NONE: ONLINE-ADS>> Beyond Cookies, Banners, and Match Codes
ONLINE-ADS>> Beyond Cookies, Banners, and Match Codes
Alan Ferguson (alan_at_5line.com)
Fri, 3 Oct 1997 16:43:07 -0700
Greetings,
The recent issue involving match codes, featuring Katz Media Group, Petry
Media Corp, Imgis, GTE and Netcom as reported in the Sept. 22, issue of
http://www.interactive-week.com, "Match Codes Identify Net Users" by Will
Rodger, went beyond cookie technology and into to a much more sinister
realm.
<snip>
"Under the plan, when Internet users visit web sites carrying Imgis' ads,
participating Internet service operators would send Imgis a "match code",
or unique indentifier, corresponding to a massive demographic database of
140 million individuals maintained by database marketer Metromail Corp."
</snip>
This article did not specify where that database comes from nor the deeper
meaning of "participating Internet operators". Could Equifax or Experion
(TRW) be the source? If so, this could be real news for even those people
that like cookie technology. And I'm sure "participating" means the ISP
will run your profile like a credit card authorization just for visiting a
site with Imgis' scheme. Will your ISP tell you?
Apparently, according to reports in the same article, Netcom at least has
denied there is a deal afoot with "I have absolutely zero plans to be
involved with this," said Netcom Advertising Director Terry Pittman. Netcom
on the High road? Sounds alot like "Read my lips"
But not to be outdone...ever, Bill Gates goes one further.
This courtesy of Richard Thieme's http://www.thiemeworks.com excellent
newsletter, Islands-in-the-Clickstream" (a must read for me):
The Illusion of Control
Microsoft did it again.
Some users of the beta version of Explorer 4.0 were surprised to
learn that, after they went to sleep, their computers were
dialing Microsoft and telling it secrets, downloading information
from Microsoft's web pages and uploading information from the
sanctity of their homes.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that Microsoft says such calls
only happen when the feature is activated, but admits that users
can activate it without understanding the consequences. Said one
beta tester who had wandered in search of a midnight snack, "I
was completely freaking out. I pulled the phone plug right out of
the wall."
Microsoft insists that the system is under the user's control,
but many users didn't know that. The users can be forgiven a
little skepticism. ("I'm getting more and more cynical all the
time," said Jane Wagner, "and I still can't keep up.") Microsoft
is widely believed to have a history of gathering data about
users secretly, but at the least, the company was indifferent to
the concerns of the human user at the end of the connection. They
did not allow the user to maintain an illusion of control.
<snip> Visit the site to get the rest of a great article.
Well where does it go now? Way beyond those silly cookie things, and even,
if that's possible, beyond your credit profiles. Now it's the other thief
in the night.
"Better shut it down tonight dear"
'night.
Alan
________________________________________________________
Alan Ferguson
5line Communications http://5line.com 510 988 9393
SF East Bay area business directory http://creekwalk.com
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