Posted on 04/04/2005 11:19:53 AM PDT by atomic_dog
United Virtualities is offering online marketers and publishers technology that attempts to undermine the growing trend among consumers to delete cookies planted in their computers.
The New York company on Thursday unveiled what it calls PIE, or persistent identification element, a technology that's uploaded to a browser and restores deleted cookies. In addition, PIE, which can't be easily removed, can also act as a cookie backup, since it contains the same information.
Cookies are small files often uploaded to people's computers as they visit websites run by retailers, entertainment companies, newspapers and other businesses. The text files contain information that's used to track visitors' behavior, or to offer visitors products or services based on information gathered during previous visits, a process called personalization. In addition, cookie-gathered information is often pivotal for advertising campaigns and e-mail marketing.
According to JupiterResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corp., 58 percent of Internet users have deleted the tiny files, essentially making many consumers anonymous during site visits. In addition, 39 percent of consumers are deleting cookies from their primary computer monthly.
United Virtualities's PIE helps combat this consumer behavior by leveraging a feature in Flash MX called local shared objects. Flash MX is a Macromedia Inc. application for developing multimedia Web content, user interfaces and Web applications. The technology runs on a Flash Player that the company says is deployed on 98 percent of Internet-capable computers.
When a consumer goes to a PIE-enabled website, the visitor's browser is tagged with a Flash object that contains a unique identification similar to the text found in a traditional cookie. In this way, PIE acts as a cookie backup, and can also restore the original cookie when the consumer revisits the site.
While consumers have learned to delete cookies, most are unaware of shared objects, and don't know how to disable them.
Mookie Tanembaum, founder and chief executive of United Virtualities, says the company is trying to help consumers by preventing them from deleting cookies that help website operators deliver better services.
"The user is not proficient enough in technology to know if the cookie is good or bad, or how it works," Tanembaum said.
While United Virtualities, as well as marketers and publishers, focus on the benefits of cookies, consumers often see them as an invasion of privacy and resent having them loaded into their computers without permission, experts say. In addition, unscrupulous marketers can abuse the tracking capabilities of cookies.
Fear is also a factor. Consumers are constantly reminded about the risks on the Internet posed by spyware, phishers and viruses, so deleting cookies makes them feel more secure, even though it's unlikely to make them safer.
Using technology like United Virtualities's to circumvent consumers could cause a backlash, JupiterResearch analyst David Schatsky said. The research firm found that many consumers understand cookies, and may be willing to allow some in their computers, if they are given the choice upfront.
"(PIE) sounds like it flies in the face of what consumers are telling us," Schatsky said. "They're seeking privacy and control, and if this is denied, then they won't be happy."
Tanembaum also warned against using PIE to thwart consumers.
"Any abuse of this technology is not welcomed by us," Tanembaum said. "We believe people should use this technology responsibly. If people don't want cookies in place, then (their browsers) shouldn't be tagged."
Consumers can make PIE inoperable by raising the security settings in their browsers to its highest level, Tanembaum said. But he acknowledges that such a high setting would also hamper consumers' ability to visit non-PIE websites.
For its part, Macromedia has posted on its website instructions for disabling shared objects uploaded to browsers.
In addition, the San Francisco-based company is discussing with Microsoft Corp., the Mozilla Foundation and other browser makers the possibility of letting consumers control the use of cookies and shared objects from one location in a browser, Jeff Whatcott, vice president of product management for Macromedia, said.
"Our goal is to always put the user in control over their own data and machine," Whatcott said. "That's the approach we've always taken."
Flash-built websites often use shared objects in gathering information from visitors. Besides data on how the sites are being used, retailers, for example, can track what visitors place in their shopping carts, or store a list of previously purchased products.
I will boycott any company found to be using this or any variant thereof. No means no!
Spyware/Adware by any other name will still smell as putrid.
We know what's good for you better than you do. All your privacy are belong to US!
My computer is going to start sending out notices that anything pies planted on my computer is not permitted. Included in the message will be a notice that we are a PIE and Cookie review service and that we charge for our services. The first time is free. If it happens again, you will be billed. Then I'll take 'em to small claims court, get my judgement. Works for telemarketers. Should work in this case so long as I can get their contact information.
Didn't he used to run Virtual Inanities...?
Too bad someone hasn't come up with a 'radioactive' cookie - a program that makes embedded cookies 'poison' for the embedder.
A spammer embeds a cookie in your browser, and subsequently that cookie nukes the embedding server before deleting itself...
whats the flash thingy?
For its part, Macromedia has posted on its website instructions for disabling shared objects uploaded to browsers.
In addition, the San Francisco-based company is discussing with Microsoft Corp., the Mozilla Foundation and other browser makers the possibility of letting consumers control the use of cookies and shared objects from one location in a browser, Jeff Whatcott, vice president of product management for Macromedia, said.
Glad to see that.
Lucky for me SpywareBlaster has a Disable Flash checkbox.
Don't be a noob. Download it now.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
ping
idiots like "mookie" are gonna ruin the internet. there are already so many pop-up ads on my computer that i dont enjoy it anymore. people are so gay.
What specifically would I have to do to prevent this new cookie from entering my computer. There are quite a few options in your link and they all assume prior knowledge.
Thanks.
It's my understanding that the persistent identification element or PIE acts as a cookie so they no longer need the cookie. I think the best way around this is to use Firefox with Flashblock. I just got Flashblock and it's pretty cool. Flash does not load or run until you click on an icon and permit it. It's great because I need Flash for some sites I like but it is abused on so many more.
Time for some legislation. This is getting out of hand.
We could call it the "Mischief-Inducing Liberation Kernel" (MILK for your COOKIES and PIE)
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