This May 22 article, "Web Marketers Have a Way of Finding Out About You" by Susan Olasky in World Magazine quoting from New York Times, explains how a coupon printed from the Internet is packed with info about the customer who uses it. Coupons convey “a startling amount of data, including identification about the customer, Internet address, Facebook page information and even the search terms the customer used to find the coupon in the first place.”
Some Sites to Explore
David Passell's comment is posted here, but first you'll want to look at the WiseGeek home page to see what in the world they post. He tells us, "An enquiring mind could spend hours exploring these subjects. . . You can subscribe and register (both are FREE). This site contains lots of advertising links. Some could be useful."
Finding Low Airfares
Jim Hamm mentions this site that has a chart comparing 8 websites for finding low airfares.
Google's Amazing Information
"Here's an interesting article on some ways you can use Google," Jim Hamm speaks up. "When you think about, how in the world does Google get all this info? Tracking packages, movie times, airline flight status, etc. It's absolutely amazing the information available at your fingertips and a computer."
Quick-loading Internet Home Page
Take a look at this quick-loading Internet Home Page that brings up 150 common websites, suggests Jim Hamm. Zenstart is based in Denmark, according to sitelogr. Check out these pros and cons.
Curious About Cookies?
Remember when cookies were those yummy ones that Mama made? Cookies for the computer are something else!
Corresponding with John Carter I mentioned that "Never" doesn't seem to mean Never. Going to a website for a look before mentioning it on PMUG blog seems to have stirred up their Cookies. Deleting seemed to have taken the Cookies off, clicking Delete All, and then Allow Cookies Never didn't cancel their return. Later the Cookies were back.
Here's John's take: "This is very surprising. I haven't gone to the trouble to check if cookies come back on me - ever. So I have not experienced this problem, but it may be there nontheless. I am using Chrome as my default browser now, and you'll see my report on that in another email. I'm going to start checking for cookies on sites that I have deleted cookies on and don't revisit (pingtest.net being one) to see if those cookies return."
Soon John wrote back with more info on Cookies. "Ah-ha! I think I just discovered why you are getting those cookies. Safari has loaded the sites you visited in Top Sites. Every time you delete a cookie from a site, close Safari, and reopen (and maybe you don't even have to reopen), Top Sites might be reloading the cookies when it refreshes the list in Top Sites.
"Maybe if you clear all browsing data and your browser history from Safari after deleting cookies this will also clean out Top Sites and the problem will go away.
"But like I said, you should not choose Never for saving cookies because that will prevent you from visiting sites that require cookies to be set unless you have entered those sites in your cookie allowed list. It can be more of an inconvenience to update that list than it is to allow cookies only for sites that you visit.
"The only logical reason (logic and reason being at odds with each other) to block cookies is the fear that one of them will pass personal data to the outside world."
John continues, "Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia:
'A cookie can be used for authentication, session tracking (state maintenance), storing site preferences, shopping cart contents, the identifier for a server-based session, or anything else that can be accomplished through storing textual data.
As text, cookies are not executable. Because they are not executed, they cannot replicate themselves and are not viruses. Due to the browser mechanism to set and read cookies, they can be used as spyware. Anti-spyware products may warn users about some cookies because cookies can be used to track people or violate privacy concerns.
"Cookies act as spyware simply because they can report personal information that you enter at a site such as your name, address, phone, login name, and literally anything you enter into a field except a password. That information stored by a cookie is only readable by the site that put the cookie there. That's what makes doing online banking and online purchasing safe. Such personal information is used by the site to confirm you as a returning customer. This is why you should not allow cookies to be stored on a public computer (at the library). When you connect your computer to a public LAN (at the library), your computer is protected from prying eyes simply by the fact that the server (at the library) prevents crosstalk between computers even though you are able to see all the other computers connected to that same LAN.' This needs to be confirmed by one of our Internet gurus in the club, but I believe it to be correct.
"I take serious issue with the claim that cookies can be used to track people or violate privacy concerns. Information about what kind of computer you have, what kind of operating system you use, and what kind of browser you use is not considered private information. No other information can be collected from your computer by a cookie.
"Cookies cannot infect your computer in any way."
John's conclusion is reassuring, "That being said, nothing is impossible. Just keep your operating system and your browser updated when updates are available and you'll be protected in the best possible way."
