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by Anonymous on January 16th, 2006

Anonymous

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Is Yahoo! using Web beacons to track Yahoo! users everywhere they go online, even when the user is outside of the Yahoo! network?

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  • by RedJohn on January 22nd, 2006

    RedJohn

    Well, not everywhere, but to some extent. That is the entire point of their "web beacons". The name should be a clue.

    Yahoo only tracks your movement within sites that are affiliated with the web beacon system. You have the option of opting in or out, but much like cable television, the default is to opt in. Sites that do not employ the web beacon tracking system do not track you.

    However, given the sloppy nature of internet security and the loose morals of a lot of programmers, this does not mean that other sites will not illicitly and covertly exploit the web beacons to their own advantages.

    This, however, is much preferred to this sites that do NOT inform you of what they are doing or do NOT provide you with an opt-out option. As, for example, like RealNetworks did with earlier versions of the RealPlayer software: tracked you without telling you and then ardently denying they were doing it when they were outed.

    At least Yahoo tells you about it and gives you an option. Who is to say what others do?

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  • by Anonymous on January 16th, 2006

    Anonymous

    Yes they ARE! BE WARE!
    Here is proof:

    Now I followed this - and yes it is exactly right on and true. I do not usually send these out until I know for 100% certain that this is fact & true.

    Follow the instructions carefully and you should have no problem "OPTING OUT".

    http://rense.com/general69/tracking.htm

    Yahoo is Tracking Group Members 1-14-6

    f you belong to ANY Yahoo Groups - be aware that Yahoo is now using "Web Beacons" to track every Yahoo Group user. It's similar to cookies, but allows Yahoo to record every website and every group you visit, even when you're not connected to Yahoo.

    Look at their updated privacy statement at: http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy

    About half-way down the page, in the section on cookies, you will see a link that says WEB BEACONS.

    Click on the phrase "Web Beacons." On the page that opens, find a paragraph entitled "Outside the Yahoo Network."

    In that section find a little "Click Here to Opt Out" link that will let you "opt-out" of their snooping. Be careful! NOT to click on the next button shown. It is an "Opt Back In" button that, if clicked, will UNDO the opt-out.

    Note that Yahoo's invasion of your privacy - and your ability to opt-out of it - is not user-specific. It is MACHINE specific. That means you will have to opt-out on every computer (and browser) you use.

    Please forward this to your other groups. You might complain, too, but I'm not sure if anyone is listening..

    Related article:

    Yahoo Web Beacons Igniting Controversy Yahoo's current privacy policy is causing consternation among some users who object to their use of so-called 'web beacons'. Known in most circles as web bugs, these invisible images are embedded in websites and email and used to track your surfing - and even tell whether you've opened a particular email. http://antivirus.about.com/od/spywareandadware/a/yahoobugs.htm

    Smash The State WWW

    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smashthestate

    Yahoo! Groups Links

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