5 ms·

SelectOut: Opt out of being tracked online

40 points by dannyr 16y ago

Joakal 16y ago
Seemed fishy to enable JS but I was curious. I'm being tracked by at least 0 companies. Pretty good. I don't like opting out of things because in order to opt out; you need to tell them who you are which combined with the instantaneous nearly free communication tools (email). I would be adversely affected, probably more so after 'opting out' (eg increased exempted robo-calls from charities/politics since they know you pay attention).
jluxenberg 16y ago
Was curious how they were able to detect the presence of a tracking company's cookie. They're using an API provided by all of these tracking companies where they vend an image whose height is either 43 pixels (indicating you have a cookie) or 44 pixels (indicating you have no cookie). Does anyone know if there was legislation that made this API a requirement, or is this an example of an industry policing itself in an attempt to stay unregulated?
- kuahyeow 16y ago
  Same thought here. I find it very bizarre that images are used in such a way. Here's one example of the image: http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_exists.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_exists.gif
- jdp23 16y ago
  It's self-regulation, sponsored I believe by the Network Advertising Initiative. NAI is an industry group, analogous to the DMAI in the direct mail world. Most of the responsible advertisers work with them.
- mukyu 16y ago
  The FTC has been making noise about actually doing something. [1] There are also proposals to W3C defining a 'Do Not Track' HTTP header rather than cookies. [2] [1] http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/12/privacyreport.shtm http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/12/privacyreport.shtm [2] http://www.w3.org/QA/2011/02/do_not_track_at_w3c.html http://www.w3.org/QA/2011/02/do_not_track_at_w3c.html
- buddydvd 16y ago
  Here's the link to Network Advertising Initiative's opt out page: http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp When you opt out of a network, the participating network will assign you an opt out cookie. When you visit a website that indirectly loads these tracking pages, it will check to see if you have their opt out cookie. If you do, they will avoid assigning you their tracking cookie. These tools basically help you manage and persist the opt-out cookies so that when you clear your browser's cookies, the browser doesn't remove these opt out cookies. All the participating networks provide an URL that tell you whether or not you have their opt out cookie. If you do, they will redirect that request to: http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif Otherwise, they will redirect you to image that says you have their tracking cookie. You can subsequently use javascript to inspect the dimension of the image to determine whether or not you have opt out of that network.
rwolf 16y ago
This isn't the first page to offer a way to opt out of all of those cookie. It's also not the first site to crash halfway through the process (in this case, it thinks I've already opted out even after clearing cache and cookies). It's a given that the ad companies will provide flaky opting out mechanisms. They are likely responding to spikes in opt-out attempts by falling over on purpose whenever a site like this hits HN. Who is going to step up and write a version of this service with error handling?
FirstHopSystems 16y ago
This is kind of like trying to op out getting into a car crash. Or better, getting robbed. Hello Customer, Acct#6548856 we are not tracking you. No, some other company is tracking you. Were not doing it directly but we sure are buying data from companies who do. Not getting tracked, I can think of a few companies that a large part of it's worth is by all the information they collect/track. Facebook? - Last time I checked they don't pay employees minimum wage. When is the last time you had to pay Facebook to access it? Money is coming from someplace. Directly or indirectly someone is going to be tracking you. </rant>
jdp23 16y ago
There was a good article about SelectOut in Privacy News last month: http://www.privatewifi.com/selectout-founder-analyzes-1000-privacy-policies-to-make-online-privacy-easier-part-1/ http://www.privatewifi.com/selectout-founder-analyzes-1000-p...
piguy314 16y ago
Beef TACO (Targeted Advertising Cookie Opt-Out) already does this for Firefox, and the opt-out cookies are persistent through cookie deletion. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/beef-taco-targeted-advertising/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/beef-taco-tar...
A1kmm 16y ago
