General Discussion

backscatter712

(26,357 posts)

61. There are invisible "web bugs" that are on lots of web pages.

Tue Jun 18, 2013, 09:50 AM

Jun 2013

These are page elements, which may be things like 1x1 pixel transparent images, with Javascript code and a cookie linked to them. You don't see them on the page, but code gets activated on your browser, your browser stores a cookie, and you're logged on the advertising server.

This is why I recommend plugins like DoNotTrackMe - this software knows about such web bugs and prevents them from working.

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Highlight:

Are we being spied on right here on DU, by Google? [View all] Whisp Jun 2013 OP

I used to get those exact same ads, too. Jamaal510 Jun 2013 #1

A comment Skinner posted this morning in ATA on the link below... Tx4obama Jun 2013 #2

Yes. Google has more information on all of us, than any other digital spy. onehandle Jun 2013 #3

Short answer: Yes. Solution? Use Firefox with adblock and ghostery plugins. nt Electric Monk Jun 2013 #4

I have heard that adblock can sometimes mess things up for you. Whisp Jun 2013 #8

I have AdBlock and haven't had any problems, and I haven't seen any ads now for many years. Tx4obama Jun 2013 #18

Likewise. Fearless Jun 2013 #46

Solution? PADemD Jun 2013 #10

that was a question I had. So adblock just removes the annoyance Whisp Jun 2013 #14

Ghostery can block Google Analytics too, if you set it to. nt Electric Monk Jun 2013 #32

Please advise Method to use PADemD Jun 2013 #34

Firefox Preferences -> Manage Add-Ons -> Ghostery, then scroll down a bit Electric Monk Jun 2013 #37

It's easy...just check the Google Analystics box. Atman Jun 2013 #41

NoScript takes care of that annoyance. No Google analytics, Doubleclick, ar any of the other dozens Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #49

You are correct about the dozens PADemD Jun 2013 #51

Google Analytics... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #83

Yes, it was blocked PADemD Jun 2013 #90

Advanced settings... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #92

That's my solution as well. alittlelark Jun 2013 #45

Nope sarisataka Jun 2013 #5

Hardly likely, not an invasion, elleng Jun 2013 #6

Anything I write here I'd say to anyone's face. hunter Jun 2013 #7

hee hee. Whisp Jun 2013 #12

That's my answer customerserviceguy Jun 2013 #53

Are you here by choice? magellan Jun 2013 #9

If a post is made in a public forum creeksneakers2 Jun 2013 #11

I meant can Google be doing something other than we think it is. Whisp Jun 2013 #13

Google can use what you type into their search box MineralMan Jun 2013 #69

I know that...that is fairly common knowledge wercal Jun 2013 #72

That is an issue to take up with the agency that demands MineralMan Jun 2013 #73

I am going to hang myself wercal Jun 2013 #75

spies everywhere Voice for Peace Jun 2013 #15

Here is the google ad that popped up for me. kentuck Jun 2013 #16

Did Google recently develop drones? Bonobo Jun 2013 #17

Don't the two collide wercal Jun 2013 #31

+1 marions ghost Jun 2013 #55

Wow, most DUers of the left conflate the two treestar Jun 2013 #63

Spot on... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #86

Everything you post here on DU is visible to the public, and spidered by Google. backscatter712 Jun 2013 #19

yeh, I know that part. Whisp Jun 2013 #21

Every time there's Google ads, or there's Google metrics code in a web page, you're logged. backscatter712 Jun 2013 #23

Seems to me marions ghost Jun 2013 #57

There are invisible "web bugs" that are on lots of web pages. backscatter712 Jun 2013 #61

worth a try marions ghost Jun 2013 #65

I am spying on you as you type. L0oniX Jun 2013 #20

I spy with my little eye Whisp Jun 2013 #22

I WILL KICK SPYING L0oniX ASS Skittles Jun 2013 #29

OH NOES ...Google is spying on us too! OMG L0oniX Jun 2013 #30

If a tree posts from the woods, and there is no one else there, Jamastiene Jun 2013 #24

What a bizarre attempt to equate willingly posting information publicly and being spied on, secretly Poll_Blind Jun 2013 #25

We are being tracked here Whisp Jun 2013 #26

I think I get what you're saying, that it's not just what you write, but what you read, and click on Electric Monk Jun 2013 #33

I understand your concerns.. wercal Jun 2013 #35

There are no "private" emails on DU MADem Jun 2013 #39

Whatever you want to call them wercal Jun 2013 #56

They were PMs on DU2, they are "DUMail" on DU3. MADem Jun 2013 #71

Yes admin has access to mail on its system wercal Jun 2013 #74

If it were subject to Google data mining, it should also be searchable. MADem Jun 2013 #77

There is a major difference between searchable and data mineable wercal Jun 2013 #78

Do we get ads in DUMail, the host group, or MIRT, though? MADem Jun 2013 #79

Well I just checked... wercal Jun 2013 #82

I suppose it would be easy to check. Get a friend, and send a bunch of DUMAILS back and forth with MADem Jun 2013 #84

Well I already get the sex toy ads...ok just kidding wercal Jun 2013 #88

Corporatocracy. marions ghost Jun 2013 #60

Yes, I saw through it too Poll_Blind Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #28

i`m to old to give a shit..... madrchsod Jun 2013 #27

I find the government collecting information on who, when and for how long I call to be neverforget Jun 2013 #36

Get an adblocker. MADem Jun 2013 #38

That must be it then! Whisp Jun 2013 #40

Ghostery can block cookies. malokvale77 Jun 2013 #87

I just finished watching the President on Charlie Rose Whisp Jun 2013 #42

Glad the nsa thang happened under Obama's watch flamingdem Jun 2013 #43

I hope you get to see that interview if you haven't yet. Whisp Jun 2013 #44

IKR? Obama could actually do something about it treestar Jun 2013 #64

It's not the same when the government does it. Hissyspit Jun 2013 #47

Everything here is available on the WWW BainsBane Jun 2013 #48

You have to ask? ATTN: SOLUTIONS (and Adblock isn't one): snot Jun 2013 #50

Of course we are. AngryOldDem Jun 2013 #52

I'm not sure what good it does madokie Jun 2013 #54

If you're on the Internet, or have been, for any amount of time justiceischeap Jun 2013 #58

Here's a solution. Le Taz Hot Jun 2013 #59

Google Analytics still tracks you though. GeorgeGist Jun 2013 #91

Yes. It's funny to see how the ads reflect what is being discussed treestar Jun 2013 #62

I had to call an immigration lawyer a while back. Whisp Jun 2013 #66

What you said malaise Jun 2013 #67

DU isn't spying on you. MineralMan Jun 2013 #68

I don't mind targeted ads. GreenStormCloud Jun 2013 #70

To those who advise using Adblock or similar intaglio Jun 2013 #76

Google can't come and arrest me... ljm2002 Jun 2013 #80

Yes. But it is not illegal. Rex Jun 2013 #81

I post advocating for the protection of wolves G_j Jun 2013 #85

this works for now... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #89