posted on June 4, 2002 07:17:20 AM new
Hi there - for the last year or so Ive been using a program that detects and deletes spyware (programs that are disguised as cookies but gather information about the user) The program detects a bad cookie (Spyware) after visiting AW - Ive deleted it and returned to AW several times to make sure I wasnt mistaken.
This is the label detected (DoubleClick Spyware found in C:\WINDOWS\Cookies\ed@doubleclick[1].txt Pest Verification Token
If I increase my security settings to prevent this spyware cookie from loading on my machine - AW will not run correctly.
Could you please explain what your tracking with this program and why. I know its not a standard cookie for passwords and pageviews because all my other sites that use cookies never key up the software. What is this about ?
posted on June 4, 2002 09:33:21 AM new
Hello Sonya, It happens on first Log-in.Its gone before I enter my password and after I enter the password and click enter it appears. The only ad displayed is the Banner link from oas-central.realmedia.com/realmedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.auctionwatch.com Im pretty sure its on the log-in cookie and not from the banners but im not positive.
posted on June 6, 2002 12:59:26 PM new
Sonya, I was hoping you would ask the tech people about my cookie experience. It still keys up my bug detector sortware (Pest patrol by Zone Alarm) Id appreciate it if you would get back to me about it.
Thanks much
OK4
posted on June 6, 2002 01:26:47 PM new
Hello oak4leather,
The "spyware" cookies you are referring to are placed by the banner ads on our site, and the purpose for them is simply to log when someone clicks through on an advertisement from our site.
We do understand your privacy concerns, and please note that we do have a Privacy policy. If you would like to review our Privacy policy, just click the TRUSTe logo on the bottom of the screen.
posted on June 6, 2002 02:24:33 PM new
Diana, Thankyou for the information - I was able to follow the link to Doubleclick's site and read their privacy policy - It seems that they load the tracking program onto the machines of everyone who logs in to AW and use the information collected to target marketing email and advertising. ie:Junk email and spam. How about removing this banner so we can use your site without getting this doubleclick thing installed - I could understand getting it if you clicked the add but this hits your users whether they click it or not. How do I manage my auctions without getting this banner sites tracking software?
Thanks much
Ok4
posted on June 6, 2002 03:07:14 PM new
Hello oak4leather,
It has come to my attention that we do not use DoubleClick as an ad server, so the cookie is not being placed by our website.
This is probably something that is placed on your system by a pop-under from another site (these can be significantly delayed, so you might not associate the pop-under with the site that placed it), but I am not sure why it is being triggered by your visits to our site. Unforutnately, because we are not placing the cookie, or using Double-Click, I am not sure what we can do to stop it.
Edited to add: Is there a specific banner on our site that seems to trigger the cookie?
posted on June 6, 2002 07:42:27 PM new
Hello Diana, I clicked on the "Trust" Logo as you directed and listed is the following paragraph and link
*****(We use an outside ad company to display ads on our site. These ads may contain cookies. While we use cookies in other parts of our Web site, cookies received with banner ads are collected by our ad company, and we do not have access to this information.
AuctionWatch.com works with third party services that serve ads to this site. To find out more about DoubleClick, please go to http://www.doubleclick.net/. )
Now I follow this link to doubleclick from your privacy page and read their privacy policy under cookies.....
from the doubleclick site.
"DoubleClick is a media company that provides digital marketing and Internet advertising technology and services. Click here for our comprehensive statement covering our services. Click here for the TRUSTe approved privacy policy of this Web site, www.doubleclick.net. Read below for a brief overview of DoubleClick's practices.
No personal information is used by DoubleClick to deliver Internet ads.
DoubleClick does not use your name, address, email address, or phone number to deliver Internet ads. DoubleClick does use information about your browser and web surfing to determine which ads to show your browser.
You can control the technologies used to collect information.
DoubleClick asks Web site operators to link from their privacy policy to ours to allow consumers to opt-out of the DoubleClick cookie, so that no unique information or number is associated with your computer's browser if you choose. Click here for the adserving cookie opt-out. You can also use P3P to control your browser’s interaction with cookies.
You can control the email you receive.
Before companies can use DoubleClick Dartmail technology to send email, that company must commit to us that consumers have agreed to receive such email messages.
DoubleClick encourages all companies with which we do business to engage in fair information practices.
DoubleClick asks that these companies disclose their relationship with us by providing notice to consumers about the DoubleClick technologies that they use.
(A) DoubleClick as a technology service provider:
In most cases, when you see an Internet ad, DoubleClick has been asked by the Web site to act as an agent for ad delivery or reporting. The information DoubleClick processes on such a Web site's behalf belongs to that Web site and is not further used by DoubleClick or other companies.
(B) Web sites that share information with DoubleClick that will be used to determine your preferences for future adserving:
*******************************************
As you see above, this site installs tracking software on your AW's users each time they log in as I said in my first post.
Now the cookie on my machine is from doubleclick and is being put on my machine when I log in with my username and password its not a popup its a tracker - If your tech people dont know about this Id suggest they find out about it quickly. You can read this in the links on your own privacy policy.
Im not a troublemaker -I pay for your services and deserve the privacy to Run my auctions without the sneaky marketing tags.
Will you make them stop or allow them to continue this practice?
posted on June 7, 2002 09:30:17 AM new
The Privacy policy was written when we still used DoubleClick, however, we are now using Real Media to serve ads. Is there a specific ad that is causing this to happen?
posted on June 7, 2002 11:13:25 AM new
Thankyou for getting it fixed- I now get clean scans and no doubleclick cookies after I log in.
Molto Gratzia
Ok4
