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Cursor software tracks Web traffic
From: mea culpa <jericho () DIMENSIONAL COM>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 12:19:11 -0700
http://www.sjmercury.com/svtech/news/breaking/ap/docs/1133907l.htm Posted at 12:21 a.m. PST Tuesday, November 30, 1999 Cursor software tracks Web traffic BY TED BRIDIS Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- Popular software used by more than 16 million people to change a Web browser's computer cursor into cartoon characters and other images is quietly tracking its customers across the Internet and recording which Web pages they visit. New York-based Comet Systems Inc.'s free cursor software reports back to its own computers with each customer's unique serial number each time that person visits any of 60,000 Web sites -- including dozens aimed at young children -- that support its technology. Computer privacy experts expressed dismay over the behind-the-scenes communications, which are sent without warning. But the company insists it is not violating customers' privacy because it does not attempt to match serial numbers against anyone's real-world identity. It published an explanation of its practices on its Internet site Monday after it was contacted by The Associated Press. ``We don't know your gender, your age or anything except you're a Web browser visiting sites,'' Comet spokesman Ben Austin said. ``There's not a lot of reason to crunch that data because I don't see that it's in anyone's economic interests. We're stating for the record that we don't do that and we never will.'' Austin said the company tracks those serial numbers for a census of its customers, who aren't asked to disclose their names or e-mail addresses, and because some Web sites pay Comet based on the number of visitors using the cursor-changing technology. Critics said the company should have more openly disclosed the transmissions to its customers. They also contend it would not be very difficult with today's technology to begin correlating the Comet serial number with a consumer's identity if the company suddenly decided to or if Comet -- with its extensive tracking database -- were purchased by new owners willing to do that. [snip..] ISN is sponsored by Security-Focus.COM
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