Web 'Bugs'

[M and D]

Do I need to be concerned about so-called web bugs on otherwise legitimate web pages?

I like to think I'm smart about security and privacy on the web. From what I've been reading, there's nothing sinister about web bugs in legitimate web pages, but I'd like to be sure about this.

Thanks, and Happy New Year.

Steven

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "M and D" <[email protected]>

| Do I need to be concerned about so-called web bugs on otherwise legitimate web pages?
|
| I like to think I'm smart about security and privacy on the web. From what I've been
| reading, there's nothing sinister about web bugs in legitimate web pages, but I'd like to
| be sure about this.
|
| Thanks, and Happy New Year.
|
| Steven

Yes. That's what anti virus software is for. There are all sorts of Java and HTML Exploits
coded into web pages to clause the auto-installation of malware.

 

[M and D]

Right now I block all web bugs (with Zone Alarm). So I'm not being paranoid - this is a good thing to do?

Steven

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "M and D" <[email protected]>

| Right now I block all web bugs (with Zone Alarm). So I'm not being paranoid - this is a
| good thing to do?
|
| Steven
|

Yes. But do you have the Zone Labs Zone Alarm bundled with CA eTrust anti virus software ?

One needs to have both a FireWall and anti virus.

 

[M and D]

Thank you. I actually have Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite, which has 'everything'. I know emotions run high over different security suites, and I'm not trying to start an argument but I really like ZAISS.

I've been following your posts for a while and have learned a lot of good stuff from you. Thank you and have a very good new year.

Steven

 

[Enkidu]

Do I need to be concerned about so-called web bugs on otherwise
legitimate web pages?

I like to think I'm smart about security and privacy on the web. From
what I've been reading, there's nothing sinister about web bugs in
legitimate web pages, but I'd like to be sure about this.

'web-bugs' are invisble one pixel images on web pages. Sometimes they
are used just to get alignment right in web pages (You specify an image
that is one pixel by one pixel and transparent and force it to the size
you want by the 'width' or 'height' parameter in HTML. This is innocuous.

Sometimes a 'web-bug' will refer to an off-site image. The off-site
image will be used to track usage of the site. You may consider this
innocuous or not, based on your privacy concerns.

So far as I am personally aware, 'web-bugs' cannot harm your computer.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "M and D" <[email protected]>

| Thank you. I actually have Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite, which has 'everything'. I
| know emotions run high over different security suites, and I'm not trying to start an
| argument but I really like ZAISS.
|
| I've been following your posts for a while and have learned a lot of good stuff from you.
| Thank you and have a very good new year.
|
| Steven

Thank you for those kind words and you too have a wondrous New Year !

 

[GTS]

Good explanation. Note in addition that the main threat to privacy is when
web bugs are used in conjunction with cookies to track browsing habits.
Frequently deleting cookies helps to minimize this issue.
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