Firefox users....

[ThunderZ]

Any one game to try this?

http://www.ghostery.com/?src=ffhttp://www.ghostery.com/?src=ff

[wat0114]

Sure, I'll try it on my Virtualbox guest setup.

[ThunderZ]

Thanks wat0114.

Looks interesting at the least, useful for those interested in extending their privacy at most.

Let us know what you think.

[JRViejo]

ThunderZ, I have the Ghostery add-on installed in my FF 3.5.2, and it's excellent in making you aware whether or not Web Bugs exist in Web sites.

As a matter of fact, mine blocked 3 Web Bugs that are part of the ghostery.com site!

[Reimer]

I gave it a try but I think noscript should already do what Ghostery does

[thathagat]

Interesting.....AdMuncher too has an option like this working across all browsers

[wilbertnl]

211601

[1boss1]

I'm using it, great addon. I have also checked the source code, and it all checks out ok.

They do have a "Phone Home" feature, but as i recall it's disabled by default so opt-in and not opt-out plus it's clearly labeled on the settings page and not hidden.

211604

[chrisretusn]

I've been using it for some time now, there have been many improvements since I started using it.

Adblock Plus and NoScript do not block all of them. For example, with Adblock Plus disabled and NoScript allow all at the Ghostery site, the are three trackers found, with Adblock Plus enabled, no difference still 3, with NoScript blocking 1 tracker left.

I like it just to be informed of what might be there.

[virtumonde]

Request Policy addon seems similar https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9727.
And it's more configurable

[ThunderZ]

Thanks all.

Also thanks to CoolCatBad over on BC for introducing me to this little toy. :thumb:

[Rabiddog]

Using it now, and looks good. Is there a way to tell if it is really working?

[JRViejo]

Rabiddog, unless Ghostery is enabled, via Options > Blocking tab > Select All > On, all it does is warn you about Web Bugs, like in this image (notice the lettering in white bold):
211632

Once Ghostery is enabled, when encountering Web Bugs on a site, you'll see this image (notice that lettering has been grayed out):
211633
Plus, you'll see how many Web Bugs were blocked, looking at the bottom right side of the FF browser: 211634

Then, you can click on the red Ghostery image and see the actual scripts that were blocked. Pretty neat stuff! :)

[acr1965]

Are web bugs and "trackers" two different things? I have ad muncher enabled and set to block web bugs but still get warnings for "trackers".

[JRViejo]

acr1965, do you mean "trackers" as seen in Ghostery or in Ad Muncher?

Edit: Web Bug Definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_bug)
-{ Quote: "A Web bug is any one of a number of techniques used to track who is reading a Web page or e-mail, when, and from what computer." }-

[acr1965]

-{ Quote: "acr1965, do you mean "trackers" as seen in Ghostery or in Ad Muncher?

Edit: Web Bug Definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_bug)" }-

Trackers as seen in ghostery.

[JRViejo]

acr1965, if you are seeing "trackers" in Ghostery, perhaps Ad Muncher is not blocking some Web Bugs (I don't use Ad Muncher so I can't tell).

Trackers also means that Ghostery is not enabled. If it was, you would see "Blocked" like in the image I posted above.

[acr1965]

Yes, what I was doing was leaving them unblocked in ghostery to see how effective ad muncher was at stopping web bugs.

[JRViejo]

acr1965, well, sounds like you found the answer. Take care.

[thathagat]

-{ Quote: "Yes, what I was doing was leaving them unblocked in ghostery to see how effective ad muncher was at stopping web bugs." }-
well according to ad muncher description......-{ Quote: "Prevent "web bugs" from tracking page visits

Web bugs are very small images or iframes retrieved from a different server to the one you are currently viewing, allowing the foreign server to track which pages you are looking at. Enabling this option will remove all very small images and iframes that are retrieved from a different server to the one you are currently viewing." }-
but i don't think its as effective as say....ghostery,request policy or even a2 surf protection

[Joeythedude]

No trackers on wilders :)

[chrisretusn]

-{ Quote: "Request Policy addon seems similar https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9727.
And it's more configurable" }-
The thing about RequestPolicy is the any link that goes from the site you are on is blocked by default. Pain in the arse. I don't really mind that so much but it is annoyance. It also causes problems on some sites, in reloading continuously.

[wat0114]

After using for several days it seems to work as advertised, though I never did see any warnings to be alarmed about.