Yahoo's Tracking Method

December 9, 2004

Yahoo uses " Web Beacons " to track Yahoo Group users while they surf the

net. They then share this information with their customers. For those

of us who regularly delete the cookies etc. off our machines, it isn't a

big deal, but for people who don't clear their cookies (internet temp

folders), it becomes yet another invasion of privacy.

You can opt out of the Yahoo tracking policy by going to this web page:

Then click on the link in the sentence " You may choose to opt-out of

Yahoo! using this information for this research. Please click here to

opt-out. "

The next page that pops up says " You have opted out successfully. "

Yahoo's cagey though. Right underneath that is a little grey button.

Don't click it or you'll opt yourself right back in. Most sites use

that little button to finish the opting out process. Yahoo hopes you

click it out of habit and opt yourself in:-)

BTW - The free version of AdAware produced by Lavasoft, is a simple way

to keep the " phone home " spyware programs off your computer. Just click

on the following link, go to the Free Download, pick your download

location and install this on your machine. It is very safe, dependable

and with a couple of clicks of your mouse you can download new

definitions as they become available. I consider AdAware to be a " must

have " program and have it installed on all our home and office

machines. We run it twice a week on every computer.

AdAware is a user friendly program, so even if you have never used an

anti-spyware program on your computer, you shouldn't have difficulties

figuring this one out. I guarantee you will be shocked by how much

spyware is nestled in the crooks and crannies of your machine.

--

Lyndi

Recommended Posts