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A Ping Test
Internet connection running slow? David Passell alerts us to a test you can perform to determine the quality of your current broadband Internet connection.
First, he describes the problem, "Currently my ISP, commspeed, is having difficulty with their system which is resulting in slow download speeds and some other problems like video clips not running smoothly. I checked the speed to verify that, and also called their technician who acknowledged the difficulty and said it would be fixed shortly. I get my link from Badger (P) Mountain, but it gets a link from Mingus Mountain where the trouble lies.
"In addition to the speed test there is another test that you can perform. I'm not sure it is limited to commspeed; anybody may be able to use it. You will find it here.
"When you select a server and run the test, you will get a result (hopefully not quite) like this. Double click to enlarge these illustration.
Now, more from David. "So as not to make commspeed seem like such a bad guy, here is the same test this morning. Not outstanding but usable."
"I also ran a speed test and got a more typical result."
More on Slow Internet Connections
What's the Best Home Page?
Want to simplify the Home Page in your Browser? Jim Hamm shares some info. "Usually I use iGoogle as my home page, but it contains a lot of information and portals to other websites. It needs a good broadband connection to load quickly. When I'm traveling, quite often the WiFi signals are weak and I need something that loads quickly. This article gives some examples of MSN, Bing, iGoogle, Fav4.org. Here's the one I might use because you can set up four links you frequently use, and it loads quickly."
Test Your DNS
Here's an article about Google's new program to test which DNS server might be best for you to use. Jim Hamm comments, "Realistically, I've been pleased with whichever DNS server I'm using, so this may be more of a theoretical exercise. But, if you do try it and switch DNS servers I'd be interested in hearing about your comments."
Better Browsing
How can your Internet browsing experience be improved? Jim Hamm directs us to a blog that discusses a way to speed up your browsing. Scroll down to the article, "Better Browsing with Google's DNS." The DNS is a phone book for the Internet. They give this caveat, "It is worth keeping in mind that Google will be able to view your browsing habits, so it is a good idea to read through their privacy statement."It goes on to say, "If you'd rather not use Google DNS server... you can use a tool such as Namebench." Here's information about namebench that offers to help you find the best DNS servers. If you try this, Jim would like to know your reaction.
How to Move/Store Safari Bookmarks
When you want to copy, move, store, retrieve your Safari bookmarks you'll be glad you read and bookmarked this article sent to us from Jim Hamm.
Bobbie Finds Out
Bobbie Pastor sends this comment to the June 27 blog entry, "Discovering Modem Speeds" where it said, "You might want to see if there are any upgrades in your area. If you're an 'old' subscriber there may be improvements now available." She says, "I found out through my own account, that if you are an old subscriber you can't have the upgrade unless you want the new, going rate which for me is $15.00 more a month. How do you like them apples?"
Discovering Cable Modem Speeds
What's the speed of your Internet connection? Art Gorski sends us an interesting tidbit this morning.
"I discovered this weekend that Cableone has increased their cable modem speeds. This is a stealth upgrade. They will not increase your speed unless you call them (928-445-4511). My 3Mbps cable modem is now 5Mbps at the same cost. Don't look at what folks in the Big City get or you will be depressed, but it's a positive move for those of us in the Sticks."
You can run a test, "How Fat is Your Pipe?" at http://www.digitallanding.com/high-speed-internet/section_display.cfm/section_id/20?gclid=CKjCisCJq5sCFRYiagodCil3DA to arrive at your Internet download and upload speeds, bandwidth, VoIP test, and a comparison chart of broadband services.
Then you might want to see if there are any upgrades in your area. If you're an "old" subscriber there may be improvements now available.
Answers to Your Internet Questions
Our October 18 PMUG meeting will feature Bob Simpson. It promises to be an interesting and informative meeting, answering your Internet protocol questions. If a person clicks an URL for, say, Google News, on their computer, what actually happens? There's all kinds of acronyms and terms such as DNS, open DNS, dynamic IP address, static IP address, DHCP, MAC address, router, subnet mask, default gateway, et al. What does all this mean?
How does the signal get from a computer to the Internet, to the web, get an address, and return to the computer? And I want to know more about cookies. (Not the ones Ginger Carlson brings; those are good and good for you, I'm sure.) Plan now to attend the October meeting at the Prescott Public Library.