Web Bug Internet Privacy Protection

You probably don't know about web bug internet privacy protection and what it is exactly. A web bug is one of the most frequently used techniques used to track who is reading web pages or emails and from where. They are also commonly used to see if an email was read, forwarded or deleted. The first of these web bugs were very small sized images located within the email. Some e-mails and web pages are not completely self-contained meaning that they sometimes require incoming or outgoing information to be sent. When this process takes place, the email client or web browser prepares the email or webpage to be displayed by sending an initial request to the server for additional information.

These web bugs are normally created by users to monitor the activity of customers or computer users and are not necessarily used for evil. Web bugs were originally made to track browsing data of users visiting websites, but of course like everything else they have turned into something else a bit more malicious. From incoming emails the only threat is posed if you allow HTML and imagery to be displayed, in which your email client will try to access the hidden servers for the third party information. Web bugs that are embedded into email are a much greater privacy threat than web page embedded web bugs. Typically the URL received in the original email message is an identifier of sorts, the viewing of this URL signals the hacker that the email has been read or looked at. Once you click on that URL, the sender will also have a record of your IP address and the computer you used to access it. Bugs like this are generally used by Emarketers, spammers, and Phisher's in an attempt to verify that the email addresses are valid. Another function of these specific type of email web bugs are to test which emails pass through spam or mail filters and which do not, this information is very valuable to Phisher's and marketers alike.

You will generally not have to worry about receiving or being infected by a web bug in today's day and age. Modern email browsers are designed to not load images when opening an HTML email from any unknown sender or suspected spam address. In most cases the user will have to specifically ask to display imagery, and only in that case, will images or HTML code be shown in the email. If you are an avid web browsing, and email user. The most important defense against web bugs such as these is to be knowledgeable and staying ahead of these tricks and scams as they are introduced. To the unsuspecting, untrained eye these emails may look perfectly normal and most are willing to open them. Without the proper web bug internet privacy protection knowledge you may not be safe from these quickly moving and evolving bugs.

New book on social media explores Internet privacy issues - nwitimes.com

New book on social media explores Internet privacy issues nwitimes.com But the premise of her book, "I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy" (Free Press 2012, $26) is even more frightening. Andrews, professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law and the director of the Institute for ... REVIEW: I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the ...Macleans.ca all 2 news articles »

Has privacy become passe? - Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney Morning Herald

Has privacy become passe? Sydney Morning Herald But he was ahead of his time. Before social media redefined the online experience, privacy remained an important consideration for Internet users. The US Federal Trade Commission said it was one of consumers' biggest concerns. That's no longer the case ... Government Secrecy and New Google Privacy Settings -- Ulterior Motives for ...Yahoo! Contributors Network all 51 news articles »

New book on social media explores Internet privacy issues - nwitimes.com

New book on social media explores Internet privacy issues nwitimes.com But the premise of her book, "I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy" (Free Press 2012, $26) is even more frightening. Andrews, professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law and the director of the Institute for ... and more »

Google Won't Pause New Privacy Policy - Should They Have To? - Search Engine Watch

Reason Online (blog)

Google Won't Pause New Privacy Policy - Should They Have To? Search Engine Watch The problem we seem to see over and over with privacy and other Internet-related concerns (which we also witnessed throughout the SOPA protest) is that it takes the scrutiny and evaluation of proposed legislation or policy by the public themselves to ... What's Going On with Google's New Privacy Policy?Reason Online (blog) Google refuses to halt privacy policy changeFinancial Times Google Losing Privacy Policy Debate In CongressMediaPost Communications Mobile bloom News -Chicago Tribune all 624 news articles »

Google's Weird Week of Privacy and Security Headaches - Investorplace.com

Google's Weird Week of Privacy and Security Headaches Investorplace.com Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) has endured a hectic several days of negative press pegged in part to concerns about the safety of an Android smartphone app and ongoing clamor over the company's newly announced privacy policy. Complaints about the privacy policy, ... and more »