Microsoft's release Internet Explorer 9 -- made available for download this week -- includes a tool that lets users protect themselves from being tracked on the Web.
How does it work?
We never have a static web page. They're more like a mosaic of different services.
What do those do?
Those are mostly tracking pixels. They measure, for example, how many hits a site gets. It's important to understand that cookies are only one way to track users on the Web. There are also tracking pixels and a variety of others. The fact is that users on the Web are tracked, often without their knowledge and without their consent. Another important aspect is the distinction between tracking and advertising. Not all tracking is advertising, not all advertising is tracking. The third aspect is that you have to distinguish between expected tracking and unexpected tracking. If I buy a book at Amazon, for example, or listen to a song on Last.FM, I know that the service will track my behavior. I know it will use this data to show me similar things which I might like, and thus enhance my experience.
The other thing is unexpected tracking or, call it as creepy tracking. The user gets no information about which service is tracking his online behavior, how this information is used or where it ends up. It is precisely this kind of tracking that IE want to address with Tracking Protection. The technology will be an integral part of all versions of IE9, starting with the Release Candidate of IE9.
How will the plug-in know which attempts at tracking it should stop?
The plug-in relies on lists; these contain a set of rules that define which content to block.
How much technical know-how does it take to generate these lists? Can anyone generate a new list and share it with their friends?
Yes.Tracking Protection is designed as an open platform; the more people create lists, the better the service will get. The process itself is really simple: Say you browse the Web one rainy afternoon and you want to see what content the website you're currently visiting is loading. IE9 will have a feature that shows you precisely this information. If you find something you can't explain, you can add it to a list. You can then put the list online and send the links to your friends. They just need to click on the link and your rule-set is added to their IE9.
So Tracking Protection is not limited to Tracking? Can you block ads as well?
If you generate a list for it, it can block other things.
Sounds simple enough -- how do you think the site-owners and advertising companies will react?
It has already generated a lot of interest.If your list blocks a specific thing a website tries to load and a lot of people install your list, the site might go: "Wow, people are blocking these things and I need them. Hmm... if I try and explain to my visitors what this specific content does and why I need it, I might be able to convince them and they might switch to my list, which allows this particular feature." Tracking Protection really levels the playing field for consumers compared to the people who own the site. It might even help start a conversation that otherwise won't happen.
Contact us (PerfeITo Software solutions) for inquiry or interest in Microsoft Products.We are consulting company, and Microsoft Partner* Program since 2008.
Log in to http://www.perfeitosoftware.com
Mail to :mail@perfeitosoftware.com
About us:At PerfeITo, we specialize in providing cost-effective solutions customized for your specific business. The advantage of global sourcing coupled with local business knowledge enables us to deliver solutions that are cutting edge while retaining the focus on how these solutions best meet your particular needs. Our services include software application development, software product development along with application management and technology integration solutions
How does it work?
We never have a static web page. They're more like a mosaic of different services.
What do those do?
Those are mostly tracking pixels. They measure, for example, how many hits a site gets. It's important to understand that cookies are only one way to track users on the Web. There are also tracking pixels and a variety of others. The fact is that users on the Web are tracked, often without their knowledge and without their consent. Another important aspect is the distinction between tracking and advertising. Not all tracking is advertising, not all advertising is tracking. The third aspect is that you have to distinguish between expected tracking and unexpected tracking. If I buy a book at Amazon, for example, or listen to a song on Last.FM, I know that the service will track my behavior. I know it will use this data to show me similar things which I might like, and thus enhance my experience.
The other thing is unexpected tracking or, call it as creepy tracking. The user gets no information about which service is tracking his online behavior, how this information is used or where it ends up. It is precisely this kind of tracking that IE want to address with Tracking Protection. The technology will be an integral part of all versions of IE9, starting with the Release Candidate of IE9.
How will the plug-in know which attempts at tracking it should stop?
The plug-in relies on lists; these contain a set of rules that define which content to block.
How much technical know-how does it take to generate these lists? Can anyone generate a new list and share it with their friends?
Yes.Tracking Protection is designed as an open platform; the more people create lists, the better the service will get. The process itself is really simple: Say you browse the Web one rainy afternoon and you want to see what content the website you're currently visiting is loading. IE9 will have a feature that shows you precisely this information. If you find something you can't explain, you can add it to a list. You can then put the list online and send the links to your friends. They just need to click on the link and your rule-set is added to their IE9.
So Tracking Protection is not limited to Tracking? Can you block ads as well?
If you generate a list for it, it can block other things.
Sounds simple enough -- how do you think the site-owners and advertising companies will react?
It has already generated a lot of interest.If your list blocks a specific thing a website tries to load and a lot of people install your list, the site might go: "Wow, people are blocking these things and I need them. Hmm... if I try and explain to my visitors what this specific content does and why I need it, I might be able to convince them and they might switch to my list, which allows this particular feature." Tracking Protection really levels the playing field for consumers compared to the people who own the site. It might even help start a conversation that otherwise won't happen.
Contact us (PerfeITo Software solutions) for inquiry or interest in Microsoft Products.We are consulting company, and Microsoft Partner* Program since 2008.
Log in to http://www.perfeitosoftware.com
Mail to :mail@perfeitosoftware.com
About us:At PerfeITo, we specialize in providing cost-effective solutions customized for your specific business. The advantage of global sourcing coupled with local business knowledge enables us to deliver solutions that are cutting edge while retaining the focus on how these solutions best meet your particular needs. Our services include software application development, software product development along with application management and technology integration solutions
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