Skittish Eclipse ([info]foxfirefey) wrote in [info]no_lj_ads,
2006-10-31 00:56:00
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[info]7daysinasentra gets to set a tracking cookie on the front page of LJ

As [info]glassstrider has noted, [info]7daysinasentra has gone live and is now promoted on the front page--with an ad click tracking link in place of the normal LJ community tag.

It also just happens to load a web bug:

<img src="http://view.atdmt.com/TLA/view/sxprdn060340000367tla/direct/01/" width="1" height="1" />

So Atlas Solutions can set a tracking cookie from atdmt.com--just for loading the front page of LJ. Yup, LJ's front page now lets web behavior trackers load cookies directly from the front page.

Fortunately, unlike ads setting cookies from iframes, it is very easy to block third party tracking cookies set by web bugs. (Which is why the trackers on a whole have been moving towards more sneaky methods instead, actually, as if choosing to block third party cookies wasn't enough of a hint.) Instructions for IE, Firefox 1.5.x, and Opera. For Firefox 2, follow the instructions at http://www.mozillazine.org/misc/about:config/ to change network.cookie.cookieBehavior to 1.
Tags: sponsored communities, third party sites

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  • 14 comments

[info]zorkfox

October 31 2006, 09:04:24 UTC 5 years ago

The instructions for Firefox are for version 1.5.X, not 2.X. There doesn't seem to be an option in 2.X for allowing cookies "from originating site only". :( Now it just says, [X] Accept cookies from sites ...keep until: [they expire|I close Firefox|ask me every time]. :( :(

[info]foxfirefey

October 31 2006, 09:09:17 UTC 5 years ago

You're right. Looks like you have to use about:config. I guess they took it away because so many of these darn sites are using iframes and other methods of getting around it, like collaborating with the site and getting to use first site cookies.

[info]zorkfox

October 31 2006, 20:32:10 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks for all the work you do, [info]foxfirefey. It is greatly appreciated! My settings already seem to be at a value of "1" though I didn't set them there. Perhaps it's a carry-over from my previous settings in version 1.5.X?

[info]childofares

October 31 2006, 09:52:00 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you for this! I'm still pretty tech impaired, but I'm really glad that someone on LJ isn't :)

[info]foxfirefey

October 31 2006, 10:50:40 UTC 5 years ago

We try our best!

[info]dzurlady

October 31 2006, 10:44:05 UTC 5 years ago

Does this happen for for paid users too? Even though we don't get the ads?

[info]foxfirefey

October 31 2006, 10:50:02 UTC 5 years ago

Well, if you're a logged in paid user, you can go to the front page and be fine.

However, if you are logged out and use the front page to get it, you'll get to see the Sponsored communities being promoted and the web bug will try to set its cookie if you do not have settings on your browser to block third party cookies.

And even if you are logged in and paid, if you visit a Sponsored Community they are allowed to use third party tracking tools like Google Analytics on you.

[info]foxfirefey

October 31 2006, 10:50:25 UTC 5 years ago

*front page to get in

[info]uniquewonders

October 31 2006, 11:27:20 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks for the tip.

[info]foxfirefey

October 31 2006, 11:28:14 UTC 5 years ago

It makes me grumpy. I'm always so grumpy.

[info]component

October 31 2006, 17:57:35 UTC 5 years ago

thanks for the warning! :) i fixed all my browser settings.

[info]maubast

October 31 2006, 22:32:50 UTC 5 years ago

Just wanted to say thanks for the info.

[info]uniquewonders

November 1 2006, 02:02:19 UTC 5 years ago

Adding this to our link map:
http://code.sixapart.com/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/trunk/htdocs/index.bml.text.local?root=ljcom&view=log

It'll make tracking this kind of shit easier, I think.

[info]earth2skye

November 1 2006, 10:27:03 UTC 5 years ago

Mac OS X: Safari

Thanks for this excellent, clear and precise, very educational post!

I just wanted to add that Safari (the standard browser coming with Mac OS X) seems to be configured to only accept first party cookies by default. If not, it can be set much like on Firefox 1.x.

Skye
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