Yahoo's "Beacon Tracking System"

[kidfixer]

Just found this in a weight watchers yahoo group:

Yahoo is up to its bs again. It is basically wanting to track your useage and it is really wrong. I hope you will take a moment to opt out of this invasion of privacy!

Yahoo has a new policy on their Beacon Tracking System, this tracking method takes advantage of cookies that are placed on your system that will collect statistics on each group and each Yahoo user and what you do on the Internet. You should review the information at Yahoo privacy site below and if you wish opt out of this service. To opt out, read down the list from Yahoo and look for the "opt out" and click on it.

You MUST opt out from all browsers on your computer separately.

http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/pixels/details.html (http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/pixels/details.html)

[aym]

Thank you for letting us know. This is appalling.
Aym

[madkins007]

? I am not sure I see the problem. It sounds like some basic traffic tracking stuff that sounds pretty safe and above the board.

[Remessgt]

Originally posted by madkins007
? I am not sure I see the problem. It sounds like some basic traffic tracking stuff that sounds pretty safe and above the board.

If they are allowed to put a "tracking cookie" on your PC that will tell them what you are doing at any given time you are connected to the Internet then they will also be able to get into your PC via the backdoor and have a look at everything you have on your machine.

Europe already has companies that are actively sacking/discharging members of the workforce that are deemed to have breached that companys' code of conduct whilst using their PCs (for this read doing something as simple as placing a photograph of your kids on the desktop without the companys' IT department permission) all because of "tracking cookies" that are used to check on workforce performance whilst they are at their desks using their PCs'.

You think it's no problem - ponder this - a cookie on your PC allows others (outsiders?) access to your PC - what personal stuff (like passwords, financial or personal information) would you like outside organisations to have. If you are confident that this is not a problem why don't you just post your bank account and credit card numbers on this site for the rest of us to use (if you have done any finacial transactions on line in the last month and then have not rigorously "cleaned" out your hard drive the info is their somewhere and any reputable(?) hacker could soon get hold of it).

I strongly suggest that you visit this site http://www.safer-networking.org/ and download the Freeware SpybotS&D application software provided there (or at least read up on what it does so that you get an idea about how intrusive cookies are). Once you install it and use it you will be amazed to see what spyware (cookies) there is on your PC - all of them broadcasting details about yourself.

Finally do consider that every cookie on your machine is an attack on your civil liberties (invasion of privacy) and should be fought off at every opportunity.

The personal opinions voiced here are my own and no one elses' - I do not and never have had, apart from personal utilisation of the software application mentioned, any affiliation with the SpybotS&D organisation or any of its other affiliates. :)

[MegaManXcalibur]

I'm glad I don't use any of Yahoo's services anymore. The sad thing is that other companies will probably do the same thing (at least companies who aren't already doing this). Seems like you can do anything on the net anymore without being watched by somebody.

[BMEngineer]

Wat if some of them uses their CLIE to surf? Will they be tracked?

[NJL!2016]

No, because PalmOS is a single-tasking OS.

[Ion Control]

Where do you get that a cookie allows access to your computer? Amazing. A cookie is simply a text file that a company can reference on occassion. Since cookies are stored in a given directory, a company can use that path to access the cookie and find certain information. The cookie can request that the browser update with sites visited, etc but little else. It CANNOT magically find your MS Money file, open it and start sending your credit card numbers over the web. if it can, it's not a cookie. That's called a *program*, commonly referred to as a virus, worm, etc. With the exception of being able to track basic surfing information, cookies are relatively innocuous (at least from larger companies like Yahoo!) Buy a copy of Norton internet Security, enable "Privacy Guard" (or whatever it's called) and see if any personal information is ever transmitted. You'll find it's not. This silly idea that cookies can suddenly overcome your computer and render your life a shambles is amazing. You're more likely to lose your bank account by not looking to see if the site is secure than you are to have Yahoo even learn your telephone number with a cookie... :P

[51Cards]

Ion Control nailed it on the head.

[Chowtime]

Damn - i KNEW this looked familiar - this thread is a YEAR OLD!!!

[gyffes]

On the other hand, Google's cookie tracks EVERY search you've EVER performed on their site (or through a 'branded' site with a "Search provided by GOOGLE" sign) -- and the cookie does not expire until 2034.

Add that to Google's linking of Mapquest and Phone# info AND their planned scanning of incoming email (for advertising purposes, only, I'm sure) AND their intended plan to store ALL your email EVEN AFTER YOU ELECT TO QUIT THEIR EMAIL SERVICE -- and you have a true privacy nightmare.

[Ion Control]

Not required. Google is on my cookie block list and I've never had a problem searching. Many cookies expire in 2034. That's the longest a cookie can exist in WinXP I think.

Also, don't think Hotmail doesn't do the same w/ your e-mail. Part of the EULA is that your e-mail is their property and they can read at will :)

[Ion Control]

Cookies are basically harmless. They are, after all, usually voluntary on most sites and can be easily deleted. They can only store info. They cannot send it, etc. "Cookie-phobia" is, so far, a product of the media and little else...

[ccc-soundguy]

Cookies! Mmmmmmm.
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