Topic: Mozilla Exposes the All-Seeing Eye! (Read 1936 times)

SirTJ · « **on:** March 02, 2012, 10:55:10 AM »

Mozilla has just released a new Firefox add-on that lets you see which companies are tracking your internet activities. It's called "collusion".

http://news.discovery.com/tech/firefox-collusion-120301.html

The crazy thing is that some sites you go to inform other sites, so you have sites tracking your activities that you've never even visited!

Might want to download this, yall.

LaylaMonroe · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:08:04 PM »

Wait wut???

$:-\$

I declare I'm more and more uncomfortable with this thing called internet...

Eventually, I'm going to get to a point where, like MM, I'm using a fake name on everything and only going online from my phone or iPad. This is just ridiculous.

SirTJ · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:12:57 PM »

Quote from: LaylaMonroe on March 02, 2012, 01:08:04 PM

Wait wut???

$:-\$

I declare I'm more and more uncomfortable with this thing called internet...

Eventually, I'm going to get to a point where, like MM, I'm using a fake name on everything and only going online from my phone or iPad. This is just ridiculous.

It is kind of scary, but websites have been doing this for ever. When I took my Web Design class, my professor even taught us how to track who visits your site and all of that. You ever notice how advertisements you see seemed to be related to sites you've searched recently or google searches you've done? That's what you're experiencing. The sites are tracking your steps and sending data to other sites who tailor their message to you.

under13 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:18:21 PM »

They've been doing it for years. I remember watching a Jermaine Griggs lecture where he was talking about how his site places a "cookie" on your computer that tracks when you go on his site and then directs you to different pages based on certain criteria. I think they also send you emails shortly after you visit their site, I know Amazon does it.

Your credit card company does the same thing. You get mailings for certain Items based on what you buy. So I can go to certain companies and buy that info and send you stuff based on your birthday, your income and your purchase history among other things.

THE WOLFMAN · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:20:38 PM »

they gonna do it whether you like it or not. There is no such thing as privacy anymore. period.

SirTJ · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:22:57 PM »

I downloaded a program called "Ghostly" that blocks the sites from placing the cookies or whatever they use to track you. It even tells you what cookies the site is trying to place. Apparently LGM has ties to Facebook and Twitter, so I no longer see those "Share with Twitter" buttons on here anymore.

LaylaMonroe · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:23:44 PM »

I hate it.

Or maybe I'd just rather not know they're doing it.

under13 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:27:09 PM »

Quote from: LaylaMonroe on March 02, 2012, 01:23:44 PM

I hate it.

Or maybe I'd just rather not know they're doing it.

Yeah, as they say, Ignorance is bliss. $:-\$

sjonathan02 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:47:45 PM »

Quote from: SirTJ on March 02, 2012, 01:22:57 PM

I downloaded a program called "Ghostly" that blocks the sites from placing the cookies or whatever they use to track you. It even tells you what cookies the site is trying to place. Apparently LGM has ties to Facebook and Twitter, so I no longer see those "Share with Twitter" buttons on here anymore.

Is it called 'ghostery'?

SirTJ · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:49:01 PM »

Quote from: sjonathan02 on March 02, 2012, 01:47:45 PM

Is it called 'ghostly' or 'ghost'?

I'm sorry, it's called "Ghostery".

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ghostery/

sjonathan02 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2012, 01:50:11 PM »

Quote from: SirTJ on March 02, 2012, 01:49:01 PM

I'm sorry, it's called "Ghostery".

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ghostery/

Yea, just saw it. Will download as soon as I get home. Thanks, Teej!!

So, does it make sense to download both?

Fenix · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2012, 02:40:25 PM »

Look, its really simple. If you don't want them tracking you and sending you emails and such, do not sign in to things like Google. I don't know if people realize this, but if you use search engines like Google or Yahoo, make sure you DO NOT sign in if you don't want your history being known.

In any case, like Wolfman said, there is pretty much no privacy online anymore. As soon as you logged on to websites like Facebook and such, forget privacy.

LaylaMonroe · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2012, 02:43:24 PM »

Quote from: Fenix on March 02, 2012, 02:40:25 PM

Look, its really simple. If you don't want them tracking you and sending you emails and such, do not sign in to things like Google. I don't know if people realize this, but if you use search engines like Google or Yahoo, make sure you DO NOT sign in if you don't want your history being known.

In any case, like Wolfman said, there is pretty much no privacy online anymore. As soon as you logged on to websites like Facebook and such, forget privacy.

Is it that simple, though? It seems like a system as smart as one that can track and connect, would also be able to track by ip address, and not just by log-on info.