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Think your browser history is private? Think again.
While it might not be news to some of our readers, more casual computer users might want to take note.Pay web2.0collage a visit, and you'll learn just how easy it can be for a website (any website) to poke around and see what sites you've been visiting. The app limits itself to displaying polite websites, but it's safe to say it could just as easily display all the NSFW sites you've been visiting as well.
This isn't exactly a new trick. How web 2.0 aware are you? does the same kind of sniffing, comparing the sites you visit against a list of popular websites to see how savvy a surfer you are.
Both sites should serve as a reminder to everyone that unless you take steps to protect your privacy, there are sites on the Internet that will gladly help themselves to your data.
How can you prevent this from happening? I echo the suggestions from several Slashdot commenters and recommend using Firefox and the NoScript addon.
[via Slashdot]
Comments
14
Subscribe to commentsJoshJul 2nd 2009 2:08PM
You actually suggested the NoScript addon after the developer turned it into Malware? Even if they quickly changed it back, there's no reason to believe he wouldn't do it again.
KururugiJul 2nd 2009 8:37PM
I just read up on that situation and I'm pretty miffed that downloadsquad didn't cover it.
Any response guys?
WilliamJul 2nd 2009 2:45PM
I went to the website and after a minute or two of scanning my history, it came up with a square black image. Does that mean my browser history is private or that the website had an error on their side?
MedlirJul 2nd 2009 3:11PM
Someone should update the SafeCache addon...
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1474
JonJul 2nd 2009 3:22PM
Did not work for Mozilla Minefield 3.6a1pre
JasonJul 2nd 2009 3:58PM
Well, the large black square I was presented with was veeeerrry interesting I'm sure.
soniiicJul 2nd 2009 6:17PM
That site uses javascript, i know a way using just css with the a:visited tag for a website to identify what sites you've visited using a whitelist.
it's demonstrated here: http://ha.ckers.org/weird/CSS-history.cgi
there's no way of protecting yourself from that one even with noscript
BugMeNotJul 3rd 2009 12:31AM
Shows nothing.
I guess my browser if private. History disabled, cache at 50MB, clear all on exit (but a few cookies, like saved games on a website) and that's it.
hmmJul 3rd 2009 8:37AM
doesn't seem to work in Opera
aanidaaniJul 2nd 2009 9:12PM
Might want to note that this site can freeze your browser while it scans, as it did mine. I had to kill the process to get control back.
JamesJul 2nd 2009 11:59PM
Really clever CSS hack -- I hadn't thought of that, but it's kind of like a 1px hit tracker. No one is safe!
AndrewNoNumbersJul 3rd 2009 12:52AM
Maybe we should use Google Web History then..
hmmJul 3rd 2009 8:34AM
startpanic.com does similar sniffing and its aim is to force the browser vendors to correct this.
hmmJul 3rd 2009 8:35AM
startpanic.com does similar sniffing and its aim is to force the browser vendors to correct this.