Spyware

[tonyleigh]

Bin chucklin at these postings for last few days - thanks for putting it so succinctly! I have had a very marked increase in unsolicited mailings in last 3 -4 weeks. Perhaps coincidence or maybe sites are taking an increasingly cavalier attitude towards selling on lists. No evidence that this site is guilty (though I can trace the origin of some) but it would be nice to see confirmation that they aren't. Kim?

 

[kimhollamby]

PLEASE READ THIS

Very happy and pleased to confirm that we adhere to the Data Protection Act. Part of our responsibilities under that scheme include no back-door trawling of personal details, not that the Renault ad and the like give us that ability anyway.

Even the e-mail addresses that some have you have opted into (via our e-mail newsletter services and competitions) are very tightly governed.

The e-mail addresses we have captured here specifically for forum registration are not resold in any form; indeed, using this system we have protected them from the gaze of third parties so if spam is hitting some of you it is coming from elsewhere. We have not gathered them with an opt in, so we cannot legally sell them, even if we wanted to.

The only interaction between these forums and your hard disks is in the form of cookies that are there to provide the log-in and user preference functionality. You can check your browsers if you like to check them, but that's all they do.

From our server logs we can tell what percentage of users are using what type of computers, what the operating systems are and what browsers are being used. We only look at overall percentages, not individuals (with a 60,000+ unique user base I haven't got time, let alone the inclination). Every other web site worth its salt also monitors exactly the same info as part of their stats reporting.

Finally, we do log the IP address you are coming from, for security reasons. It helps us to track down the very occasional abuser, but the info is otherwise ignored.

Hope that puts some minds at rest.

 

[charles_reed]

Portentous claptrap

It's been going on in nearly every commercial website for far longer than you've been computer-literate.

It's that you've just heard about it - if you don't like "being spied on" don't visit websites or, at least, fit a firewall.

Your threatened suit against IPC would be laughed out of court - don't be a kangaroo.

 

[tonyleigh]

Re: PLEASE READ THIS

Thanks - concise, precise and nothing unexpected. But it certainly needed broadcasting and I suspect will do again! Perhaps worth keeping as a spike to paste in!!!

 

[kimhollamby]

Re: PLEASE READ THIS

When I get a mo I'll add it to the FAQs. Perhaps no-one will read it there but at least I can say...

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: PLEASE READ THIS

Kim,
When I first posted my observation concerning the pop-ups, I never expected this sort of response.
Your answer clarifies the situation, but it does remain a fact that pop-ups can get in on the back of a respected website, bypassing firewalls, and spy on the contents of a computer. As you say, not in the case of PBO/IPC.
With my firewall, and the popup killer, at least I am not seeing the intrusive Renault advert now.
At least it got some attention, and brought this problem to the eyes of others. Sorry it had to be on this boating site.
re. your last comment, it wll be read!



regards,
Philip

 

[kimhollamby]

Re: PLEASE READ THIS

No problems.

 

[Castletine]

Bravo

Bravo Kim,

I feel there are always going to be issues when it comes to understanding the dissemination of personal information in the public domain.

If any lister is sincerely worried about 'big brother' watching you then from now on close all your financial accounts, when shopping at the supermarket pay in cash and do not divulge your purchases (and therefore your lifestyle influences which leads to your position in the demographic breakdown) by registering them on your club card. Do not use a mobile telephone, do not extract money from a 'hole in the wall', refuse insurance etc etc - Whether you like it or not, out there there's a file with your name on it....

As far as information contained on Pc's are concerned, you have to ask the question...Is my information really THAT valuable? It's a transparent life.

Kim, on a personal level I applaud your integrity, I'd also like to say that I admire PBO's magnificent contribution in providing a FREE forum, the value of which far exceeds any advertising 'inconvenience'

Thanks


Jonathan