Do Not Track on by default on Windows 8
Posted on: 06/01/2012 05:54 PM
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With its sixth platform preview of Internet Explorer 10, which is included in the preview release of Windows 8, Microsoft is leading the browser makers in protecting the users from advertising networks with its Do Not Track feature that is activated by default.
Mozilla originally proposed it. The browser forwards a special HTTP header to the web server declaring that the user does not want advertising networks to use cookies or other technology to record where they visit. Support for Do Not Track is already supported in Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer 9. Both Opera and Chrome have indicated they will do so soon. Many of the technical details of the prospective standard still need to be finalized and are currently under discussion at the W3C. The latest draft standard was published on 29 May.
It is already getting heat from major advertising networks even thought the details of Do Not Track are still up for grabs. Advertisers make their money by collecting data on web user behavior - in particular Google. But Microsoft partner Facebook, which tracks users via its social plugins, would also be affected by Do Not Track.
On its privacy blog, Do Not Track inventor Mozilla has expressed its appreciation of Microsoft's commitment to Do Not Track. Alex Fowler, who is responsible for privacy policy at Mozilla, hopes that this will raise the profile of this issue amongst the public. But his praise is also mixed with a hint of criticism. For Mozilla, it is important that it is the user who takes the decision, and not the software producer. That, he notes, is why Firefox doesn't activate Do Not Track by default.
Mozilla originally proposed it. The browser forwards a special HTTP header to the web server declaring that the user does not want advertising networks to use cookies or other technology to record where they visit. Support for Do Not Track is already supported in Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer 9. Both Opera and Chrome have indicated they will do so soon. Many of the technical details of the prospective standard still need to be finalized and are currently under discussion at the W3C. The latest draft standard was published on 29 May.
It is already getting heat from major advertising networks even thought the details of Do Not Track are still up for grabs. Advertisers make their money by collecting data on web user behavior - in particular Google. But Microsoft partner Facebook, which tracks users via its social plugins, would also be affected by Do Not Track.
On its privacy blog, Do Not Track inventor Mozilla has expressed its appreciation of Microsoft's commitment to Do Not Track. Alex Fowler, who is responsible for privacy policy at Mozilla, hopes that this will raise the profile of this issue amongst the public. But his praise is also mixed with a hint of criticism. For Mozilla, it is important that it is the user who takes the decision, and not the software producer. That, he notes, is why Firefox doesn't activate Do Not Track by default.
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