Looks like the active part of the opt-out involves making the user load the following URLs (they use the script tag, but 1x1 images could do): * http://http300.edge.ru4.com/smartserve/optout http://http300.edge.ru4.com/smartserve/optout * http://www.247realmedia.com/EN-US/opt-out.html http://www.247realmedia.com/EN-US/opt-out.html * http://scripts.adcentriconline.com/optout.php http://scripts.adcentriconline.com/optout.php * http://oo.afy11.net/Default.aspx http://oo.afy11.net/Default.aspx * http://nspmotion.com/setoptout.aspx http://nspmotion.com/setoptout.aspx * http://ads.heias.de/x/opt_out.php?opt_out=true http://ads.heias.de/x/opt_out.php?opt_out=true * http://www.abmr.net/set_optout?nocache=0.1764119 http://www.abmr.net/set_optout?nocache=0.1764119 * http://pbid.pro-market.net/engine?optout=$nai_optout$nocache=0.5716212 http://pbid.pro-market.net/engine?optout=$nai_optout$nocache... * http://www.atdmt.com/CookieUpdate.aspx?option=Outredir=CookieActions.aspx http://www.atdmt.com/CookieUpdate.aspx?option=Outredir=Cooki... * http://optout.revsci.net/optout.aspx?a=1&p=http://www.networkadvertising.org&nocache=0.2084559 http://optout.revsci.net/optout.aspx?a=1&p=http://www.ne... * http://www.bizo.com/businessProfessionals/opt_out?confirm=true http://www.bizo.com/businessProfessionals/opt_out?confirm=tr... * http://tags.bluekai.com/naioptout?nocache=0.4754892 http://tags.bluekai.com/naioptout?nocache=0.4754892 http://s0b.bluestreak.com/ix.e?sc&t=0 http://s0b.bluestreak.com/ix.e?sc&t=0 * http://www.brightroll.com/privacy/opt-out/ http://www.brightroll.com/privacy/opt-out/ * http://www.btbuckets.com/site/optout_submit http://www.btbuckets.com/site/optout_submit * http://api.choicestream.com/instr/ad/opt-out http://api.choicestream.com/instr/ad/opt-out * http://optout.collective-media.net/optout?nocache=0.3432681 http://optout.collective-media.net/optout?nocache=0.3432681 * http://data.cmcore.com/privacy/privacy_handler.php?dest=http://data.cmcore.com/privacy/getCoreStatus.php&act=opt_out http://data.cmcore.com/privacy/privacy_handler.php?dest=http... * http://load.exelator.com/load/OptOut.php?service=outNAI&nocache=0.5863306 http://load.exelator.com/load/OptOut.php?service=outNAI&... * http://as.serving-sys.com/OptOut/SetOptOut.asp?OptOut=TRUE http://as.serving-sys.com/OptOut/SetOptOut.asp?OptOut=TRUE * http://www.facilitatedigital.com/cookie_opt_out.asp http://www.facilitatedigital.com/cookie_opt_out.asp * http://fetchback.com/serve/fb/optout?nocache=0.3366319 http://fetchback.com/serve/fb/optout?nocache=0.3366319 * http://p.opt.fimserve.com/nai_opt.jsp?nocache=9.096128E-02 http://p.opt.fimserve.com/nai_opt.jsp?nocache=9.096128E-02 * http://cue.v.fwmrm.net/ad/optout http://cue.v.fwmrm.net/ad/optout * http://optout.doubleclick.net/cgi-bin/dclk/optoutnai.pl http://optout.doubleclick.net/cgi-bin/dclk/optoutnai.pl * http://a1.interclick.com/optOut.aspx?optOut=true&success=http%3A//w2.interclick.com/opt-out-success.aspx&fail=http%3A//w2.interclick.com/opt-out-failure.aspx http://a1.interclick.com/optOut.aspx?optOut=true&success... * http://www.crwdcntrl.net/optout http://www.crwdcntrl.net/optout * http://media6degrees.com/optout_.php http://media6degrees.com/optout_.php * http://action.mathtag.com/mm/OPTO/opt-out/OPT?oo=1 http://action.mathtag.com/mm/OPTO/opt-out/OPT?oo=1 * http://mmismm.com/mm_oo.php?opt_out=&nocache=0.7812027 http://mmismm.com/mm_oo.php?opt_out=&nocache=0.7812027 * http://www.nexac.com/nai_optout.php?nocache=2.282816E-02 http://www.nexac.com/nai_optout.php?nocache=2.282816E-02 * http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/help/AdTargetingOptOut.jsp http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/help/AdTargetingOptOut... * http://eu.nuggad.net/block http://eu.nuggad.net/block * http://www.openx.org/privacy?action=opt-out http://www.openx.org/privacy?action=opt-out * http://adserver.adtech.de/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://glb.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://adserverwc.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://adserverec.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://ad.us-ec.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http http://adserver.adtech.de/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://glb.a... * http://www.precisionclick.com/optout_set.asp http://www.precisionclick.com/optout_set.asp * http://ch.questionmarket.com/safecount/nai_optout.php?nocache=0.2979517 http://ch.questionmarket.com/safecount/nai_optout.php?nocach... * http://notrack.adviva.net/CookieCheck.php?optThis=1 http://notrack.adviva.net/CookieCheck.php?optThis=1 * http://ad.trafficmp.com/a/optout?s=naiz http://ad.trafficmp.com/a/optout?s=naiz * http://www.exponential.com/who-we-are/cookie-thankyou.jsp http://www.exponential.com/who-we-are/cookie-thankyou.jsp * http://r.turn.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut&nocache=0.9414226 http://r.turn.