Is ATS Passing Our IP Addresses To Advertisers?

I am seeing localized ads on the forum pages. Advertisers require IP addresses to use any IP locator service to provide localized ads, for example the "Earn your bachelor's degree in XXX city." XXX = whatever city the host computer is located.

Is this just an oversight or has this been OK'd by management?

Thanks,
jats

ATS doesn't have to pass the IP address to advertisers. Your browser does that on it's own, every time you send a request for a page or whatever. If it worries you, use a proxy server.

I actually have a siggi script that shows each person who is viewing my comments' IP addy. Can also config it to show what browser version, aprox. location, local time, and a bunch of other goodies.
Prolly verboten here, so I don't use it.
It's no big deal, every website knows this info. Has to know, to be able to serve up web pages for a particular browser, O.S. and sometimes language and other things.
If you wish to know what ports are open on your computer, your ip and others, goto grc.com and click "shields up" to see just what you are broadcasting to every website, and just how open your system is to attacks. It's free.

Gotrox and Beachcoma have it right... your own browser is the one doing the ratting, not ATS. The advertiser says "hey, lemme see where you're from" and your browser obligingly displays your IP addy and it does its thing.

It is almost impossible to be anonymous on the internet (even with proxy surfing.)

If it bothers you, get one of those cookie blocker things. It will, however, make ATS and other board sites act a little wonky (that's how they know when to tell you there's new stuff for you to read or new mail... they read the cookie and compare it to current info.)



(edited for misspelling Beachcoma. Sheesh)

[edit on 11-11-2007 by Byrd]

Ok, it sounds like some of you are implying that the page contains a redirection script that loads the ad directly from the advertisers' host. If that is true, then what's the difference? The point is that an outside entity can monitor who frequents this site by their IP.

jats

[edit on 11-11-2007 by jats1]

Originally posted by jats1
Ok, it sounds like some of you are implying that the page contains a redirection script that loads the ad directly from the advertisers' host. If that is true, then what's the difference? The point is that an outside entity can monitor who frequents this site by their IP.

jats

[edit on 11-11-2007 by jats1]

another old thread awakened. I would think ATS passing on information about us to Corporate advertisers and there data gathering might be a bit unethical. I am sure some people might consider this wrong.

I just always live by the old internet advice...

"Don't put anything on the net you would not post on a highway billboard"

But then my life is pretty much an open book anyway..

Semper

reply to post by jats1


You may want to research geo targeting and how it relates to internet marketing. I find your dismay at ATS specifically interesting, as just about any website that uses ad revenue to pay the bills will use geo targeting. Heck, websites that don't rely on ad revenue still use it.

Originally posted by semperfortis
I just always live by the old internet advice...

"Don't put anything on the net you would not post on a highway billboard"

But then my life is pretty much an open book anyway..

Semper

I admire that, I think secrets only lead to corruption.

reply to post by Mirthful Me

It would be wrong for me to interpret how you chose to use symbolism, but I saw this as funny from the point of view below.

Hey mirthful me, I just looked at your new avatar. Symbolically I saw some meaning in it.

First we have discussed before the meaning of 'monkey' often it is used as a lingo by elites when they refer to the common class. Not evolved, always getting into things, and other many times references.

Then it says you are the political board leader and subject matter expert.

Now for the kicker. It also says less talk more monkey.

Should we have more uninvolved non elite conversation? Less real topics discussed?

Personally, if commoners are monkeys, then I would lead to the allegory of the Monkey Deity Hanuman.
hinduism.about.com...

However I do not believe in Hinduism, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, but the story is a good one.

Originally posted by Mirthful Me
reply to post by jats1

 

I find your dismay at ATS specifically interesting, as just about any website that uses ad revenue to pay the bills will use geo targeting. Heck, websites that don't rely on ad revenue still use it.

Uhhh, ok. I figured where I was coming from would be obvious. My mistake.

I expected a site dedicated to the discussion of conspiracy theories, such as the Big Brother conspiracy, to protect the privacy of it's posters. I can think of a conspiracy or two that would justify going the extra half yard to not allow other companies to see members IP addresses. And that's the only way to geolocate... that is I'm 99% certain.

Originally posted by jats1
I expected a site dedicated to the discussion of conspiracy theories, such as the Big Brother conspiracy, to protect the privacy of it's posters.

There's a secret forum for the ultra-paranoid. Access costs 5000 ATS points.