Privacy in the Cloud – Do Not Track

Michael McKinnon, AVG (AU/NZ) Security Advisor

An Avalanche Technology Group company

AVG.COM.AU

AVG.CO.NZ

Privacy and Do Not Track

• How does “tracking” online happen?

• Social networking buttons

• Web analytics

• Ad networks

• Users can take control of their privacy with AVG’s Do Not Track feature

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Social Networking Buttons Tracking

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Social buttons placed on various websitescould be revealing data about your visit to the social networking site owners

Technically, how it happens…

The code for the button (usually JavaScript) is included on a webpage, and loads from the social networking site (often setting a third-party cookie)

The potential consequences…

Operators of social networking sites can determine which sites you visit (relies on their privacy policies, procedures and integrity)

Web Analytics Tracking

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Provides website owners with metricsand information about their visitors,such as the type of computer they areusing and many other details

Technically, how it happens…

The (often very complex JavaScript) code for the web analytics is included on a webpage, and reports back directly a wealth of collected data

The potential consequences…

At the very least, the website owner who has implemented the analytics is viewing the results; and the operators of the web analytics service have a much larger view across different websites

Ad Networks Tracking

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Ad networks serve up billions uponbillions of online ads every single dayhelping drive commerce online – butat the potential risk of user data

Technically, how it happens…

A website loads script, or an iFrame from the ad network that checks for a unique “id” cookie to identify your browser and serve advertisements to you

The potential consequences…

You see the same ad across different websites; they may not know who you are, but they know it’s the same person

Do Not Track

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www.avg.com.au/do-not-track/

AVG offers a new Do Not Track feature that lets you articulate your decision not to be tracked by some websites, applications and advertising networks

• Web analytics• Social networking buttons• Ad networks

The feature is available in AVG Internet Security, AVG Anti-Virus and AVG Anti-Virus FREE

Thank You!

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