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut&nocache=0.9414... * http://www.mediaplex.com/optout_pure.php?nocache=0.9477198 http://www.mediaplex.com/optout_pure.php?nocache=0.9477198 * http://info.yahoo.com/nai/nai-status.html?optout http://info.yahoo.com/nai/nai-status.html?optout * http://ads.undertone.com/fc.php?script=optOutUser:optOutUser&action=opt-out&nocache=0.8926813 http://ads.undertone.com/fc.php?script=optOutUser:optOutUser... * http://optout.33across.com/api/optout/ http://optout.33across.com/api/optout/ * http://www.quantcast.com/how-we-do-it/consumer-choice/opt-out/status http://www.quantcast.com/how-we-do-it/consumer-choice/opt-ou... * http://a.rfihub.com/oo.gif?cbust=1283182101220 http://a.rfihub.com/oo.gif?cbust=1283182101220 * http://ads.pointroll.com/privacy/opt.asp?opt=out http://ads.pointroll.com/privacy/opt.asp?opt=out * http://servedby.advertising.com/optout http://servedby.advertising.com/optout * http://ad.yieldmanager.com/opt-out http://ad.yieldmanager.com/opt-out * http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/opt_out.cgi?nocache=3.173465E-02 http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/opt_out.cgi?nocache=3.173465... * http://www.adbrite.com/mb/unset_targeting_cookies.php http://www.adbrite.com/mb/unset_targeting_cookies.php * http://www.yumenetworks.com/optout.php http://www.yumenetworks.com/optout.php * http://www.navegg.com/en/exit http://www.navegg.com/en/exit * http://rt.displaymarketplace.com/optout.html http://rt.displaymarketplace.com/optout.html * http://www.tattomedia.com/about_us/optout.php http://www.tattomedia.com/about_us/optout.php * http://adinterax.com/optout.phtml http://adinterax.com/optout.phtml * http://ads.lucidmedia.com/clicksense/optout http://ads.lucidmedia.com/clicksense/optout * http://adshuffle.com/optOutComplete.html http://adshuffle.com/optOutComplete.html * http://log.doubleverify.com/optout.aspx http://log.doubleverify.com/optout.aspx * http://www.dotomi.com/opt-out-yes.html http://www.dotomi.com/opt-out-yes.html * http://us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/switchctxthist.asp?state=off http://us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/switchctxthist.asp?state... * http://www.effectivemeasure.net/optout.php?url=http://www.effectivemeasure.com/opt_out_confirm.html http://www.effectivemeasure.net/optout.php?url=http://www.ef... * http://www.flashtalking.com/optout_cookie.php http://www.flashtalking.com/optout_cookie.php * http://www.weborama.fr/cgi-bin/set_cookie_optout.cgi http://www.weborama.fr/cgi-bin/set_cookie_optout.cgi * http://recs.richrelevance.com/rrserver/opt_out?rrnaioptout=1&nocache=0.9835474 http://recs.richrelevance.com/rrserver/opt_out?rrnaioptout=1... * http://www.tumri.com/opt-out-status http://www.tumri.com/opt-out-status * http://apps.pubmatic.com/optout.jsp?action=optout http://apps.pubmatic.com/optout.jsp?action=optout * http://api.aggregateknowledge.com/optout http://api.aggregateknowledge.com/optout * http://rotator.adjuggler.com/servlet/ajrotator/optout?action=set http://rotator.adjuggler.com/servlet/ajrotator/optout?action... * http://www.admeld.com/opt-out.html http://www.admeld.com/opt-out.html * http://ads.brand.net/optout?http://www.brand.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=151 http://ads.brand.net/optout?http://www.brand.net/index.php?o... * http://casalemedia.com/optout/?from=optmd http://casalemedia.com/optout/?from=optmd * http://app.scanscout.com/ssframework/dt/userOpt.png?a=out http://app.scanscout.com/ssframework/dt/userOpt.png?a=out * https://www.outbrain.com/privacy?opt=true https://www.outbrain.com/privacy?opt=true * http://b.xgraph.net/placeXOO.jsp?op=add http://b.xgraph.net/placeXOO.jsp?op=add * http://ib.adnxs.com/optout http://ib.adnxs.com/optout * http://ads.bridgetrack.com/optout.htm http://ads.bridgetrack.com/optout.htm * http://www.proximic.com/info/optout-success.php http://www.proximic.com/info/optout-success.php * http://px.owneriq.net/segment/optout http://px.owneriq.net/segment/optout * http://info.sv.us.criteo.com/pyz/dis/optout.aspx?o=1&l=en&cb=92664281208 http://info.sv.us.criteo.com/pyz/dis/optout.aspx?o=1&l=e... * http://img.pulsemgr.com/optout?optout&action=ooatt http://img.pulsemgr.com/optout?optout&action=ooatt * http://opt.w55c.net/out http://opt.w55c.net/out? * http://www.scorecardresearch.com/OptOut.aspx http://www.scorecardresearch.com/OptOut.aspx * http://www.dapper.net/optout.html http://www.dapper.net/optout.html * https://admin.valueclickmedia.com/optout/optout.html?uid=783125905 https://admin.valueclickmedia.com/optout/optout.html?uid=783... * http://assets.invitemedia.com/opt-out.html http://assets.invitemedia.com/opt-out.html * http://www.beencounter.com/?page=no-track http://www.beencounter.com/?page=no-track * http://tracking.vindicosuite.com/Tracking/Optout/?o=1 http://tracking.vindicosuite.com/Tracking/Optout/?o=1 * http://a.netmng.com/optout.php?op=optout http://a.netmng.com/optout.php?op=optout * http://g.adspeed.net/ad.php?do=optout http://g.adspeed.net/ad.php?do=optout * http://privacy.traveladvertising.com/Pixel.aspx?optout=true http://privacy.traveladvertising.com/Pixel.aspx?optout=true * http://gbid.adbuyer.com/opt-out http://gbid.adbuyer.com/opt-out * http://pixel999.everesttech.net/999/optout?url=http%3a//efrontier.com/optout-success http://pixel999.everesttech.net/999/optout?url=http%3a//efro... * http://alps.adchemy.com/alps-cs/auuid/opt-out http://alps.adchemy.com/alps-cs/auuid/opt-out * http://a.ctasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all http://a.ctasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all * http://help.aol.co.uk/technical/how-do-i-opt-out-of/article/20080430103709990004?set=WlOptOut http://help.aol.co.uk/technical/how-do-i-opt-out-of/article/... * http://a2.raasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all