Webmasters ~~ If I block doubleclick with my firewall, can they still keep track of me?

[WoundedWallet]

I found out that Akamai(ad and media delivery company) is deeply involved in Monster.com's website.

I worry that if they don't already share their data with other marketeers, maybe someday a marketeer will buy them and inherit their yummy database.

So I'm wondering that if I block them, will they still be able to track which jobs I'm looking for?

Would it matter if I block only outgoing connections but allow the incoming connections?

I guess the same question could be asked about a cookie. If I let them feed me, but block any outgoing connection to their site. Will they still know I ate their cookies?

Thanks,
WW

 

[WoundedWallet]

^
|

 

[Mark R]

If you block all outgoing connections to their servers, they'll never even know you visited a site they supply.

 

[rahvin]

I have a similar question and this should really be in the OS area but...

I'm using ipchains to block doubleclick but I'm basically in the position of having to block all IP numbers (and they have a LOT), is there a way to specify everything at a domain name? I tried just blocking doubleclick.net but it lets m.doubleclick.net through (which shifts IPs about every 15 min). Anyone know a way to put a variable in front, ie something like *.doubleclick.net (which doesn't work)?

 

[WoundedWallet]

Mark R, thanks for your answer. That will solve a lot problems with pages looking half-cooked.

rahvin, I don't know how ipchains work but do you have to tie the domain and the name on your rule? Or can you just use the IP?

If you can use the IP only, you could block entire third levels(?) that they own. For example 204.253.104.* and 204.253.105.*

I don't know if the * is necessary but this way you could reduce the number of IPs you need to state.

 

[rahvin]

WW,

Proper syntax for the command is XXX.XXX.XXX.0 (0 instead of asterix). The problem is that doubleclick.net has many many IP's that are all over the place. 128.XXX.XXX.0, 209.XXX.XXX.0, 28.XXX.XXX.0 and I'm not kidding on this. They must have servers with 30 ISPs all over the net. Typing in IP ranges is a real pain, I wish I could just rely the DNS server to find them all if I type in the something like 0.doubleclick.net

 

[Bozo Galora]

On the same topic:

I just installed Black Ice. Set priority at highest - "Paranoid".
Went to GRC for shields up test. Said I was invisible. But all cookies are still given, and I don't have to put in any passwords. How can I be invisible, but still known for passwords?
When I go to a site, can't they trace my IP DNS if I have a 56.6 modem/static IP address?
I just don't understand "invisible" - does this mean not hacker accessible, but traceable?
Any help apprec. here

 

[Mark R]

Invisible mode to Shields Up just means that your computer does not reply when a remote computer trys to initiate a connection.
Shields up does not (and cannot) test your computers ability to initiate connections. If you initiate a connection, then your IP will be (and must be) released to the remote party so that 2 way communication can be set up.

Cookies are sent and received by your computer over the http connection that your computer initiated. If you set blackice to allow outgoing web connections then you will still recieve and send cookies.

 

[Bozo Galora]

Thanxs

 

[kamiam]

Mark R do you know anything about Zone Alarm? will it stop out going communication and tracking if installed?