Website behaviour scores

A mechanism is now enabled on websites to track the behavior of visitors.  This mechanism has the ability to score their propensity towards specific items and services during visits.  Visits are scored and your viewing activities are monitored from the website to produce reports.  Your eyes/mouse are being followed by small cookies, and now supercookies are tracking your every move.    When you clear your cookies you are only clearing half of the information that was gathered on you.  The rest are supercookies tucked away in multiple places.  You have also probably heard the term IP.  Your IP is a unique number that acts as your computer’s internet identification. 

With your IP address, companies can determine your location and, with the cookies, they can predict your next step.   There are multiple programs you can install to ensure more privacy.  Most of the websites are using your information solely for marketing, but it is creepy.  

Wait, there is even more…you thought it was just IP, cookies and supercookies, but you also have to worry about browser extensions and toolbars.  Back in 1999, Microsoft started supporting extension, contributing to the vulnerability of bugs, and then Apple followed suit in 2010.   You can block these extensions using ad and script blockers.  Don’t panic - most system defaults are set to notify you before you head onto third party tracking scripts.   Governments are currently trying to determine what is acceptable to ensure your privacy is protected.  After all, a lot of these web sites are leaving cookies and other data on your computer.  I know if someone leaves garbage on my front lawn I sure don’t like it.  So how different is it really?