Can ATS Be changed to exclude Google? Will you still post here?

Originally posted by SeekerLou

I have a problem with this issue. How do you guys feel?
Will you continue your posts here?
If one had a revealing post.... think your butt wouldn't be tracked down in 2 mins?

I just HOPE ATS can change some of their services...
How about it ATS?
Let me hear your thoughts... Thanks in advance.

Are you willing to stop using the 'net, period? That is what you will need to do, this is pervasive.

P.s. There is a great Firefox addon that serves as a "no-Google proxy", it will prevent you from accessing any page that serves Google. You will have to override manually (just a click, no biggee) problem is I forgot the name of it. I'm sure a search will bring it to light, should you be interested. It's a bit hard to find though, you might have to *google*

P.s.

This is the addon I was thinking of... Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't. Is it possible to stay a step ahead of Grgle?

Originally posted by ANOK
You can block Google, and other trackers.

"Trackers."

Funny.

The hyperbolic rhetoric from the anti-bad-stuff software companies, paranoid misconceptions from the misinformed, and outright lies from those seeking attention have certainly brought otherwise smart people to a state of confusion.


There are very likely few people (meaning dozens, if that) who visit as many "conspiracy" sites as I do... and certainly none who also load as many ATS pages as I do.

In fact, I most often see no ads on ATS -- and I've disabled the high-WATS score ad negation for myself -- because I load so many pages the ad profiling/targeting software at the ad networks have run out of ads to show me.

I never deleted cookies unless I was testing specific code that wrote a specific cookie.

I never blocked "trackers" or JavaScript.

I never opted out of any ad profiling system.

And with all that...

I was still allowed to visit the Congressional office complex in DC to lobby representatives (more than once, and with ATS as my designated website business).

I was still able to get a personal one-on-one visit with my representative in his local office.

I can still get past TSA at airports without a hassle.

No mysterious vans near my house.

No problems with my many computers (including a PC with limited security).

And, I have a static IP.


Point being... given the content and domains I regularly visit daily... and the massive amount of page loads I see daily... if everything the "tracking paranoid" are saying is true, I'd have some real problems -- I don't.


Nearly all "tracking" done online -- all all the tracking by top-tier and ethical companies -- isn't relatable to you personally unless you specifically provide that information (such as a Facebook or Google account, and you browse a site that has their code).

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


It's free, who cares? ATS is not the only site people browse.

If people worry about it, there is nothing wrong in having something to make you feel more comfortable.

My brother used have the same attitude about anti-virus, until he got one.

Originally posted by ANOK
My brother used have the same attitude about anti-virus, until he got one.

This has nothing to do with computer viruses.

If you do any google searches at all they log what you are looking for into a database, even the most basic # you do on the Internet is logged at a minimum by your ISP even if you avoid places like google. They know what websites you go to, who you e-mail, what you talk about in your unencrypted IM sessions, all that # is sent plain text. E-mails (and other services/files) older than 6 months can be read/accessed without a warrant (In the US anyway). The idea of privacy in today's age is pretty laughable.

If you really want to be anonymous while your browse the web you need to use the Tor network - but even that can be tracked with enough resources. And since you are connecting on a bunch of different nodes you should never do anything sensitive like shopping, banking, checking your email, or logging into anything really since that traffic could be sniffed out....

Basically if you want privacy and anonymity you really shouldn't be on the Internet at all. Maybe at a minimum you should look at paying for an encrypted VPN service so your ISP can't sniff/log literally everything you do on the Internet.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

This has nothing to do with computer viruses.

I didn't say it did.

I was talking about people who brag they don't use protection and have never put a bun in the oven, until they did.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Very good (though couldn't star...?)

If it wasn't Google, it would be someone else. I'd rather have an internet that works well and allows me to look for what I want, when I want - than an internet where some sites cannot be used or reached.

