I use an online text portal which, on Linux, can only be accessed via a web browser. Although in Windows there is a dedicated programme that works similarly to Outlook Express or Thunderbird, hence there no need to use a web browser unless one is not on one's own computer.
Since yesterday I have noticed a small purple icon appearing near the top left of the web page from time to time which says 'clixpy, Google Analytics' (on two lines).
Being concerned, I Googled for 'clixpy' and found this site:
http://www.clixpy.com/
Suffice to say that it, 'clixpy', records everything I do when online to the text portal, key strokes, mouse movements, selections made etc., as shown by a live demo on clixpy.com, if I use a web browser. So it appears to be very intrusive and I'm extremely concerned for my privacy.
What is the reason for 'clixby's presence? Is it a consequence of new UK laws or EU regulations, or is it something else. WHATEVER, I *DON'T* LIKE IT! Makes me think of PHORM.
Independently, I have been having increasing concerns regarding the extent and the amount of information collected and saved by Google. In addition, my ISP has moved it's email service to GMail, a few days ago. So I now not only have further concerns about privacy, but also am limited to a single download of my emails and cannot otherwise control my email preferences from my desktop. I have been in the habit of downloading my emails to several locations, and also leaving them on the server for a while which is apparently no longer possible.
It is easier to change my online text service than my longstanding email address but I'm coming to the opinion that I will have to do both.
In conclusion, is ever the increasing snooping and control that we are being subjected to the irresistible force against which our puny efforts to resist are futile.
As an aside, but still relevant, have you read today about the UK company selling phony bomb detectors to Iraq, Afghanistan and any other unstable country for obscene amounts of money. I mention this just as an indicator of how low we are sinking. We can no longer trust in the integrity and good faith of our governments, institutions and businesses. What a state to get into!
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Moley - I know how you feel. I stopped using Chrome after testing the Beta for 10 minutes when I saw that it was doing something like that.
As for how low can we sink... sometimes it is better not to dwell on the bottom-feeding elements of society.
jw
Unfortunately this is only the tip of the iceberg. I have heard that auto manufacturers are going to start putting in GPS units. So, when you buy the car, your personal information is entered into a data base, and your driving habits are tracked and recorded. Slowly we are becoming more like robots, controlled by our governments.
Here is the reply to my complaint to my online text service provider.
HI ........
"Can I draw your attention to our Terms of Service here:
http://www.xxxxxx.com/terms
In particular...
The information we collect is used to improve the content of our Web pages and our online text messaging services.
Tools like clixpy assist us to do this.
***Our terms of service apply, whichever of our products you are using, but obviously clixpy only has relevance to improving web-site navigation.***
Regards"
I'm somewhat at a loss as to understand how key logging and scraping *ALL* my activity and input on their site contributes constructively to improving their service. And, by contrast, exactly how do they seek to improve their service when an email client or a dedicated Windows client is not subject to the same apparently aggressive and intrusive scrutinty of 'clixpy'.
This response is a nonsense, but how many other sites are doing this without our explicit consent.
Recording *all* activity activity when using an online site is an obscenity, for want of a better word, and it does give rise to serious concerns about privacy, security and safety 'in the cloud' when the weasel words of the terms and conditions, which we *cannot* negotiate, appear to give providers the authority to do things, which if explicitly explained, we certainly would not agree to.
Now I have to seek another text service which this time will work on a Linux desktop and hopefully, won't be subject to the same keylogging and scraping.
If clixpy is widely deployed, I'm seriously discouraged.
I forgot to mention that I only found out about clixpy because an error on their site exposed the clixpy activity. Otherwise, I would just have carried on in ignorance.
How many other sites that I, or any of us, visit are using clixpy or equivalent without our knowledge?
As a matter of interest, who owns clixpy -- Google? After all, the exposed icon did say 'Google Analytics'?
I recently upgraded Firefox to the daily build of 3.6/3.7 and installed the extension 'Ghostery' amongst others.
Ghostery identifies and apparently blocks a long list of tracking software and lists, inter alia, 'Clixby'
However, I now find 'Google Analytics' and 'Google Website Optimiser' blocked on my online text messaging page but 'Clixby' not blocked unless one of the above is a euphemism for Clixby, bearing in mind that Clixby exhibits all the characteristics of a keylogger.
Much as I like Firefox, It is not very suitable for Netbooks as all the headers take up so much space on the small screen, about 18 mm more than Chrome/Chromium. Nevertheless, Firefox does record an alarming number of sites using tracking software.
So I hope that Ghostery, or equivalent, is soon ported to Chrome/Chromium.
There are several ways to give yourself more viewing area when using Firefox on a netbook.
Firstly, you can use the F11 key to toggle the full screen browser.
If you aren't keen on using the full screen you can remove some of the headers. By clicking on View > Toolbars, I have removed the Bookmarks Toolbar and could possibly live without the Status Bar as well.
Thanks for the tip on Ghostery, I'll give it a try.
It would seem the author of Ghostly sold out to advertisement firm recently, and as of a direct result the plugin is now forwarding user's info to amazon .com, and some other place.
People across the comments section on the addon pages are saying use one called TACO instead, failing that just disable all third party cookies in firefox.
Go here to find out more about the purchase of Ghostery by 'Better Advertising'
http://betteradvertising.com
and here
http://news.ghostery.com/
I have to admit that I do not fully understand. Is Better Advertising an ethical force for good or is it all just double speak.
Also, the Ghostery descriptions online only say that it 'identifies' web bugs etc., while on the desktop, and in preferences, it clearly 'indicates' they are blocked. Which is correct? Are we protected?
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