Broadband Tech > Security > Security > Another Privacy Issue, Web Bugs

Another Privacy Issue, Web Bugs

That is one really educational site.
It is indeed getting tough out there and is set to only get worse.
Thanks for the link.
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Enjoy
John

reply to tnm456
It is a very informitive site I had some idea about what was happening regards to the information but never thought they where that much in depth with finding out in details YIKS

reply to tnm456
Well, that adds one more combination to my list of sites to refuse connections to and from! I've added sites that provide these little eavedroppers to my list of Restricted Sites in IE Tools/Internet Options/Security/Restricted Sites list. Now it looks like this:

*.doubleclick.com
*.doubleclick.net
*.centrport.com
*.centrport.net
media.pre ferences.com
media.preferences.net

2kmaro,
Did you mean to not include the * before those entries?
How can you export all your entries in that list to a .txt file to post or display. I have an extensive list I would like to zip up and display. For got where I got it but it sure does keep my system clean

reply to tnm456
For more information on Web Bug's:
Cookies & Web Bugs: Links & News

Here is an interesting demonstration of a web bug. If you have the automatic form redirect option checked in your browser settings you will get a message.
Demo
How about an explanation and view of an e-mail bug:
Auto-Emailer
And finally:
Web pages that can crash a browser
READ AND HEAD THE WARNINGS AT THIS PAGE
There is always the option NOT to try the demo

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Quest for Knowledge

reply to Rocktagon
The way you see them is exactly the way they are in my list of restricted sites. The * is a wildcard. Is wrong? I just put them in the way they were recommended. My list is (obviously) so short that I can just retype it. Never looked into exporting to a text file or anything. The list must be kept somewhere, in the registry most likely.

reply to tnm456
I noticed on the privacy site mentioned by tnm456 at the top of this page that "invisible GIFs" can be good or bad. While checking my start-up menu, I noticed Qtstub.exe and when I did a search, I found out that it is some sort of program for invisible GIFs. My problem, is it for good GIFs or bad ones? It is a Web Bug or necessary for page alignments or something?

reply to 2kmaro
I don't know if I am right or wrong, but I just automatically enter things with the wildcard. As a matter of fact, I have always entered using the entire entry, the http: and all that follows, including the wildcard. I don't know if it's necessary or not, but IE seems to want it that way.

reply to 2kmaro
Thanks 2k, added 4 more just copied and pasted them as you have it to restricted sites and added them one by one.
One change though, not sure you meant a space in this one media.pre ferences.com so I redid it without the space assuming a typo unless you know something I don't? thanks.
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Tamiflu (rx) works for the real flu, but $$ your HMO won't tell you and if you don't know about it to ask.... www.tamiflu.com

reply to jaykaykay
you want to use the
*.XXXXX
format otherwise it may try to connect you to the site if you enter as www.xxxxx

Scooter, in those bookmarks, can you find the place that has a list of a hundred or so sites. I promised Rxdoxxx and I still haven't found it. Maybe you will have better luck. It should be in either cookies or the browser folders. thanks

Oh and it will answer your question as well. All you have to do is copy and paste the list. It covers just about all bad cookies. I wish I could find that list. I will need it after I reformat... *Poor Ken, STILL scratching his head wondering, where did I put that list!*
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Inquiring minds want to know...

reply to tnm456
Added them to mine. Thanks, 2k!

What is the difference between putting these in the Restricted Zone and creating a Hosts file with these addresses? Probably a dumb question but I'm new at this.

My educated guess, and I will be corrected if I'm off (a nice benefit of this wonderful forum- seriously!) is that restricted sites won't let them in and hosts file won't let them out.
So with hosts file you tell your computer that xxxxxx is to go to a dead address 127.xxx.xxx.xx or whatever and it can never connect to the actual site.
Restricted sites sees something coming and says no way.
(now I too wait to see if I've understood it right )
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Tamiflu (rx) works for the real flu, but $$ your HMO won't tell you and if you don't know about it to ask.... www.tamiflu.com

Hey doxx, you are on the right track.
They are directed at different items. The hosts file is more directed at pop up banner ads that try to redirect you somewhere else.
Basically what is does is whenever you come across a web page that requests an ad be posted, your browser will look in the hosts file to see if it's listed. When it finds it there, it looks to 127.0.0.1 (your own computer) for the requested ad, which of course isn't there...

As a note, sometimes when you try to use your back button and you have set your hosts files up, you will have to click many times, the secret would be to use the drop down menu of your back button to skip over the Ad site that is trying to redirect you.

