Privacy Foundation Launches Tracking Detection Tool for Online Privacy

The Privacy Foundation released free software Thursday that helps consumers detect when a site or e-mail contains a Web bug--a barely visible tracking tag, also known as clear GIFs, used mainly by marketers to monitor consumer habits online. Consumers can download . . . The Privacy Foundation released free software Thursday that helps consumers detect when a site or e-mail contains a Web bug--a barely visible tracking tag, also known as clear GIFs, used mainly by marketers to monitor consumer habits online. Consumers can download the software, a browser add-on for Microsoft's Internet Explorer, at the site Bugnosis. The software does not work with other browsers.

The release comes as an increasing number of Web sites and marketers adopt Web bugs. Many site operators and Net advertising companies place these tracking tags on their pages to collect information--such as which pages are being read most often--that lets them deliver targeted information to consumers. The bugs can also be matched with cookies, electronic files stored on a PC that can contain personal information such as name and e-mail address.

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