Internet Explorer 6 Spyware -- Alexa Registry Key, Part 3
Category: Windows
by Dennis Faas, infopackets editor
http://www.infopackets.com
 Happy
Hallowe'en!
Sorry -- I don't have a trick for you today -- but I certainly do have a
TREAT!
The infopackets web site has been
redesigned. Things aren't 100% yet but it's definitely on its way.
I spent most of Wednesday applying the changes and tinkering with the
layout.
I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce "Rover." He'll be
watching over the web site and also helping out with user-friendly
navigation. Without further adieu, here he is:
The newsletter format is also going to see a facelift in the near future,
as soon as I get done writing my web scripts to automate the layout of the
web site to make retrieving information from the newsletters quick and
simple.
I'm pretty impressed.
Thank You to all the kind folks who sent me an email yesterday telling me
how much they appreciate my newsletter. Reading that kind of stuff
makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Unfortunately, the inevitable has inevitably happened.
I recently mentioned that the server has been getting close to its "maxed
out" level. Today, I had to fork out some serious
$$
to upgrade the web server, which has seen an increase in the amount of
traffic since cooler temperatures have come about. This is pretty much
true for all web sites that have a lot of North American visitors, as many
users are using the computer more often rather than enjoying the nice
weather outside.
It would seem that the Internet, too, has it's seasons.
On to some other news... Alexa and the Spyware issue
I was fortunate enough to receive a message from the Product Manager of
Alexa, Geoff Mack.
His concerns were about our ongoing discussion of whether or not Internet
Explorer contains Alexa Spyware. I'd like to take this time now to
share his concerns. Geoff writes:
" Hello,
My name is Geoffrey Mack, Product Manager at Alexa, an Amazon.com
company.
I am writing to disagree with
your assertion that the Alexa Toolbar is spyware. First, it is helpful
to define Spyware. The definition is here:
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/s/spyware.html
In short, Spyware is:
- software that gets on your machine without your permission, and
- tracks your activity for no user benefit.
You'll find that the Alexa Toolbar, like the Google Toolbar, does
neither of the above. Both the Alexa and Google Toolbars provide info as
users surf and as a consequence of that functionality have a log of users'
surfing activity. Both Alexa and Google strive to keep the identity of the
users anonymous. Google uses the logs to feed to its search engine index.
Alexa uses them to feed to its Related Links.
I realize there is a lot of hyperbole where Alexa is concerned, and in
some circles, the conspiracy theorists have prevailed, due in no small
part to Ad-Aware's efforts. But
I would encourage you to rise above the fray and take an honest look.
I think you'll find that the Alexa Toolbar is not Spyware any more than
the Google Toolbar.
Best regards,
Geoffrey Mack
Product Manager, Alexa Internet "
 I
just want to clarify a statement that Geoff wrote. I never did
"flat-out" state that there was in fact a Spyware component present in
Internet Explorer. Yes -- I entertained the thought, but the majority
of my sentiments were to outline "ways around" not using Alexa, if a user
decided to do remove it from the Internet Explorer browser.
Well, anyway -- I appreciate Geoff writing in and
expressing his opinions.
On a side note: I'd like to say that if anyone ever wanted to
change whether or not Alexa is used in the Related Links feature, it
should at least be a choice, and
not what Microsoft
decides is "right".
But that's just my 2 cents.
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