http://a2.raasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all http://jdn.monster.com/render/nano.aspx?f530b397-a781-4f9b-8e44-14bdfa1d54f9~0~0~1265315560380~480~http%3A//can.monster.com/cookie-technology.aspx%3F&optout=true http://jdn.monster.com/render/nano.aspx?f530b397-a781-4f9b-8... * http://o1.qnsr.com/w3c/optoutnow.html http://o1.qnsr.com/w3c/optoutnow.html * http://d.adgear.com/optout http://d.adgear.com/optout * http://www.hurra.com/cgi-local/opt-out.cgi?opt-out=yes http://www.hurra.com/cgi-local/opt-out.cgi?opt-out=yes * https://web.snoobi.com/en/info_optout2.php https://web.snoobi.com/en/info_optout2.php * http://optout.yieldoptimizer.com/optout/nopt http://optout.yieldoptimizer.com/optout/nopt * http://optout.mxptint.net/optout.ashx http://optout.mxptint.net/optout.ashx * http://pix.esm1.net/k/optout/optedout.php http://pix.esm1.net/k/optout/optedout.php * http://t.tellapart.com/btexclude http://t.tellapart.com/btexclude * http://www.mixpo.com/optout/nai_optout http://www.mixpo.com/optout/nai_optout * http://t.mookie1.com/o/optout/cookies/mig http://t.mookie1.com/o/optout/cookies/mig * http://qjex.net/optout.php http://qjex.net/optout.php * http://spongecell.com/opt_out/cookies_clear http://spongecell.com/opt_out/cookies_clear * http://www.lijit.com/cookie_opt_out http://www.lijit.com/cookie_opt_out * http://ad.wsod.com/?view=privacy&action=optout http://ad.wsod.com/?view=privacy&action=optout * http://a.triggit.com/optout http://a.triggit.com/optout * http://www.infectiousmedia.com/index.php/test http://www.infectiousmedia.com/index.php/test * http://tracking.quisma.com/optout.cfs http://tracking.quisma.com/optout.cfs * http://www.keewurd.com/_optout.aspx?optout=1 http://www.keewurd.com/_optout.aspx?optout=1 * http://adnetwork.buzzlogic.com/policy/cookie_opt_out http://adnetwork.buzzlogic.com/policy/cookie_opt_out * http://www.bvmedia.ca/EN/CookieOptOut/DoOptOut.php http://www.bvmedia.ca/EN/CookieOptOut/DoOptOut.php * http://brilig.com/opt_out_action.html http://brilig.com/opt_out_action.html * http://predictad.com/privacy/PrivateMode.aspx http://predictad.com/privacy/PrivateMode.aspx * http://www.chango.com/terms/opt_out_2 http://www.chango.com/terms/opt_out_2 * http://ads.newtention.net/ads/privacy?cm=optout http://ads.newtention.net/ads/privacy?cm=optout * http://tracking.reedge.com/privacy/optout.php?do=optout&redirect=http%3A//www.reedge.com/opt-out http://tracking.reedge.com/privacy/optout.php?do=optout&... * http://optout.ib-ibi.com:8000/myi-behaviorOptOut.aspx http://optout.ib-ibi.com:8000/myi-behaviorOptOut.aspx * http://a.p.mybuys.com/adn/optout?redirect=1 http://a.p.mybuys.com/adn/optout?redirect=1 * http://adserver.veruta.com/optout.fcgi http://adserver.veruta.com/optout.fcgi * http://www.wtp101.com/opt-out http://www.wtp101.com/opt-out * http://rs.gwallet.com/r1/optout?optout&r1 http://rs.gwallet.com/r1/optout?optout&r1 * http://svc.pch.com/optoutsvc/OptoutService.svc/pox/Optout?state=opt_out http://svc.pch.com/optoutsvc/OptoutService.svc/pox/Optout?st... * http://www.convertro.com/optout-success.html?cvo_optout=all http://www.convertro.com/optout-success.html?cvo_optout=all * http://www.bnmla.com/bnmla/opt_out http://www.bnmla.com/bnmla/opt_out * http://server.cpmstar.com/optout.aspx http://server.cpmstar.com/optout.aspx * http://stage.traffiliate.com/OptPut.ashx?ReturnUrl=http://www.traffiliate.com/thankyou.html http://stage.traffiliate.com/OptPut.ashx?ReturnUrl=http://ww... * http://ads.creative-serving.com/opt-out http://ads.creative-serving.com/opt-out * http://www2.glam.com/app/site/affiliate/nc/g-optout.act http://www2.glam.com/app/site/affiliate/nc/g-optout.act * http://ad3.liverail.com/privacy/?optout&yes http://ad3.liverail.com/privacy/?optout&yes * http://optout.cognitivematch.com/successOptout.html http://optout.cognitivematch.com/successOptout.html * http://nxtck.com/opt_status.jsp?language=UK&choice=opt_out http://nxtck.com/opt_status.jsp?language=UK&choice=opt_o... * http://www.demdex.net/demoptout.jpg http://www.demdex.net/demoptout.jpg? * http://d.p-td.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut http://d.p-td.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut It could be interesting if it become popular for websites to present some or all of those images to all visitors if the image size test revealed they hadn't opted out.
wulczer 16y ago
Another service that seems to do the same thing, and IMHO looks more serious: http://www.ghostery.com/ http://www.ghostery.com/
- upinsmoke 16y ago
  Maybe, but you have to download and install their software. Not going to do that.
  - deleted 16y ago
    [deleted]
  - deleted 16y ago
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camdykeman 16y ago
This whole business is suspicious if you ask me. SelectOut doesn't sell a product and is designed to remove its user base from the advertising industry. If there is no money being generated by the product and all the advertising bridges are burned, where is the money coming from to keep development of a product like this moving forward? It seems likely to me that, through these opt-out services, someone out there is still getting handed your information.

