Comments on: NebuAd uses spyware practices to track users http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/06/22/nebuad-uses-malware-practices-to-track-users/ Top Technology news Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:40:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: TJ Kirchner http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/06/22/nebuad-uses-malware-practices-to-track-users/comment-page-1/#comment-103284 TJ Kirchner Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:04:30 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/06/22/nebuad-uses-malware-practices-to-track-users/#comment-103284 Thanks for the clarification Robb. I read the executive summary in your report, so I didn't see the part where you discussed DoubleClick. I just remembered that DoubleClick use to do user profiling across sites using cookie tracking before they were acquired by Google. I'm glad to hear things are better now and they don't generate interest profiles. Thanks again :) To answer your question JB, I believe the companies are WOW!, Embarq, Broadstripe, CenturyTel and Metro Provider. They're not the giants like Verizon, Comcast, and AOL, but they're still reputable ISP companies. Thanks for the clarification Robb. I read the executive summary in your report, so I didn’t see the part where you discussed DoubleClick. I just remembered that DoubleClick use to do user profiling across sites using cookie tracking before they were acquired by Google. I’m glad to hear things are better now and they don’t generate interest profiles. Thanks again :)

To answer your question JB, I believe the companies are WOW!, Embarq, Broadstripe, CenturyTel and Metro Provider. They’re not the giants like Verizon, Comcast, and AOL, but they’re still reputable ISP companies.

]]> By: JB http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/06/22/nebuad-uses-malware-practices-to-track-users/comment-page-1/#comment-103258 JB Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:09:14 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/06/22/nebuad-uses-malware-practices-to-track-users/#comment-103258 Which ISPs have customer agreements that allow them to do this? Any of the big ones? Which ISPs have customer agreements that allow them to do this? Any of the big ones?

]]> By: Robb Topolski http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/06/22/nebuad-uses-malware-practices-to-track-users/comment-page-1/#comment-103165 Robb Topolski Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:30:43 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/06/22/nebuad-uses-malware-practices-to-track-users/#comment-103165 Hi TJ, Very good article. I also make a comparison between NebuAd and DoubleClick in my paper. One thing that I learned in my research about this case is that DoubleClick quit its user-profiling efforts several years ago. DoubleClick's cookie, like NebuAd's cookie, is used to track individual users. But the similarities end there, since 2002. Unlike NebuAd, DoubleClick today doesn't build an interest profile on its users. DoubleClick does track which ads a user has seen and the cookie helps DoubleClick advertisers show their ads in a sequence. NebuAd chooses its ads based on what it thinks the users' interests are by eavesdropping on the user's Internet service. By comparison, DoubleClick shows ads about cars on sites about cars, and may show ads about hotels on sites about travel. Google has also told me that DoubleClick's "tracking" cookie intelligence is owned and controlled by the advertiser for use in their campaign. My focus was primarily on the technical aspects on NebuAd's cookie injection occurs. How it uses the cookies was secondary to my report. How DoubleClick uses cookies or profiles was likewise not the primary focus on my report, but I do believe that DoubleClick today does not create or use user interest profiles for targeted advertising. Robb Topolski Hi TJ,

Very good article.

I also make a comparison between NebuAd and DoubleClick in my paper. One thing that I learned in my research about this case is that DoubleClick quit its user-profiling efforts several years ago.

DoubleClick’s cookie, like NebuAd’s cookie, is used to track individual users. But the similarities end there, since 2002.

Unlike NebuAd, DoubleClick today doesn’t build an interest profile on its users. DoubleClick does track which ads a user has seen and the cookie helps DoubleClick advertisers show their ads in a sequence.

NebuAd chooses its ads based on what it thinks the users’ interests are by eavesdropping on the user’s Internet service.

By comparison, DoubleClick shows ads about cars on sites about cars, and may show ads about hotels on sites about travel. Google has also told me that DoubleClick’s “tracking” cookie intelligence is owned and controlled by the advertiser for use in their campaign.

My focus was primarily on the technical aspects on NebuAd’s cookie injection occurs. How it uses the cookies was secondary to my report. How DoubleClick uses cookies or profiles was likewise not the primary focus on my report, but I do believe that DoubleClick today does not create or use user interest profiles for targeted advertising.

Robb Topolski

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