Many site operators and Net advertising companies place Web bugs on their pages to collect information, such as which pages are being read most often. Too small for readers to see, the bugs also can be used in more invasive ways, capturing a visitor's Internet Protocol address or installing pernicious files, for example.
The bugs can also be matched with "cookies," the electronic files that are stored on a PC and can contain personal information such as name and email address.
Concerned that visitors are often unaware that the bugs are being used to track their surfing habits, security companies are beginning to arm Web surfers with tools to find the pesky bugs.
"People don't understand the potential risks associated with Web bugs. With a Web bug, your computer can be fully exposed to malicious sites that can take any files or information from programs on your hard drive," said Tommy Wang of security start-up Intelytics. "People need to get educated on this stuff."
Internet tracking and security company Security Space issued a report last Thursday that identified Web advertising networks DoubleClick and Linkexchange.com, as well as Excite.com, as some of the top sites that use Web bugs to track consumers on third-party pages.
Meanwhile, Intelytics plans to unveil a free service in two weeks that surfers can use to spy on the spies. Its software, called Personal Sentinel, will alert consumers to the "risk level" of any given Web site by listing the number of Web bugs working behind the scenes.
Illustrating the growing presence of such technology, Intelytics issued a report over the holidays on major e-commerce sites that uncovered nearly 16 million pages (out of 51 million that were scanned) with at least one Web bug that had been attached from a third party, such as an advertising network.
Correct me if i'm wrong but upon loading the story, a small pop-up window appeared and disappeared. I think it was one of yours.
I find it amusing considering the context of the story. I didn't ask for that window, so why pump it at me?