New Big Brother Spy Tool

[AllanY2525]

I would strongly suggest setting the security preferences in your web browser
to NOT accept cookies (unless you allow them, on a site-by-site basis)

Also, there is a free program called "Ad-Aware" that will scan your entire hard
drive and remove not only tracking cookies, but even some viruses, executable
files that are "drive-by downloads" that take place in the background (you
don't even know they've been downloaded to your PC), and other mal-ware

The author of the Ad-Aware program releases frequent updates to the
virus and cookie definitions file, to keep up with the latest bad stuff
out there on the Internet - the updates are almost weekly.

The program also installs a real-time monitor to sniff out the bad stuff
as it comes in from the Internet.

PC users running Windows XP or Vista have the ability to ENCRYPT their
personal files, also.

Mozilla Firefox can be set to automatically delete the contents of your
web cache every time you exit the browser.

Trust me, there are a lot of "white hat hackers" out there that WILL NOT
stand for this - and they will write the appropriate counter measures, if
this gets bad enough.

Big brother may be getting good at spying on us, but the hackers are
BETTER , FASTER and SMARTER - and they WILL retaliate.

[Towntalk]

Comment from EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) on "Proposed Revision of tracking Technologies for Federal Web Sites"

http://epic.org/privacy/cookies/comnts-to-OMB-cookie.pdf

[Towntalk]

What is so bad about this is that even if you just wanted to send an e-mail to your Congressman or Senator this tool would be used, and who really knows what these bureaucrats would do with the information gathered.

[our2cents]

I don't see a reason for government systems to use cookies unless they have accounts a person is logging into that requires them.  Otherwise, no they shouldn't be there.  This goes for any site in my opinion...but it goes deeper than cookies alone.  That lovely flash player that everyone loves, it's also now a tracking tool that keeps a much larger history than cookies in a browser.  Shockwave is the same, and how about the javascripting that is always left on by everyone using IE.

However, everyone can take it upon themselves to leave no tracks behind by wiping their systems cache.  A real easy way to do this is by using C***cleaner...now called ccleaner.  It wipes all cookies, all history, flashplayer, etc.  All of my systems and those I maintain for others have this tool and we have it start at each boot to wipe history and ensure every session is a new one.  Anyone looking for it can find it at http://www.ccleaner.com/.  I don't use the filehippo download, they have a direct link at their download page at http://www.ccleaner.com/download.  Just click the alternative downoad link to not use filehippo.

[Towntalk]

If you want to surf a government web site think again.

Government Proposes Massive Shift In Online Privacy Policy
Changes Would Pose Serious Threat To Americans' Personal Information, Says ACLU

WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union submitted comments today to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) opposing its recent proposal to reverse current federal policy and allow the use of web tracking technologies, like cookies, on federal government websites. Cookies can be used to track an Internet user's every click and are often linked across multiple websites; they frequently identify particular people.


"This is a sea change in government privacy policy," said Michael Macleod-Ball, Acting Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Without explaining this reversal of policy, the OMB is seeking to allow the mass collection of personal information of every user of a federal government website. Until the OMB answers the multitude of questions surrounding this policy shift, we will continue to raise our strenuous objections."

"Americans rely on the information from the federal government to research politics, medical issues and legal requirements. The OMB is now asking to retain the personal and identifiable information we leave behind," said Christopher Calabrese, Counsel for the ACLU Technology and Liberty Project. "No American should have to sacrifice privacy or risk surveillance in order to access free government information.  No policy change should be adopted without wide ranging debate including information on the restrictions and uses of cookies as well as impact on privacy."


[Federal Register: July 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 142)]
[Notices]               
[Page 37062-37063]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy09-80]                         

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Proposed Revision of the Policy on Web Tracking Technologies for
Federal Web Sites

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the
President.

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is considering
options for revising the current prohibition on Web tracking
technologies (such as persistent cookies) and invites public comments
on the policy that would govern the use of such technologies. The goal
of this review is for the Federal Government to continue to protect the
privacy of people who visit Federal Government Web sites while at the
same time making these Web sites more user-friendly, providing better
customer service, and allowing for enhanced Web analytics.

[[Page 37063]]


DATES: Comments must be received by August 10, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by one of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/open. Click the link
to ``Federal Web sites Cookie Policy Forum'' and follow the
instructions for submitting comments electronically.
     E-mail: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
     Fax: (202) 395-7245
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be made
available to the public through the relevant Web sites. For this
reason, please do not include in your comments information of a
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or
proprietary information. If you send an e-mail comment, your e-mail
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
Internet.
    Relevant comments submitted through the White House Open Government
Initiative will be taken into consideration alongside those received in
response to this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mabel Echols, Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs, Records Management Center, Office of Management
and Budget, Room 10102, NEOB, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20503. Telephone: (202) 395-6880.
    Copies of OMB memoranda M-00-13 and M-03-22 are available on OMB's
Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda_default/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 22, 2000, OMB issued memorandum M-
00-13, which was later updated by memorandum M-03-22, prohibiting the
use of Web tracking technologies unless the agency head approves the
use of these technologies due to a compelling need.
    During the past nine years, Web tracking technologies have become a
staple on most commercial Web sites with widespread public acceptance
of their use. Technologies such as persistent cookies enable Web sites
to remember a visitor's preferences and settings, allowing for a more
personalized, user-friendly experience. Moreover, such technologies are
necessary for accurate analytics of Web traffic, which helps to inform
decisions about how to improve a Web site so that it can better serve
the public.
    While the benefits of using Web tracking technologies are clear,
OMB is acutely aware of, and sensitive to, the privacy questions raised
by the use of such technologies. Any evaluation of revisions to the
current prohibition must consider, and address, potential risks to
privacy.
    Under a framework that we are considering, any Federal agency using
Web tracking technologies on a Federal Government Web site would be
subject to basic principles governing the use of such technologies and
would be required to:
     Adhere to all existing laws and policies (including those
designed to protect privacy) governing the collection, use, retention,
and safeguarding of any data gathered from users;
     Post clear and conspicuous notice on the Web site of the
use of Web tracking technologies;
     Provide a clear and understandable means for a user to
opt-out of being tracked; and
     Not discriminate against those users who decide to opt-
out, in terms of their access to information.
    OMB is currently considering the application of a three-tiered
approach to the use of Web tracking technologies on Federal Government
Web sites. A set of tiers that we are considering would be:
    1st Single-session technologies--which track users over a single
session and do not maintain tracking data over multiple sessions or
visits;
    2nd Multi-session technologies for use in Web analytics--which
track users over multiple sessions purely to gather data to analyze Web
traffic statistics; and
    3rd Multi-session technologies for use as persistent identifiers--
which track users over multiple visits with the intent of remembering
data, settings, or preferences unique to that visitor for purposes
beyond what is needed for Web analytics.
    It is anticipated that there would be more stringent restrictions
or review of the uses of such technologies within the tiers that have
higher privacy risks associated with them.
    OMB invites public comment on the framework that should govern
Federal agency use of Web tracking technologies, including such topics
as:
     The appropriate tiers;
     The acceptable use and restrictions of each tier;
     The basic principles governing the use of such
technologies;
     The degree of clear and conspicuous notice on each Web
site that Web tracking technologies are being used;
     The applicability and scope of such a framework on Federal
agency use of third-party applications or Web sites;
     The choice between an opt-in versus opt-out approach for
users;
     Unintended or non-obvious privacy implications; and
     Any other general comments with respect to this issue.

Kevin F. Neyland,
Acting Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-17756 Filed 7-24-09; 8:45 am]

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