40 points by dannyr 16y ago

Seemed fishy to enable JS but I was curious. I'm being tracked by at least 0 companies. Pretty good. I don't like opting out of things because in order to opt out; you need to tell them who you are which combined with the instantaneous nearly free communication tools (email). I would be adversely affected, probably more so after 'opting out' (eg increased exempted robo-calls from charities/politics since they know you pay attention).

jluxenberg 16y ago

Was curious how they were able to detect the presence of a tracking company's cookie. They're using an API provided by all of these tracking companies where they vend an image whose height is either 43 pixels (indicating you have a cookie) or 44 pixels (indicating you have no cookie). Does anyone know if there was legislation that made this API a requirement, or is this an example of an industry policing itself in an attempt to stay unregulated?

kuahyeow 16y ago
Same thought here. I find it very bizarre that images are used in such a way. Here's one example of the image: http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_exists.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_exists.gif
jdp23 16y ago
It's self-regulation, sponsored I believe by the Network Advertising Initiative. NAI is an industry group, analogous to the DMAI in the direct mail world. Most of the responsible advertisers work with them.
mukyu 16y ago
The FTC has been making noise about actually doing something. [1] There are also proposals to W3C defining a 'Do Not Track' HTTP header rather than cookies. [2] [1] http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/12/privacyreport.shtm http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/12/privacyreport.shtm [2] http://www.w3.org/QA/2011/02/do_not_track_at_w3c.html http://www.w3.org/QA/2011/02/do_not_track_at_w3c.html
buddydvd 16y ago
Here's the link to Network Advertising Initiative's opt out page: http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp When you opt out of a network, the participating network will assign you an opt out cookie. When you visit a website that indirectly loads these tracking pages, it will check to see if you have their opt out cookie. If you do, they will avoid assigning you their tracking cookie. These tools basically help you manage and persist the opt-out cookies so that when you clear your browser's cookies, the browser doesn't remove these opt out cookies. All the participating networks provide an URL that tell you whether or not you have their opt out cookie. If you do, they will redirect that request to: http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif http://www.networkadvertising.org/verify/cookie_optout.gif Otherwise, they will redirect you to image that says you have their tracking cookie. You can subsequently use javascript to inspect the dimension of the image to determine whether or not you have opt out of that network.

rwolf 16y ago

This isn't the first page to offer a way to opt out of all of those cookie. It's also not the first site to crash halfway through the process (in this case, it thinks I've already opted out even after clearing cache and cookies). It's a given that the ad companies will provide flaky opting out mechanisms. They are likely responding to spikes in opt-out attempts by falling over on purpose whenever a site like this hits HN. Who is going to step up and write a version of this service with error handling?

FirstHopSystems 16y ago

This is kind of like trying to op out getting into a car crash. Or better, getting robbed. Hello Customer, Acct#6548856 we are not tracking you. No, some other company is tracking you. Were not doing it directly but we sure are buying data from companies who do. Not getting tracked, I can think of a few companies that a large part of it's worth is by all the information they collect/track. Facebook? - Last time I checked they don't pay employees minimum wage. When is the last time you had to pay Facebook to access it? Money is coming from someplace. Directly or indirectly someone is going to be tracking you. </rant>

jdp23 16y ago

There was a good article about SelectOut in Privacy News last month: http://www.privatewifi.com/selectout-founder-analyzes-1000-privacy-policies-to-make-online-privacy-easier-part-1/ http://www.privatewifi.com/selectout-founder-analyzes-1000-p...

piguy314 16y ago

Beef TACO (Targeted Advertising Cookie Opt-Out) already does this for Firefox, and the opt-out cookies are persistent through cookie deletion. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/beef-taco-targeted-advertising/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/beef-taco-tar...

