Browser cookies can affect what price a vendor offers something for

[Zeeeter]

Hey Jono - remove your trojan-laden link in your post please . . . . . .

 

[Sundog]

<< Jono - remove your trojan-laden link in your post please . . . . . . >>


:Q

 

[ScrapSilicon]

<<

<< Jono - remove your trojan-laden link in your post please . . . . . . >>


:Q >>

lol...people never learn try it this way here ...saw the .php ...

 

[Jono182]

<< Hey Jono - remove your trojan-laden link in your post please . . . . . . >>


a trojan-laden link??? how do you figure?

it is simply a proof-of-concept page for a security hole in Internet Explorer that microsoft has known about since nov 12th, 2001. click here for more info on this hole

since ms has not released a patch for this bug yet, if you feel you must protect yourself you can disable active scripting under the security tab in ie's internet options. once again, this was in no way a trojan so please do not cause unnecessary panic by labeling it that. thanks.

 

[Omagh]

Jono 182

Please note that I did not state that the MAC address is what determines your destination on the Internet. I merely stated that
your MAC address is "swung" around the 'net. I know that this is not the case in every situation. Many of us hide behind a firewall.
However please note the following quote in GRC.COM

'''''The MAC address is a "guaranteed to be globally unique" 48-bit serial number embedded into every Ethernet network adapter ever made. The problem is you can't change it ? it's like your machine's unique indelible fingerprint ? and it's being made available to any web site (like this one) that you visit. In many ways it's like a "super web browser cookie on steroids" that cannot be disabled or blocked by normal means.'''''''''' Thus you may be tracked more uniquely with a MAC address than an IP address. Both
of them together could make a powerful database.

I deliberately exposed myself and ran a test from GRC.COM site and it was able to tell my MAC address. I would argue that the
MAC address is more unique than any IP address.

However I do not want to get into a "flaming war" and I do appreciate your lengthy explanation. For those who may
be interested there is lots of info available on the Web explaining how things work.

I just wanted people to be aware of the possible privacy issues that may be at stake.

Thanks again for your post.

 

[Jono182]

omagh,

thanks for the reply. could you send me the link from the grc.com where you ran the test? i ran the shields-up test but only saw some limited results about netbios info/etc. id be interested to see the test for the MAC address since ive never seen one before.

im behind a netgear router...but like any networking equipment, it has its own built-in MAC as well. if i was behind a router or firewall such as this, wouldn't the grc test be able to detect the MAC address of the firewall since it is the address where all my requests are being piped through? hmm anyway...lemme know if u have the link to that test.

no flame war of course...i hate those! 🙂

-jon

 

[DaddyCool]

Jono182 Nice of you to try to educate some of the Deal hunters here. My first reaction upon reading this was... what were some ppl thinking?

First of, do NOT believe the rumor mongers! First ask yourself, do they know what they're talking about, second, ask yourself do you understand what they're talking about? If No no either one of them, find out more.

My first and foremost reaction to this is.... Impossible, what is the motivation behind all this?
"They" want you not erasing cookies. "They" want to track your shopping patterns and sites you visit/browse/spend time.
And by erasing cookies, you appear to be just a visitor who just surfed on in.

Personally, I would never EVER purchase anything if the price discrimination were based on where I've been on the Net!!!

I was just going to comment on MAC address's availability for a web server but Jono has done an excellnet job.
Most Internet users are still DialUp and most don't have NIC's (therefore no MAC addresses!) Then there are ppl on Broadband with NIC with MACs accessible to ISPs. Then there are ppl behind firewalls with NAT's , routers, Norton Internet security that even Norton Security probe/software don't know my IP adress. bottom line: Your data is safe. Just DELETE COOKIES regularly- like every boot. There are automated programs that will do just that Freeware, from Microsoft called TWEAKUI. No spyware, No shareware, no fishy stuff, just a powerful little utility. Avail at downloads.com or hotfiles.com (ZDNet)

To summarize, the motivation behind all this was either
1) Deal sites wanting to track how often/what links you visit by using your cookies
2) Small-fry software vendors who capitalize on gullible, paranoid, unsupecting Dealhunters
3) or a concerned fellow dealhunter who believes all said and more can be done.
4) a clueless rumor-monger.


so be wise and DELETE those cookies whenever you can to protect your privacy