posted on September 8, 2000 12:47:46 PM new
I've only been here for a few days and keep seeing reference to double click, can someone enlighten me as to what this is about and what does it have to do with eBay.
posted on September 8, 2000 01:53:56 PM new
Double Click keeps track of everyone who uses DoubleClick sites, which include most "free" content sites such as AuctionWatch. DoubleClick pays such sites to carry DoubleClick ads, and in fact, most sites such as AuctionWatch are generally economically viable only due to DoubleClick income.
DoubleClick keeps information from each site you visit, as well as any information which you may expose, such as what your name is configured to on your browser. Generally, people expose enough by accident just once such that DoubleClick has access to most of our names, employment state, and a record of each event of visiting a DoubleClick site.
They use this information to tailor adversising to the individual, and they in turn sell such tailored advertising to their customers. The one on my AuctionWatch Ebay Outlook page is from "MG Financial Group". If you ever click on a DoubleClick ad, that's big news ($$$) to DoubleClick, and attracts special attention.
For those of us who find this attention unwelcome, the best way to defend against it is to never visit DoubleClick sites, such as AuctionWatch. But if you do visit such sites, a reaonsable approach is to never click a DoubleClick ad. Eventually, if no one clicks their ads, DoubleClick will go away.
Maybe AuctionWatch would go away too, which is not of course the goal. We, meaning content users and content providers, need to work on a more privacy protecting way of financing content sites.
posted on September 10, 2000 08:55:20 AM new
you can block Double Click and others from getting your info by downloading a program called Idcide. Website is idcide.com. Its free. Its works on most browsers but it is still in testing stage for Explorer 5.5. Check out the site and a full explanation is there
posted on September 10, 2000 08:58:49 AM new
It's an insidious information spider with legs that span the internet. It crawls into your system and "learns" things about you. It knows what color your hair is and what kind of dishwashing soap you use.
posted on September 10, 2000 09:25:37 AM new
In my opinion, the biggest problem with Doubleclick is disclosure.
The ultimate goal of Doubleclick is to present each viewer with ads that specifically appeal to their interests. If you have to look at ads, isn't it better to see ads for products or services that you are likely to find interesting or useful?
The problem is that people give up an enormous amount of privacy without ever being aware that they have done so.
posted on September 10, 2000 09:42:53 AM new
Privacy on the internet does not exist. I was recently amazed when
a significant poster on Auction Watch was able, in lightning flash
speed to find out my email address based only on my Auction Watch name,
HJW.
Since that time, I generally post my email address at the end of my
comment. I don't have anything on my computer to hide but heaven help
anybody that does.
Forgot to add my mail address
Helen
Ebay name & email
[email protected]
[ edited by HJW on Sep 10, 2000 09:45 AM ]
posted on September 10, 2000 09:57:34 AM new
I forgot to ask...does anybody know how my
email might have been revealed.
I don't have much computer knowledge
especially in this respect.
posted on September 10, 2000 10:05:23 AM newsg52, actually DoubleClick can place and read cookies on your computer without you having to click on one of their ads. Check your cookie files and I am sure you will see DoubleClick cookies unless you are using programs such as IDCide, CookiePal, and my personal favorite - AdSubtract.
Dr. Beetle
(dang that UBB)
[ edited by DoctorBeetle on Sep 10, 2000 10:06 AM ]
posted on September 10, 2000 10:08:05 AM new
I was just thinking,we all like to use Auctionwatch and we appreciate very much its a free site.However they have to get their revenues from somewhere.I am sure they are not here just because they felt like it or it was a nice thing to do.
No doubt they generate income through double-click and by the advertisement banners.
If you do not like what they do with this info then do not click on the banners or long onto the internet,that way it will you can protect your privacy.
Does anyone have any idea how much a newspaper would cost you if did not sell advertising.Not the 50c to 2.00 a week it does right know.
posted on September 10, 2000 10:13:42 AM newThe ultimate goal of Doubleclick is to present each viewer with ads that specifically appeal to their interests
Historically, those who have amassed personal information have utilized it to advance their own agendas.
J. Edgar Hoover is a prime example.
Perhaps less pernicious is the pure economic usage of data, along a spectrum of spamming on the bad end to answers for "send me three purchase opportunities involving real estate" on the other end.
The reason why DoubleClick doesn't discose what they're up to is that nobody would choose to let them do that, because all of our experiences with such information gathering are negative.
posted on September 10, 2000 10:23:23 AM newsg52, actually DoubleClick can place and read cookies on your computer without you having to click on one of their ads.
Yes, I know. They write their own cookie whenever you enter a DoubleClick site (such as AW and eBay).
[I have no inside knowledge of DoubleClick, AW, or any DC site, all of this is speculation based on external observations]
So they have a record of all DC sites, combined with any information you ever publicly exposed. But so far, that's not very interesting.
When you click a DC ad, DC makes money. That's what DC sells to their clients, click-thru's. For what it's worth, that's what they pay AW for too.
That's why DC is motivated to pay very careful attention to what context results in such clickthrus.
Good morning!