Mozilla Firefox Add-On: DoNotTrackMe – Albine Inc.
We liked the premise of this add-on, so much, that we installed it to see if it provided what it advertised. It does block sites for everything from metrics data gathering to personal data gathering. So, there are no “digital footprints” reported to untrusted websites (e.g. QuantCast.com or DoubleClick.com) from the some of the “barely” trusted websites I visit, like this one. You would be wise to notice that “.gov” (government) sites do not use these commercial data gathering sites that cross-reference your behavior, online.
Combined with the aforementioned add-ons of NoScript and AdBlock Plus, this add-on seems to practically keep all tracking by third-parties and at bay. Now, they cannot display an insidious picture, script, or HTML. Technically, it makes it like the old days. You get content from the original site, only, who you can either trust or not trust. And, there is no “creepy data snooper” person gleaning your particular personal interests for data-brokering purposes.
And, it seems that Abine Inc. is not gathering any data, itself, just blocking it. And, if it did, even that would be much better than the over 6000 data mining snoops and thieves, who are getting (at least attempting to get) as much of your browsing-behavior information, as fast as possible, without ever having you agree to any Terms of Service, beforehand. Buyer beware (in this case, “browser” beware).
If this add-on seems to accidentally block content that you want to see, you can simply open up the add-on’s preferences, change the settings, quickly, and go back to browsing. Furthermore, the author of the add-on, Abine Inc., seems to be expanding this service to DeleteMe and MaskMe add-ons, which sound just as promising, and may very well be worth purchasing to work in conjunction with your Internet-Security suite.
It seems as though people have forgotten that the web doesn’t cost anything to use. It is a public service. And, websites do not, necessarily, have to profit from your use of the website. That’s what subscriptions to websites are for. If you are not concerned about keeping your private behaviors private, then we think you are being naive about the risks and very real life threats that, having your life digitally mapped out, can cause, looking at it from a data-theft-to-manipulate-people stance.
Here’s an analogy: Any reasonable person would wince at watching another naive person have a private group of investigators following that naive person around, constantly, documenting every tiny detail about that person’s life, behaviors, likes, dislikes, friends, locations, etc. Just so that private group of investigators could turn around and sell all of that information to whomever, for whatever reasons. With no royalties being paid to that naive person, for having had a portion of their autobiography chronicled by complete strangers. Well, I am that reasonable person, trying to keep everyone from becoming unwitting victims of nefarious advertisers, insane vigilantes, oppressive governments, or identity thieves, all of whom want you to be naive enough to talk about your “browsing” behavioral data, so that they can use it against you.
Safe (and private) surfing!
-Craig L., Tech Yes
Still using this add-on, and liking it.