How browsing habit is tracked by "the companies"

[proxx]

I would like to discus some stuff and converse about the subject.

Some of you might be aware of the fact that I'm rather concerned about privacy / freedom.
This defcon talk from a couple years ago really got me thinking about the subject.

Since I use noscript for most sites I often see the immense list with hosts.
Mainly its the 'big guys' , google , facebook , couple very common and enourmous Ad networks etc.
One problem that this creates is that whatever site you visit you also visits the networks mentioned above.
Be it porn, be it regular browsing or for the people that are interested in certain topics such as security or other things that could potentially be illegal.
Image the profiling capabilities of such vast amounts of data stored forever.
To take it one step further , if you keep "browsing history" these corps probably have more than you have.

Js isn't by far the only code that creates such traffic, flash or just hardcoded links on a website all create these leaks.
I don't recall the numbers exactly but something along 80-90% of the websites out there follow this behavior.
So if we add intelligence in the mix this scenario can become really scary.
If not already a complete profile is kept for every individual that uses the web.

Any input on the subject?



http://www.securitytube.net/video/3003
http://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-19/dc-19-presentations/Kennish/DEFCON-19-Kennish-Tracking-the-Trackers.pdf

[vezzy]

Your observation is old as dirt. It's true though, the sheer magnitude of data large networks and corps have on individuals, is staggering. You can watch the documentary Terms and Conditions May Apply to see practical examples.

You can minimize the effects to a degree using this hosts file, however: http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/. Any analytics, ad traps and bugs listed there won't make it to their destination.

Recently they've started to use HTTP ETags as a tracking device, as well.

[proxx]

Your observation is old as dirt.

Im not saying its something new or something I just discovered.
I believe this topic should be discussed because its becoming ever more relevant.

That host file runs on my fw

[lucid]

That host file runs on my fw

I feel excluded. I've never encountered that file.

[proxx]

I am rather suprised that noone has any opinion on the subject.

[lucid]

I certainly have an opinion on the subject, but I'm like vezzy. I've known this for quite some time as have most people.

It's frustrating because, to a degree, it's almost as if there isn't anything that can be done about such things. I've applied that hosts file, and I used a few add-ons that block ads, supposedly block all sorts of web widgets and trackers(ghostery), erase LSOs; What else can you do? As well, I also have my browser remove all other cookies on shutdown, the list goes on, blah blah blah. I've employed all the little tweaks in my anonymity tutorial to hopefully have some browser security but I feel like it does absolutely nothing and it's frustrating. What can we do?