Firefox, Chrome adding 'Do Not Track' tools

Firefox and Chrome

NEW YORK: The Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers are getting tools to help users block advertisers from collecting information about them.

Alex Fowler, a technology and privacy officer for Firefox maker Mozilla, said the "Do Not Track" tool will be the first in a series of steps designed to guard privacy. He didn't say when the tool will be available.

Google Chrome users can now download a browser plug-in that blocks advertisers - but only from ad networks that already let people decline personalised, targeted ads.

According to Google Inc, these include the top 15 advertising networks, as rated by the research group comScore, a group that includes AOL Inc, Yahoo! Inc and Google itself.

The next version of Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer browser, which is still being developed, will include a similar feature, though people will have to create or find their own lists of sites they want to block.


Google and Mozilla, however, are developing tracking-protection tools that will work automatically - once people decide to turn on that privacy feature, that is.

Microsoft, Google and Mozilla's promises of stronger privacy comes on the heels of government complaints that online advertisers are able to collect too much data about people in their quest to target ads.

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission recommended the creation of a "Do Not Track" tool that would invite consumers to restrict advertisers from collecting information about them, including the websites they visit, the links they click, their Internet searches and their online purchases.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Department last month called for guidelines that would require online advertisers to warn consumers what information about them they are collecting and how they plan to use it.

Consumers, the department said, should be able to "opt out," or decline, some or all of that data collection. And if companies do collect information, they would be required to store it securely.

Google product managers Sean Harvey and Rajas Moonka said the new tool in Chrome will allow for more permanent ad blocking.

Before, opt-out settings were typically stored through small files known as cookies; when users clear cookies, however, the opt-out settings get erased, too.

Another benefit is that the new tool allows users to opt out of all participating ad networks at once, rather than one at a time.

Google eventually hopes to develop a similar plug-in for other browsers as well, Harvey and Moonka added. - AP

Firefox, Chrome adding 'Do Not Track' tools

Firefox and Chrome

NEW YORK: The Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers are getting tools to help users block advertisers from collecting information about them.

Alex Fowler, a technology and privacy officer for Firefox maker Mozilla, said the "Do Not Track" tool will be the first in a series of steps designed to guard privacy. He didn't say when the tool will be available.

Google Chrome users can now download a browser plug-in that blocks advertisers - but only from ad networks that already let people decline personalised, targeted ads.

According to Google Inc, these include the top 15 advertising networks, as rated by the research group comScore, a group that includes AOL Inc, Yahoo! Inc and Google itself.

The next version of Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer browser, which is still being developed, will include a similar feature, though people will have to create or find their own lists of sites they want to block.


Google and Mozilla, however, are developing tracking-protection tools that will work automatically - once people decide to turn on that privacy feature, that is.

Microsoft, Google and Mozilla's promises of stronger privacy comes on the heels of government complaints that online advertisers are able to collect too much data about people in their quest to target ads.

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission recommended the creation of a "Do Not Track" tool that would invite consumers to restrict advertisers from collecting information about them, including the websites they visit, the links they click, their Internet searches and their online purchases.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Department last month called for guidelines that would require online advertisers to warn consumers what information about them they are collecting and how they plan to use it.

Consumers, the department said, should be able to "opt out," or decline, some or all of that data collection. And if companies do collect information, they would be required to store it securely.

Google product managers Sean Harvey and Rajas Moonka said the new tool in Chrome will allow for more permanent ad blocking.

Before, opt-out settings were typically stored through small files known as cookies; when users clear cookies, however, the opt-out settings get erased, too.

Another benefit is that the new tool allows users to opt out of all participating ad networks at once, rather than one at a time.

Google eventually hopes to develop a similar plug-in for other browsers as well, Harvey and Moonka added. - AP

Firefox, Chrome adding 'Do Not Track' tools

Firefox and Chrome

NEW YORK: The Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers are getting tools to help users block advertisers from collecting information about them.

Alex Fowler, a technology and privacy officer for Firefox maker Mozilla, said the "Do Not Track" tool will be the first in a series of steps designed to guard privacy. He didn't say when the tool will be available.

Google Chrome users can now download a browser plug-in that blocks advertisers - but only from ad networks that already let people decline personalised, targeted ads.

According to Google Inc, these include the top 15 advertising networks, as rated by the research group comScore, a group that includes AOL Inc, Yahoo! Inc and Google itself.