A1kmm 16y ago

Looks like the active part of the opt-out involves making the user load the following URLs (they use the script tag, but 1x1 images could do): * http://http300.edge.ru4.com/smartserve/optout http://http300.edge.ru4.com/smartserve/optout * http://www.247realmedia.com/EN-US/opt-out.html http://www.247realmedia.com/EN-US/opt-out.html * http://scripts.adcentriconline.com/optout.php http://scripts.adcentriconline.com/optout.php * http://oo.afy11.net/Default.aspx http://oo.afy11.net/Default.aspx * http://nspmotion.com/setoptout.aspx http://nspmotion.com/setoptout.aspx * http://ads.heias.de/x/opt_out.php?opt_out=true http://ads.heias.de/x/opt_out.php?opt_out=true * http://www.abmr.net/set_optout?nocache=0.1764119 http://www.abmr.net/set_optout?nocache=0.1764119 * http://pbid.pro-market.net/engine?optout=$nai_optout$nocache=0.5716212 http://pbid.pro-market.net/engine?optout=$nai_optout$nocache... * http://www.atdmt.com/CookieUpdate.aspx?option=Outredir=CookieActions.aspx http://www.atdmt.com/CookieUpdate.aspx?option=Outredir=Cooki... * http://optout.revsci.net/optout.aspx?a=1&p=http://www.networkadvertising.org&nocache=0.2084559 http://optout.revsci.net/optout.aspx?a=1&p=http://www.ne... * http://www.bizo.com/businessProfessionals/opt_out?confirm=true http://www.bizo.com/businessProfessionals/opt_out?confirm=tr... * http://tags.bluekai.com/naioptout?nocache=0.4754892 http://tags.bluekai.com/naioptout?nocache=0.4754892 http://s0b.bluestreak.com/ix.e?sc&t=0 http://s0b.bluestreak.com/ix.e?sc&t=0 * http://www.brightroll.com/privacy/opt-out/ http://www.brightroll.com/privacy/opt-out/ * http://www.btbuckets.com/site/optout_submit http://www.btbuckets.com/site/optout_submit * http://api.choicestream.com/instr/ad/opt-out http://api.choicestream.com/instr/ad/opt-out * http://optout.collective-media.net/optout?nocache=0.3432681 http://optout.collective-media.net/optout?nocache=0.3432681 * http://data.cmcore.com/privacy/privacy_handler.php?dest=http://data.cmcore.com/privacy/getCoreStatus.php&act=opt_out http://data.cmcore.com/privacy/privacy_handler.php?dest=http... * http://load.exelator.com/load/OptOut.php?service=outNAI&nocache=0.5863306 http://load.exelator.com/load/OptOut.php?service=outNAI&... * http://as.serving-sys.com/OptOut/SetOptOut.asp?OptOut=TRUE http://as.serving-sys.com/OptOut/SetOptOut.asp?OptOut=TRUE * http://www.facilitatedigital.com/cookie_opt_out.asp http://www.facilitatedigital.com/cookie_opt_out.asp * http://fetchback.com/serve/fb/optout?nocache=0.3366319 http://fetchback.com/serve/fb/optout?nocache=0.3366319 * http://p.opt.fimserve.com/nai_opt.jsp?nocache=9.096128E-02 http://p.opt.fimserve.com/nai_opt.jsp?nocache=9.096128E-02 * http://cue.v.fwmrm.net/ad/optout http://cue.v.fwmrm.net/ad/optout * http://optout.doubleclick.net/cgi-bin/dclk/optoutnai.pl http://optout.doubleclick.net/cgi-bin/dclk/optoutnai.pl * http://a1.interclick.com/optOut.aspx?optOut=true&success=http%3A//w2.interclick.com/opt-out-success.aspx&fail=http%3A//w2.interclick.com/opt-out-failure.aspx http://a1.interclick.com/optOut.aspx?optOut=true&success... * http://www.crwdcntrl.net/optout http://www.crwdcntrl.net/optout * http://media6degrees.com/optout_.php http://media6degrees.com/optout_.php * http://action.mathtag.com/mm/OPTO/opt-out/OPT?oo=1 http://action.mathtag.com/mm/OPTO/opt-out/OPT?oo=1 * http://mmismm.com/mm_oo.php?opt_out=&nocache=0.7812027 http://mmismm.com/mm_oo.php?opt_out=&nocache=0.7812027 * http://www.nexac.com/nai_optout.php?nocache=2.282816E-02 http://www.nexac.com/nai_optout.php?nocache=2.282816E-02 * http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/help/AdTargetingOptOut.jsp http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/help/AdTargetingOptOut... * http://eu.nuggad.net/block http://eu.nuggad.net/block * http://www.openx.org/privacy?action=opt-out http://www.openx.org/privacy?action=opt-out * http://adserver.adtech.de/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://glb.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://adserverwc.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://adserverec.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://ad.us-ec.adtechus.com/setoptoutcookie/?page=http http://adserver.adtech.de/setoptoutcookie/?page=http://glb.a... * http://www.precisionclick.com/optout_set.asp http://www.precisionclick.com/optout_set.asp * http://ch.questionmarket.com/safecount/nai_optout.php?nocache=0.2979517 http://ch.questionmarket.com/safecount/nai_optout.php?nocach... * http://notrack.adviva.net/CookieCheck.php?optThis=1 http://notrack.adviva.net/CookieCheck.php?optThis=1 * http://ad.trafficmp.com/a/optout?s=naiz http://ad.trafficmp.com/a/optout?s=naiz * http://www.exponential.com/who-we-are/cookie-thankyou.jsp http://www.exponential.com/who-we-are/cookie-thankyou.jsp * http://r.turn.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut&nocache=0.9414226 http://r.turn.