The Google system works well - why the need to not use it? It's quite annoying that some individuals perpetuate half-true or completely untrue myths about certain companies or corporations, just to justify their continued hatred towards them.

Thank you ALL for the replies.

Thinkingcap , you are right on the money. The way I see it : I compare this "activity" to peeping toms. They get charged with the crime , right? But this is OK for google and the likes to watch us , profile, and get away with it?

Think now: It is like a peeping Tom that goes from window to window to window, following us to every room in our home, watching what we do, who we talk to, our interests... profiling us.... The Toms are invading our privacy...so please tell me, what's the difference here?

Skeptic, I understand the dilema too, of being caught up in the middle. Glad it isn't my site. It's like your hands sometimes are tied, sometimes folk get caught between a rock and a hard place.
But it is especially nice to know that ATS is testing a new service. Shows an honest attempt at it anyway.

However, there would still be an issue with the threads/posts that have embedded youtube vids . Once clicked on, (if allowed to connect) , then this would enable all the url tracking through ATS, right?

I realize too, that people surfing the internet are never EVER going to be 100% secure , no matter how up to date one may be. For there are those that are always one step ahead.

There will be no such thing as anominity on the net. So yeah, if one wants privacy , get off the net. But hey, even when I'm OFF the net.... There are STILL issueS of my /our privacy being stripped from us. So, we can run but not hide from a dannggg thing. We have to fight for our rights these days, it seems. Or you are gonna HAVE TO ONE DAY if you haven't already!

Originally posted by SeekerLou
It is like a peeping Tom that goes from window to window to window, following us to every room in our home,

That's not how it works. Not even close.

YOU visit their property. Using ATS as the example...

(1) You make the conscious decision to visit our domain, which we own, and on which has lots of code where we set our own cookies to manage the page-to-page state of members and visitor services, and our third party partners also use cookies for ads and analytics services.

(2) The value proposition you consciously make is that you accept the ads (with their cookies) and our cookies as a fair trade for the content and services provided by ATS.

(3) If you make the conscious decision to visit another domain, owned by someone else, they may also have ads from the same source as ATS -- "advertising.com" for example. When on that other site, advertising.com typically has no idea you were previously on ATS, but they do know what ads you saw while on ATS. With that information, they optimize the ads you see on the other domain.

The analytics code represented by Google Analytics cannot know who "YOU" are if you're not logged into Google in some other way, and does not retain individual IP addresses. This is typical of cookie-based analytics. Server-based analytics typically store the IP addresses of all visitors, we don't use those, nor do we store server logs.

Social networks are different. If you're logged into Facebook, and visit a site with the Facebook widget, their code knows "YOU" and knows you're visiting that site, what you see, and for how long.

Some "behavioral" targeted systems for ad networks retain site browsing histories for up to 30 days. Three of our ad networks use such a system, but the data is heavily anonimized (cryptic codes representing a web browser) and never associated with personal information.

Skeptic, I understand the dilema too, of being caught up in the middle.

I'm not. I understand the technology... and have never feared it.

There will be no such thing as anominity on the net.

People should be much more concerned with their ISPs, and the government.

While Congress is considering bills that would severely harm small websites and benefit big media companies (by the implementation of "privacy" requirements)... they're also pushing bills to force every US ISP to record EVERYTHING you do online via deep packet inspection, and retain that for no less than 18 months -- but with no restrictions on how the ISP can ultimately use that data.

So, very soon, your ISP will have very personal data on you, combined with everything you do online... with no limitations (so far) on what they can do with it.

reply to post by ANOK


Did I neglect to thank you for your recommendation of "Ghostery"?
Appreciate this info!

And to the others that recommended firefox - a great big Thank you!
Now I can highly recommend Firefox too! ... for those who care w/Ghostery.

I appreciate your comments, everyone.

Skeptic, I hear what you are saying when I choose to go to YOUR site, etc. I agree that YOU have every right to know what is happening there.

