Audit Linux privileges now to limit compromise, escalation, and system-wide damage. Review Linux Privileges×
A new study has revealed that the use of web bugs, or online hidden information collectors, has increased 488 percent in the past three years. On average, a web page is nearly five times more likely to contain a web bug . . . . A new study has revealed that the use of web bugs, or online hidden information collectors, has increased 488 percent in the past three years. On average, a web page is nearly five times more likely to contain a web bug today than in 1998. Web bugs are hidden graphics embedded in web pages to collect information about visitors to the site. Unnoticed, they can gather information such as the user's IP address, the type of browser used to retrieve the bug and previously set cookie values. Cookies store information that can facilitate in-depth personal and transactional profiling. The link for this article located at AccountingWEB is no longer available. . A new study has revealed that the use of web bugs, or online hidden information collectors, has incr. study, revealed, online, hidden, information, collectors. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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. The link for this article located at ZDNet is no longer available. . The Security Initiative launched a tool designed for individuals to detect tracking pixels, improving digital privacy and user awareness of surveillance.. Privacy Software, Tracking Detection Tool, Web Bugs, Online Privacy. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
At least 23 agency sites still have more than 300 cookies, one year after the Office of Management and Budget restricted the use of tracking technologies on public government sites. Those are the findings of a study compiled from the reports . . . . At least 23 agency sites still have more than 300 cookies, one year after the Office of Management and Budget restricted the use of tracking technologies on public government sites. Those are the findings of a study compiled from the reports of 51 inspectors general--part of a mandate from Congress that arose after the General Accounting Office reported last October that at least 13 agencies were using cookies. The new report also found 42 Web bugs--graphic images (often invisible) that monitor users' activity--and 27 agencies in clear violation of their own privacy policies. Within the Department of Commerce's Web sites, 23 pages had Web bugs exchanging information with non-government computers. At the Department of Health and Human Services, 21 sites designed for children didn't have privacy statements, making them non-compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The link for this article located at Information Week is no longer available. . Despite the passage of a full year, over 20 agency websites continue to deploy more than 300 cookies each, contravening the privacy guidelines established by OMB.. Online Privacy Violation, Federal Agency Compliance, Government Transparency, Tracking Technology Issues. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Piracy advocates claim that the use of sophisticated Web bug tracking devices "has grown dramatically" over the past year. More than 30 per cent of Web pages sampled during last year's Christmas season contained new generations of Web bugs that the . . . . Piracy advocates claim that the use of sophisticated Web bug tracking devices "has grown dramatically" over the past year. More than 30 per cent of Web pages sampled during last year's Christmas season contained new generations of Web bugs that the advertising industry is using to secretly track online surfers, said Richard Smith, CTO at the University of Denver's Privacy Foundation. He used a search engine and identified four million Web bugs planted by 30 vendors. Smith said he has found that bugs are planted by the Boston bank he uses for online banking, and on a hotel site offering Internet room-booking services. He said many companies aren't disclosing their use of bugs in their privacy policies, and at least one Web bug version he uncovered searches a user's computer while they are looking at the site. The link for this article located at Lexis-Nexis is no longer available. . Cybersecurity proponents argue that advanced tracking technologies have significantly escalated, affecting individual privacy rights.. Web Bugs, User Tracking, Privacy Risks, Digital Surveillance. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Privacy Caucus will hear from Internet security and privacy experts on Thursday regarding some of the sneakiest forms of online surveillance technologies in use today. The panel for Thursday's hearing will examine threats to consumer privacy online . . . . The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Privacy Caucus will hear from Internet security and privacy experts on Thursday regarding some of the sneakiest forms of online surveillance technologies in use today. The panel for Thursday's hearing will examine threats to consumer privacy online via e-mail wiretapping and "Web bugs" - tiny hidden images that Internet ad companies and malicious programmers can embed in Web pages to track consumers as they surf the Web and read e-mail. The link for this article located at is no longer available. . The nonpartisan Legislative Data Protection Committee plans to investigate digital surveillance and online tracking technologies with specialists.. Congressional Privacy Caucus, Internet Surveillance, Online Tracking. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Companies and online advertisers that use information-gathering "Web bugs" on their Web sites should plainly disclose the presence of the technology to users, according to a Denver-based privacy group that proposed a set of standards on that topic this week. . . . . Companies and online advertisers that use information-gathering "Web bugs" on their Web sites should plainly disclose the presence of the technology to users, according to a Denver-based privacy group that proposed a set of standards on that topic this week. The proposal was detailed at the Global Privacy Summit conference in Washington by the Privacy Foundation, which claimed that many Web sites are using Web bugs to track the activities of visitors without their knowledge. Users "don't have much control over" Web bugs, said Stephen Keating, the foundation's executive director. The link for this article located at Computer World is no longer available. . The call for transparency in 'Web bugs' use has grown, pushing for ethical tech practices to protect privacy and ensure accountability in data usage. Web Bugs, Privacy Standards, Data Tracking. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Get the latest Linux and open source security news straight to your inbox.