Common sense isn't.
I respect your privacy, but can't do much about protecting it, other than my small part.As for the Google or DuckDuckGo logo, their standard setup uses a link to a logo file on Google's (or DuckDuckGo) server. The same is true for some other logos. (Whether intentionally or not) This way they log a file request, including Referer page, every time someone views a page with their logo on it. This way they can track activity of many sites other than their own. I store logos locally, or don't use logos at all, and change the links, to avoid that tracking. Of course if you actually use the Google (or DuckDuckGo) search, or follow my off-site links, then they will follow your comings and goings at their sites (a small price for searching, etc.). I initially signed up for Google's affiliate program to get a penny per search, but I decided the obligation to cooperate with their (potential) tracking was not worth it. I decided to go with the free search link with the logo modification described above.
I signed up for Amazon referral links, but those only track you if you follow them (like any other off-site links). Amazon changed the specifications for the links, so they became worthless, and I've been removing the old affiliate codes.
Visits are logged by my web host's servers to monitor site activity in a general way. Although the log contains IP addresses, I make no attempt to match the address to any particular individual, except on very rare occasions (There's always an exception to the general rule) such as abuse of our site. The bulletin board script does use cookies, but I make no attempt to use cookies for any other purpose than for board function (login, etc.).
I have no intention of ever sharing any collected information with anyone for anything. I also have no intention of ever sending unsolicited mass email (spam) to anyone about anything. That said, I have no control over several things, which could possibly affect your privacy. My logs are controlled by, protected by, and available to my web host's company. I think they'll protect the information, but it's beyond my control.
If you care about your privacy, it's up to you to find and use an anonymizer or a proxy server, or other means. Freedom.net is no more (archive, 2001), but its precedent lives on in TOR and the Anonymity bibliography (archive, 2007). Useful Addons for Firefox include too many to keep up with, but EFF usually recommends or has some good ones, and there's a search for whatever you want/need.
You could also try one of many VPN services. Here's a rating site (no endorsement).
As they say, use at your own risk.
| Quote of the moment |
| It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. |
| ~ THEODORE ROOSEVELT, address at the Sorbonne, Paris, France, April 23, 1910.—“Citizenship in a Republic,” The Strenuous Life (vol. 13 of The Works of Theodore Roosevelt, national ed.), chapter 21, p. 510 (1926). ~ |
Common sense isn't.
Images stored locally for protection of your privacy (unless/until you search with Google). Stomp out web bugs (archive.org).
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I last touched this page on Thursday, 2022-11-10 at 06:19:29 UTC.