untangling_the_web

DID: 4046925
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For more information on how to understand site certificates, the US CERT site has a
new Cyber Security Tip addressing this topic.
Understanding Web Site Certificates
http://www.us-certgov/cas/tips/ST05-010.html
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Watch Out for "Web Bugs"
"Web bugs" are virtually invisible 1-pixel images that act as electronic tags to help
websites and advertisers track users' movements across the Internet. "Also called a
'Web beacon,' 'pixel tag,' 'clear GIF' and 'invisible GIF,' it is a method for passing
information from the user's computer to a third party Web site. Used in conjunction
with cookies, Web bugs enable information to be gathered and tracked in the
stateless environment of the Internet.,,206 At present, there is no sure way to
counteract all web bugs, but products are becoming available to let you "see" web
bugs, block them, or remove them. All the products designed to handle web bugs
must be downloaded and installed. Only products with free versions are listed here.
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Washt..ch News
~iotecl'l/M.dic.'
GOlJernme"t IT
Medi.,'Content
'Net Architectuf'll
Pollcy/Regulat,on
Software/Services
Telecom
Finance
Ventura Capital
E.merging Cos.
M &A
Markets
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Bugs That Go Through Computer Screens
By Leslle Walker
Thursday, March 15,2001 ;Page EOI
You've got bugs. At least, I bet you've
picked up a few "Web bugs" ifyou've
gone anywhere online. Even ifyou're
boycotting the World Wide Web and
only reading e-mail, odds are you've
been bugged.
'"\Y'ashtech.com
Updated News
live Online
"Tburs.. 1 p.m.: Leslie Walker hosts
p evp al.c cm CEO Peter Thiel
'The Download Archivesl Shannon Henry
recently hosted webMethods CEO Phillip
Bugnosis analysis of: Bugs That Go Through Comouter Screens (washingtonoost.com) (http;ijwashingtonpost,com!wp-(
• Highlighted images may be Web bugs.
Properties
Contact
Image URl
Property name Description
Tiny
Protocols
Cookie
Lengthy
Domain
.~ Once
TPCookie
image is tiny, so is probably not meant to be seen
image URL contains more than one Web protocol name (e.c., "http;" twice)
image URL overlaps with the cookie field too much
image URL is unusually long
image comes from a different domain than the main document
image is used only once in the document
image comes from a different domain than the document and manipulates a cookie (Third Party Cookie)
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