The restricted sites prevent you from going there and picking up a cookie.
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Inquiring minds want to know...

reply to tnm456
JANDOENT,
I am sure it's in there but I am still looking
Only 2000+ to go
I do have one out of my list that has both hosts and a reg file for IE security zones. I have been using this for a long time and my cookies stay empty of baddies.
Ad Blocking Resources
I might of got this from kkb in this forum but I don't remember.
We all share so much info it is hard to remember where it all came from.
EDIT:
RxDoxx and others, the file at this site should serve the same purpose as the "Bad Cookie" list.

quote:

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Now that you've put all those ad/spy servers in the "Restricted" zone (which prevents them from placing "cookies" on your hard drive), why not clear out the "cookies" they may have already put there earlier?

To clear out "cookies" in Internet Explorer (Netscape keeps its "cookies" in an entirely different location)...

1. Go into "View" or "Tools" >> "Internet Options" and clear out your "Temporary Internet Files" -- hit the "Delete Files" button.

2. On the same tabbed page in "Internet Options," hit the "Settings..." button, then the "View Files" button. What you should see are a bunch of files named "Cookie:.." Go ahead and delete them. If you see a "cookie" that appears to come from a web site where you've signed up for special access or privileges, keep that cookie. All the rest can go, though.

3. Keep clicking "OK" until you're back at the main Internet Explorer window.

Now that you've cleaned out those "cookies" and added that long list of advertisers to the "Restricted" zone, you shouldn't be acquiring nearly as many "cookies" as before. I'd still check back, though, and clean out any "cookies" that you don't absolutely need.

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reply to JANDOENT

full_127001.zip 47,171 bytes

Ok wildcatboy, another question. I've been using a hosts file from martin....if (what do I mean if oops I mean WHEN I use yours) can I add it? what if there are duplicate entries? will that goof things up? or can I assume in your completeness that you have martins site fully listed and just delete his and unzip yours to the hosts file?
Finally a real uninformed question--how do I know my system is configured correct and it is working? EICAR test file did that for me & AV, what is a test for hosts? thanks.
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Tamiflu (rx) works for the real flu, but $$ your HMO won't tell you and if you don't know about it to ask.... www.tamiflu.com

reply to tnm456
Briefly, the "Restricted" zone in Internet Explorer contains a list of sites that must follow very strict rules of behavior when you surf to them with Internet Explorer (Netscape Navigator/Communicator does not use the "Restricted" zone). You can specify both the sites that get put into the "Restricted" zone as well as the policies those sites must follow.

By setting the policies for the "Restricted" zone to a very high level of security, we can ensure that any web sites added to the "Restricted" zone cannot do certain things which could compromise your privacy and security -- e.g., place "cookies" on your hard drive; use Java, Active-X, or scripting; install programs behind your back, etc., etc.

The "Restricted" zone allows us to set policies to govern the use of browser technologies and features which can be used by web sites to threaten our security and privacy. These threats include such things as:

-- ActiveX controls
-- Java applets
-- JavaScript
-- cookies
-- downloading and installation of desktop items
-- use of email address as anonymous FTP password
-- "User data persistence"

By adding all those ad/spy servers to the "Restricted" zone, you have prevented them from engaging in all sorts of nasty behavior when you visit web sites that may use those servers to present banner advertisements. In short, the "Restricted" zone protects your privacy with advertisers by placing your browser on a "short leash" whenever it communicates with those ad/spy servers.

RxDoxx-
How can I tell if the file is working?
--------------------------------

When you visit web sites, look in the bottom right hand corner of Internet Explorer, where you will see a small icon telling you which "Security" zone ("Internet," "Trusted," "Restricted") applies to that site.

Try pointing your browser to this web site:

»www.doubleclick.com

If the "Restricted" zone of Internet Explorer is doing its thing (using the information from the file you put in), then you should see a red icon in the bottom right hand corner of Internet Explorer indicating that doubleclick.com falls in the "Restricted" zone.

Occasionally, you will hit sites which fall solely in the "Restricted" zone, as in our example above. More often, though, you'll simply see a "Mixed" zone. If you visit a page which uses banner advertisements served up by one of the ad servers in the "Restricted" zone, you will likely see the icon in the bottom right hand corner of Internet Explorer turn to a "Mixed" zone, meaning that most of the page belongs to one zone (probably the "Internet" zone), but that the site is drawing some information (banner ads) from one or more of the ad servers in the "Restricted" zone.

I will post info on the "HOSTS" file in a bit, but this should explain the "restricted" zone.
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Quest for Knowledge

reply to tnm456
Hey rxdoxx,
you will know when you go to about any site and don't see pop ups. I am sure that I have put duplicates in my hosts file and I haven't had any problems...

WCB,
I have been looking for my cookie list that I put in restricted sites. ie *.doubleclick.com
I believe you were referring to the list for hosts file. I am getting ready for a re format and need to find that list as that is one of the first things that I do...

Hey 2K,
Scooter, WCB and myself are looking for the bad cookies list. Which ever one of us finds it, will post it and you can just copy and paste. The easy way!
We only have about 2500 bookmarks to search!!
Between the 3 of us, we should have it by Christmas... LOL
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Inquiring minds want to know...