ones are :
SpywareBlaster (I do know it wont tolerate double-click) lol
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
and......
SuperAntispyware
http://download.cnet.com/SuperAntiSpyware-Free-Edition/3000-8022_4-10523889.html?tag=mncol
The `block` is NOT preventing my useage being monitored, but obviously it is blocking whatever else
ad-emea.doubleclick.net/ may or may not do.
When I get more time I`ll do abit of research on it.
Meantime, I`m sure others on here might have more knowledge than me lol
Just out of curiosity I thought I would check out Yahoo.
Unbelieveable, whilst my prog(s) block 59 such items !! including : ad-emea.doubleclick.net/
Thank goodness there are so many excellent programmes available to deal with all these.
It just feels like our PCs (once connected to the internet) are like a window into our world........
and no end of people are out there peering in without our permission.
I often wondered why Microsoft called their software : W I N D O W S (heehee)
`Not paranoid - but NOT dumb either`
SEARCH : http://ad-emea.doubleclick.net/
Privacy Policy (below)
http://www.doubleclick.com/privacy/index.aspx
McAfee Site Advisor :
http://www.siteadvisor.com/analysis/#
On the right hand side of the above site (and almost at the foot of the page)
you can check out any website you want by inserting the url into the check-box.
PlusNet report
http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/plus.net
Someone did however post the comment below :
http://www.spamhaus.org/sbl/listings.lasso?isp=plus.net
The link will speak for itself.
Whether that is why my Security programmes blocks the cookie I mentioned, I do NOT know.
I therefore make NO judgement here, I`m just merely pointing it out in case the info is useful /
important etc.
I have attempted to read the `spamhaus.org` report, but I CANT make head or tail of it, other
than it appears that various groups use legitimate websites in order to send spam.
Please bear with my limited understanding - others, more techy might understand it all better
than I
In the meantime I have submitted : ad-emea.doubleclick.net/ to McAfee`s Site Advisor team
for analysis.
I suspected someone might be able to offer an answer.
There`s always someone more in the know that I am lol.
Thanks for that.
Does this pose any risks ?
I think sometimes what many ppl fail to understand is that websites
do have `third parties` and therefore it isnt always one particular website
that causes problems but rather they can be caused from third party sites /partners
etc etc.
Even though Pierie used the word `paranoia` (and yes I forgive him cause I`m never nasty
to anyone) I think the McAfee link was most telling.
According to McAfee Site Advisor,
http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/plus.net
PlusNet have connections to various 3rd parties
including :
MyBroadbandUseage.co.uk
MyBroadbandSpeed.co.uk
Metronet.co.uk
Madasafish.com
Flickr.com
f9.net.uk
bbc.co.uk
AND : doubleclick.net
As can be seen McAfee Site Advisor rates them all as `green sites` (aka: SAFE sites)
An individual check on the first 7 of those would appear to justify the SAFE rating.
However, and although McAfee also includes `doubleclick.net` as a SAFE site.....
User reviews tell an entirely different story.
http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/doubleclick.net/summary/
In the absence of any other explanation I can only assume that is why my own Security
programme includes : ad-emea.doubleclick.net/ as an UN-safe cookie to have.
So far from being paranoid, there is an explanation obviously for why that is blocked.
SpywareBlaster has been around for a long time, and its a highly rated programme,
and differentiates well between what constitutes good or bad.
Ive just learned to take all the paranoia slurs with a pinch of salt now.
I tend to give ppl leaway because maybe they`ve not checked things out as much as I
have - or might be relatively new to the net even - so I just try to smile and carry on lol.
I do have to say, having now got to almost the end of my first week on PlusNet, I am happy
with their service so far. Connection was very easy, speed is fine (best I can expect due
to where I`m located) so no complaints on those.
As for this particular thread, and indeed others, I think ppl are just more aware nowadays
about all forms of tracking /privacy issues online, and of course, those who dont read about it
throw that little word paranoid /paranoia a little more freely than it deserves.
Quote from: WildRose52 Unfortunately and unless ppl are made aware of it, then they only hear about RFID here in the UK, and even
some of my friends say: `it will never happen` but when you start to run a SEARCH on RFID Europe, or
RFID Asia, & RFID USA
You must live in a technology free zone.
The Oyster Card is a RFID card and Barclaycard have been doing a combined credit card Oyster card for several years. They now have morphed this to include the contactless payment system.As for Germany fingerprinting system only 150,000 are using it .