The next version of Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer browser, which is still being developed, will include a similar feature, though people will have to create or find their own lists of sites they want to block.


Google and Mozilla, however, are developing tracking-protection tools that will work automatically - once people decide to turn on that privacy feature, that is.

Microsoft, Google and Mozilla's promises of stronger privacy comes on the heels of government complaints that online advertisers are able to collect too much data about people in their quest to target ads.

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission recommended the creation of a "Do Not Track" tool that would invite consumers to restrict advertisers from collecting information about them, including the websites they visit, the links they click, their Internet searches and their online purchases.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Department last month called for guidelines that would require online advertisers to warn consumers what information about them they are collecting and how they plan to use it.

Consumers, the department said, should be able to "opt out," or decline, some or all of that data collection. And if companies do collect information, they would be required to store it securely.

Google product managers Sean Harvey and Rajas Moonka said the new tool in Chrome will allow for more permanent ad blocking.

Before, opt-out settings were typically stored through small files known as cookies; when users clear cookies, however, the opt-out settings get erased, too.

Another benefit is that the new tool allows users to opt out of all participating ad networks at once, rather than one at a time.

Google eventually hopes to develop a similar plug-in for other browsers as well, Harvey and Moonka added. - AP

Google Chrome yet to be my default browser list

I've read a few reports mentioning that Google Chrome has great features. I can't comment much until I have tested and experienced it. My first impression on Chrome not really good. Google chrome browser cannot open my local portal to run oracle form server. The default error that I got on the chrome browser is "no plugin available to display this content".

It doesn't mentioned what kind of plugin I must have. I'm not facing any problem to open the same link using Firefox 2.0.0.11 Another thing that I noticed is, the bookmark feature not really user friendly. Since this Chrome still a beta version and I hope Google will work hard to integrate with other plugin developer in order to ensure that this browser can benefit the internet user world wide.

My advice to those who want to try this Chrome for testing and evaluation purposes, then you are encourage to download and play around with it.... but if you really want to replace your current browser, please stick to your current browser or you may try Minefield. Eventhough it is still beta version... it is better than Chrome beta version.

Minefield does not have so many features and pre-installed with new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine. Minefield's installation won't affect your current Firefox, so there's no risk trying it. It's quite fast.

Download Minefield 3.1beta here

Google Chrome yet to be my default browser list

I've read a few reports mentioning that Google Chrome has great features. I can't comment much until I have tested and experienced it. My first impression on Chrome not really good. Google chrome browser cannot open my local portal to run oracle form server. The default error that I got on the chrome browser is "no plugin available to display this content".

It doesn't mentioned what kind of plugin I must have. I'm not facing any problem to open the same link using Firefox 2.0.0.11 Another thing that I noticed is, the bookmark feature not really user friendly. Since this Chrome still a beta version and I hope Google will work hard to integrate with other plugin developer in order to ensure that this browser can benefit the internet user world wide.

My advice to those who want to try this Chrome for testing and evaluation purposes, then you are encourage to download and play around with it.... but if you really want to replace your current browser, please stick to your current browser or you may try Minefield. Eventhough it is still beta version... it is better than Chrome beta version.

Minefield does not have so many features and pre-installed with new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine. Minefield's installation won't affect your current Firefox, so there's no risk trying it. It's quite fast.

Download Minefield 3.1beta here

Google Chrome yet to be my default browser list

I've read a few reports mentioning that Google Chrome has great features. I can't comment much until I have tested and experienced it. My first impression on Chrome not really good. Google chrome browser cannot open my local portal to run oracle form server. The default error that I got on the chrome browser is "no plugin available to display this content".

It doesn't mentioned what kind of plugin I must have. I'm not facing any problem to open the same link using Firefox 2.0.0.11 Another thing that I noticed is, the bookmark feature not really user friendly. Since this Chrome still a beta version and I hope Google will work hard to integrate with other plugin developer in order to ensure that this browser can benefit the internet user world wide.

My advice to those who want to try this Chrome for testing and evaluation purposes, then you are encourage to download and play around with it.... but if you really want to replace your current browser, please stick to your current browser or you may try Minefield. Eventhough it is still beta version... it is better than Chrome beta version.

Minefield does not have so many features and pre-installed with new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine. Minefield's installation won't affect your current Firefox, so there's no risk trying it. It's quite fast.

Download Minefield 3.1beta here