spyware on a help site?

[angelo]

Can some one please explain why a site that is meant to help the everyday end user also infringes on his/her privacy rights?
There are two notorious spyware cookies that are dropped on every user logging into this site
1. Avenue A
2. Tribal Fusion
both are know tracking devices
I understand the costs of running an a web site and realize the bills must be paid..................
but............I also find tracking devices, keyloggers, etc loathsome and underhanded
is there a better way to pay the bills than to violate a users privacy?

[The Tool]

Cookies on this site are used by ourselves, our ad management system, and occasionally by advertisers who use 3rd party ad serving solutions. Cookies are used for:

Recording session information
Ad tracking,
Customization of content (i.e. not repeating pop-up windows),
Storing login information, and
Statistical site-traffic analysis.

That's it.

[angelo]

tool, thank you for your reply it is nice to know someone is watching and is concerned about the user of this site and your reply shows just that.
but...........
both tribal fusion and ave. A are spyware , these "cookies" ( id rather call them phone home devices) collect user clickstream data and send back to host .......
is this not a privacy infringement?
please see the following links
http://www.safersite.com/PestInfo/A/...are_Cookie.asp
http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/d...ad_network.asp


respectfully,
Angelo

[ESALADUANE]

Most forum sites have these cookies (not just for forum management but advertising). And, since most people who populate forums use Spybot or something similar, they are aware of it. Advertising is often the only source of income for a site and people usually just accept it or leave. It's a small price to pay for the value of sites like this.

[The Tool]

Hmm how did Tribal Fusion Ad Network get listed there

Visit: http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/db/adware.asp all except "Tribal Fusion Ad Network" needs something to be downloaded and installed on your computer.

Tribal Fusion Ad Network just sets cookie for Ad tracking. It is not a spyware like Gator, etc...

According to the 2nd link "Information Collected: May collect info on Referrers (HTTP Referrers, Top-level Domains, Search Engines, Keywords, Quality Index, Frequency Index, Newsgroup Referrers, and E-mail Referrers), Visitor statistics (Major ISPs, Hostnames, Browsers, OSes, Countries, Timezones, Plug-Ins, Screens, Colors, Java, and JavaScript), and more."

This information is always sent to the server when you visit any website.

Ha! they want you to spend $39.95 and buy their software. Also their software CANNOT stop sending the above information to the website you are visiting.

EDIT: According to PestPatrol Tribal Fusion Ad Network is Software that brings targeted ads to your computer, after you provide initial consent for this task, lol

Did you download anything from Tribal Fusion? Does this forum ask you to download anything? All you see is an image advertisement and a cookie is set for it, nothing else. Cookie can't do anything, it is just a small text file.

EDIT 2: Yahoo uses Tribal Fusion Ad Network to serve and track ads. That does not mean Yahoo infringes privacy rights? http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/...s/details.html

[ESALADUANE]

I get Avenue A, Inc. No Tribal Fusion.

[The Tool]

Atlas DMT, a division of Avenue A, Inc. - http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/...s/details.html

Yahoo uses them so same Privacy Policy applies for this forum.

Yahoo! Privacy Policy - http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/

Avenue A, Inc. Privacy Policy - http://www.atlasdmt.com/privacy/

Tribal Fusion, Inc. Privacy Policy - http://www.tribalfusion.com/www/about/privacy.html

[angelo]

well gentleman i think we have an interesting thread going here
but.....lol
i also believe we are justifying or making excuse for what is becoming a very bothersome fact
they are spyware.yes quite easily removed and in some cases necessary to pay the bills.
but my opening statement was .is there another way to pay the bills as is the case with many other web sites other than compromising a users privacy which is what these devices do?
and yes ..........tribal fusion did download on this site....and tried to phone home. and it does it without your knowledge.im not sure but it may be active x

[The Tool]

Tribal Fusion Cookie:

ANON_ID
OQJHKOGTINL
tribalfusion.com/
1024
3138338816
32108254
1938513264
29555641
*
c39433
MPFSCFPJJNSNKGHCSRQRRMNWVTCLOMHGOROSROELELIMDEKEGD AYVRLQUNKBWKLKPMIPGIGIQ
tribalfusion.com/
1024
1562366976
29569544
890739744
29568136
*
POP
1
tribalfusion.com/
1024
1225934720
29568430
2082384
29568296
*

The same number is stored for around 30 days in Tribal Fusion server.

[angelo]

originial concern still not answered
well..........i think i have made my point
happy surfing all!!

[The Tool]

is there a better way to pay the bills than to violate a users privacy?

1. Pay - To - Use or
2. Donate

[curtybob]

quick thought: sale of site related merchandise. tool, I would gladly buy a t-shirt with ST&T logo. maybe 2. sorry, just a quick thought. cookies don't bother me. but the comflash ad does