On the Web's Cutting Edge, Anonymity in Name Only

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703294904575385532109190198.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

by helwr • 16 years ago

26 7 16 years ago

online.wsj.com

drenei• 16 years ago

Oh privacy, I knew you well. Does anyone have insights into any specific methods [x+1] would use?

gyardley2• 16 years ago

It's just standard-issue behavioral targeting. Dozens of firms do this - I wouldn't describe what [x+1] is doing as exceptional or new.

While all of this is harmless, you can block all the trackers by installing Ghostery (ghostery.com) - works with Firefox and Chrome.

RK• 16 years ago

So are they reading the cookies you have from other sites?

fdb• 16 years ago

Wow, I visited the Capital One page for myself and was pretty amazed with the results: interests where right aligned.

I got different pages when switching browser (although you have to clear cookies/flash cookies), and also different credit card proposals (some student cards for you in Chrome? Or rather some "serious" cards in Internet Explorer)

You can find the tracking from the domain .edge.ru4.com. It does contain a wealth of information, although I have yet to find the identifier for "my" Nielsen Market Segment. The segments are here:

http://www.claritas.com/MyBestSegments/Default.jsp?ID=30&...

drinian• 16 years ago

Seems like a good time to resurrect /etc/hosts as killfile. http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/

5teev• 16 years ago

Does this mean if I'm an undesirable customer, they'll stop showing me ads altogether?

On the Web's Cutting Edge, Anonymity in Name Only

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