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut&nocache=0.9414... * http://www.mediaplex.com/optout_pure.php?nocache=0.9477198 http://www.mediaplex.com/optout_pure.php?nocache=0.9477198 * http://info.yahoo.com/nai/nai-status.html?optout http://info.yahoo.com/nai/nai-status.html?optout * http://ads.undertone.com/fc.php?script=optOutUser:optOutUser&action=opt-out&nocache=0.8926813 http://ads.undertone.com/fc.php?script=optOutUser:optOutUser... * http://optout.33across.com/api/optout/ http://optout.33across.com/api/optout/ * http://www.quantcast.com/how-we-do-it/consumer-choice/opt-out/status http://www.quantcast.com/how-we-do-it/consumer-choice/opt-ou... * http://a.rfihub.com/oo.gif?cbust=1283182101220 http://a.rfihub.com/oo.gif?cbust=1283182101220 * http://ads.pointroll.com/privacy/opt.asp?opt=out http://ads.pointroll.com/privacy/opt.asp?opt=out * http://servedby.advertising.com/optout http://servedby.advertising.com/optout * http://ad.yieldmanager.com/opt-out http://ad.yieldmanager.com/opt-out * http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/opt_out.cgi?nocache=3.173465E-02 http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/opt_out.cgi?nocache=3.173465... * http://www.adbrite.com/mb/unset_targeting_cookies.php http://www.adbrite.com/mb/unset_targeting_cookies.php * http://www.yumenetworks.com/optout.php http://www.yumenetworks.com/optout.php * http://www.navegg.com/en/exit http://www.navegg.com/en/exit * http://rt.displaymarketplace.com/optout.html http://rt.displaymarketplace.com/optout.html * http://www.tattomedia.com/about_us/optout.php http://www.tattomedia.com/about_us/optout.php * http://adinterax.com/optout.phtml http://adinterax.com/optout.phtml * http://ads.lucidmedia.com/clicksense/optout http://ads.lucidmedia.com/clicksense/optout * http://adshuffle.com/optOutComplete.html http://adshuffle.com/optOutComplete.html * http://log.doubleverify.com/optout.aspx http://log.doubleverify.com/optout.aspx * http://www.dotomi.com/opt-out-yes.html http://www.dotomi.com/opt-out-yes.html * http://us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/switchctxthist.asp?state=off http://us.intellitxt.com/intellitxt/switchctxthist.asp?state... * http://www.effectivemeasure.net/optout.php?url=http://www.effectivemeasure.com/opt_out_confirm.html http://www.effectivemeasure.net/optout.php?url=http://www.ef... * http://www.flashtalking.com/optout_cookie.php http://www.flashtalking.com/optout_cookie.php * http://www.weborama.fr/cgi-bin/set_cookie_optout.cgi http://www.weborama.fr/cgi-bin/set_cookie_optout.cgi * http://recs.richrelevance.com/rrserver/opt_out?rrnaioptout=1&nocache=0.9835474 http://recs.richrelevance.com/rrserver/opt_out?rrnaioptout=1... * http://www.tumri.com/opt-out-status http://www.tumri.com/opt-out-status * http://apps.pubmatic.com/optout.jsp?action=optout http://apps.pubmatic.com/optout.jsp?action=optout * http://api.aggregateknowledge.com/optout http://api.aggregateknowledge.com/optout * http://rotator.adjuggler.com/servlet/ajrotator/optout?action=set http://rotator.adjuggler.com/servlet/ajrotator/optout?action... * http://www.admeld.com/opt-out.html http://www.admeld.com/opt-out.html * http://ads.brand.net/optout?http://www.brand.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=151 http://ads.brand.net/optout?http://www.brand.net/index.php?o... * http://casalemedia.com/optout/?from=optmd http://casalemedia.com/optout/?from=optmd * http://app.scanscout.com/ssframework/dt/userOpt.png?a=out http://app.scanscout.com/ssframework/dt/userOpt.png?a=out * https://www.outbrain.com/privacy?opt=true https://www.outbrain.com/privacy?opt=true * http://b.xgraph.net/placeXOO.jsp?op=add http://b.xgraph.net/placeXOO.jsp?op=add * http://ib.adnxs.com/optout http://ib.adnxs.com/optout * http://ads.bridgetrack.com/optout.htm http://ads.bridgetrack.com/optout.htm * http://www.proximic.com/info/optout-success.php http://www.proximic.com/info/optout-success.php * http://px.owneriq.net/segment/optout http://px.owneriq.net/segment/optout * http://info.sv.us.criteo.com/pyz/dis/optout.aspx?o=1&l=en&cb=92664281208 http://info.sv.us.criteo.com/pyz/dis/optout.aspx?o=1&l=e... * http://img.pulsemgr.com/optout?optout&action=ooatt http://img.pulsemgr.com/optout?optout&action=ooatt * http://opt.w55c.net/out http://opt.w55c.net/out? * http://www.scorecardresearch.com/OptOut.aspx http://www.scorecardresearch.com/OptOut.aspx * http://www.dapper.net/optout.html http://www.dapper.net/optout.html * https://admin.valueclickmedia.com/optout/optout.html?uid=783125905 https://admin.valueclickmedia.com/optout/optout.html?uid=783... * http://assets.invitemedia.com/opt-out.html http://assets.invitemedia.com/opt-out.html * http://www.beencounter.com/?page=no-track http://www.beencounter.com/?page=no-track * http://tracking.vindicosuite.com/Tracking/Optout/?o=1 http://tracking.vindicosuite.com/Tracking/Optout/?o=1 * http://a.netmng.com/optout.php?op=optout http://a.netmng.com/optout.php?op=optout * http://g.adspeed.net/ad.php?do=optout http://g.adspeed.net/ad.php?do=optout * http://privacy.traveladvertising.com/Pixel.aspx?optout=true http://privacy.traveladvertising.com/Pixel.aspx?optout=true * http://gbid.adbuyer.com/opt-out http://gbid.adbuyer.com/opt-out * http://pixel999.everesttech.net/999/optout?url=http%3a//efrontier.com/optout-success http://pixel999.everesttech.net/999/optout?url=http%3a//efro... * http://alps.adchemy.com/alps-cs/auuid/opt-out http://alps.adchemy.com/alps-cs/auuid/opt-out * http://a.ctasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all http://a.ctasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all * http://help.aol.co.uk/technical/how-do-i-opt-out-of/article/20080430103709990004?set=WlOptOut http://help.aol.co.uk/technical/how-do-i-opt-out-of/article/... * http://a2.raasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all http://a2.raasnet.com/a?t=o&track=no&noads=all http://jdn.monster.com/render/nano.aspx?f530b397-a781-4f9b-8e44-14bdfa1d54f9~0~0~1265315560380~480~http%3A//can.monster.com/cookie-technology.aspx%3F&optout=true http://jdn.monster.com/render/nano.aspx?f530b397-a781-4f9b-8... * http://o1.qnsr.com/w3c/optoutnow.html http://o1.qnsr.com/w3c/optoutnow.html * http://d.adgear.com/optout http://d.adgear.com/optout * http://www.hurra.com/cgi-local/opt-out.cgi?opt-out=yes http://www.hurra.com/cgi-local/opt-out.cgi?opt-out=yes * https://web.snoobi.com/en/info_optout2.php https://web.snoobi.com/en/info_optout2.php * http://optout.yieldoptimizer.com/optout/nopt http://optout.yieldoptimizer.com/optout/nopt * http://optout.mxptint.net/optout.ashx http://optout.mxptint.net/optout.ashx * http://pix.esm1.net/k/optout/optedout.php http://pix.esm1.net/k/optout/optedout.php * http://t.tellapart.com/btexclude http://t.tellapart.com/btexclude * http://www.mixpo.com/optout/nai_optout http://www.mixpo.com/optout/nai_optout * http://t.mookie1.com/o/optout/cookies/mig http://t.mookie1.com/o/optout/cookies/mig * http://qjex.net/optout.php http://qjex.net/optout.php * http://spongecell.com/opt_out/cookies_clear http://spongecell.com/opt_out/cookies_clear * http://www.lijit.com/cookie_opt_out http://www.lijit.com/cookie_opt_out * http://ad.wsod.com/?view=privacy&action=optout http://ad.wsod.com/?view=privacy&action=optout * http://a.triggit.com/optout http://a.triggit.com/optout * http://www.infectiousmedia.com/index.php/test http://www.infectiousmedia.com/index.php/test * http://tracking.quisma.com/optout.cfs http://tracking.quisma.com/optout.cfs * http://www.keewurd.com/_optout.aspx?optout=1 http://www.keewurd.com/_optout.aspx?optout=1 * http://adnetwork.buzzlogic.com/policy/cookie_opt_out http://adnetwork.buzzlogic.com/policy/cookie_opt_out * http://www.bvmedia.ca/EN/CookieOptOut/DoOptOut.php http://www.bvmedia.ca/EN/CookieOptOut/DoOptOut.php * http://brilig.com/opt_out_action.html http://brilig.com/opt_out_action.html * http://predictad.com/privacy/PrivateMode.aspx http://predictad.com/privacy/PrivateMode.aspx * http://www.chango.com/terms/opt_out_2 http://www.chango.com/terms/opt_out_2 * http://ads.newtention.net/ads/privacy?cm=optout http://ads.newtention.net/ads/privacy?cm=optout * http://tracking.reedge.com/privacy/optout.php?do=optout&redirect=http%3A//www.reedge.com/opt-out http://tracking.reedge.com/privacy/optout.php?do=optout&... * http://optout.ib-ibi.com:8000/myi-behaviorOptOut.aspx http://optout.ib-ibi.com:8000/myi-behaviorOptOut.aspx * http://a.p.mybuys.com/adn/optout?redirect=1 http://a.p.mybuys.com/adn/optout?redirect=1 * http://adserver.veruta.com/optout.fcgi http://adserver.veruta.com/optout.fcgi * http://www.wtp101.com/opt-out http://www.wtp101.com/opt-out * http://rs.gwallet.com/r1/optout?optout&r1 http://rs.gwallet.com/r1/optout?optout&r1 * http://svc.pch.com/optoutsvc/OptoutService.svc/pox/Optout?state=opt_out http://svc.pch.com/optoutsvc/OptoutService.svc/pox/Optout?st... * http://www.convertro.com/optout-success.html?cvo_optout=all http://www.convertro.com/optout-success.html?cvo_optout=all * http://www.bnmla.com/bnmla/opt_out http://www.bnmla.com/bnmla/opt_out * http://server.cpmstar.com/optout.aspx http://server.cpmstar.com/optout.aspx * http://stage.traffiliate.com/OptPut.ashx?ReturnUrl=http://www.traffiliate.com/thankyou.html http://stage.traffiliate.com/OptPut.ashx?ReturnUrl=http://ww... * http://ads.creative-serving.com/opt-out http://ads.creative-serving.com/opt-out * http://www2.glam.com/app/site/affiliate/nc/g-optout.act http://www2.glam.com/app/site/affiliate/nc/g-optout.act * http://ad3.liverail.com/privacy/?optout&yes http://ad3.liverail.com/privacy/?optout&yes * http://optout.cognitivematch.com/successOptout.html http://optout.cognitivematch.com/successOptout.html * http://nxtck.com/opt_status.jsp?language=UK&choice=opt_out http://nxtck.com/opt_status.jsp?language=UK&choice=opt_o... * http://www.demdex.net/demoptout.jpg http://www.demdex.net/demoptout.jpg? * http://d.p-td.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut http://d.p-td.com/r/optout?type=setOptOut It could be interesting if it become popular for websites to present some or all of those images to all visitors if the image size test revealed they hadn't opted out.

wulczer 16y ago

Another service that seems to do the same thing, and IMHO looks more serious: http://www.ghostery.com/ http://www.ghostery.com/

upinsmoke 16y ago
Maybe, but you have to download and install their software. Not going to do that.
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camdykeman 16y ago

This whole business is suspicious if you ask me. SelectOut doesn't sell a product and is designed to remove its user base from the advertising industry. If there is no money being generated by the product and all the advertising bridges are burned, where is the money coming from to keep development of a product like this moving forward? It seems likely to me that, through these opt-out services, someone out there is still getting handed your information.