Appreciate your elaboration on how ATS works.

The prob with a lot of the tracking sites is this.... Why do they need to know where I go when I leave? I am no longer on i.e. YOUR site for I have left there. It should be noONE's business where I am thEN except for the site I am visiting. This imo is not right. So yes, you are right , Facebook, and all of those are more ''imposing''.

AND yeah, I agree, we should be concerned with the logging of one's IP's , tracking and BIG Bro. since they want to control every aspect it seems, with one excuse after another.... for the betterment of mankind..

It's only a matter of time before the world wide web will be renamed to "Poli-Net" ...You know , like take a bite out of crime with those dentures!

IMO, we shouldn't be treated as if we are ALL criminals.

Thank you for reading and thank you for your time.
I will try to continue drawing my shades but it seems the cord gets harder to pull these days..

Appreciate you all!

reply to post by ComeFindMe


You cant star a post? or were you getting on to someone for NOT starring?

Am not sure what you meant but I AM having a problem starring posts in this thread and it is only this thread. Don't know what kind of gliche this is but again, I can star other posts and threads.
So Just to let you know, I owe you guys some stars!! and will asap.

Anyone else having a prob starring in thread?
Oh and thanks a lot for moving this thread.

You could do everything by carrier pigeon I suppose. Myself, I can't wait to read the thread about how they use the national grain reserve to bait those pigeons into a snack in order to read the notes tied to their legs.

As for me, I like having both tailored ads based on things that I have looked into from competitors. Sometimes I save money on purchases. And so I don't see the same five ads over and over. If only radio could become hip to such advertising technology.

Just keep in mind that there are not a lot of people to talk with when you are living the life of a hermit.

Originally posted by SeekerLou
reply to post by ANOK

 

Did I neglect to thank you for your recommendation of "Ghostery"?
Appreciate this info!

Hey no problem, glad you find it useful.

reply to post by Ahabstar

Hi...Thank you for your reply

Yes, reverting to carrier pigeons --- how very wise of you - What a solution!
NOW THAT was very helpful, wasn't it?

Some like being ad targeted, others don't. I'm only one that doesn't.
All advertising needs to be on the up and up (a lot aren't) and they will install all manner of crap to folks PCs, etc. Tricky, tricky little b's.

Your preference is yours.... I don't like being targeted AT ALL period.

Don't worry, I don't EVER plan on being a hermit. Although I do enjoy a little quiet time every now and then which INCLUDES having my privacy....

Oh but of course with Google being on the UP and UP about their tracking , etc. -- imo this STILL doesn't make it right.

Originally posted by SeekerLou
The prob with a lot of the tracking sites is this.... Why do they need to know where I go when I leave?

Again, that's typically not how it works. There's no way for us to know where you go when you leave ATS unless we put some code on that site.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Have had mods and site owners in here ...avoiding my star question

But I realize that you guys' points are more important- to try to get across.

Skeptic,

I understand you say ATS does not use this code, thank you.

But what about once you have allowed a google search or Youtube vid while in here? Wouldn't that START the FULL tracking , tracking you further even after leaving ATS? Once you've connected, wouldn't you be agreeing for this to follow for THEy will have the connection thROUGH ATS? Got me?

reply to post by SeekerLou


I'm really not following your question.


But if your concerned about embedded YouTube videos. Embed code for videos only exist on the page in which the code is embedded. The code can't "follow" you.

reply to post by SeekerLou


Just wondered why the star function wasnt on this thread - more a curiosity than anything else

Didn't realise I had stumbled into the mythical realm of Mods *terradactyl swoops overhead*

Great work on the site btw guys

reply to post by ComeFindMe


To answer yours and my question re starring:

I had to u2u someone who was kind enough to inform me that on THIS board questions forum, the starring system is NOT implemented.

You mods and owners are really on the ball here, aren't ya?
Defense is the key ... forgetting to answer a simple question among the posts...