International Data Privacy Day
January 28, 2011
Tracking Cookies are Crummy, says Search Engine Startpage.com
Privacy-friendly URL Generator supports snoop-free settings
"Tracking cookies are not only obnoxious, they leave crumbs that lead
marketers straight to your door," says Robert Beens, CEO of
Startpage.com, the World's Most Private Search Engine.
So he's making it his mission to educate consumers about the "Internet
crumbs" cookies leave behind. He's also encouraging consumers to delete
tracking cookies from their computers on January 28 in honor of
International Data Privacy Day.
Tracking cookies are "a huge privacy problem," according to Beens, who
accuses advertisers of being information vultures. "A better name for
them might be 'stalker cookies'," he says.
What some Internet companies are doing with consumer information is
unconscionable, Beens contends. "Most consumers are unaware of how most
big websites and search engines capture user cookie information and IP
addresses to record their search terms, the times of their visits, and
the links they click."
He points out that search engine records are especially invasive because
they can reveal extremely personal information, like someone's
interests, family situation, and medical conditions. These profiles are
often stored in giant databases and used for marketing
purposes. They can also be hacked or subpoenaed.
"Internet information can come back to haunt you," Beens warns. "If you
search for information about diabetes, for example, that could be added
to your consumer profile and potentially raise a red flag if you apply
for a new job or a life insurance policy."
Beens' company offers consumers a cookie-free service, even when they
want custom search settings. Startpage's new URL Generator encodes these
settings in an anonymous URL that can be bookmarked or used to create an
address bar search box. For example, if someone prefers large font and
family-friendly filtering, the URL will automatically deliver searches
just the way he or she likes them at every visit.
Startpage has always offered a non-identifying, anonymous cookie option
for storing custom settings. This is still available for those users who
selectively delete tracking cookies and know how to whitelist
Startpage's privacy-friendly cookie.
"Our new URL Generator is just one more way we're offering innovative,
privacy-friendly searches and helping to change how the Internet does
business," says Beens. "We believe that privacy is a fundamental right
and the basis of a free society. We're helping consumers enjoy all the
Internet has to offer without giving up that right."
About Startpage
Startpage is an award-winning search engine with an industry-leading
privacy policy. Startpage is the only major search engine to provide
third-party certified, fully anonymous, private searches. Startpage
offers SSL encryption and is the only one offering a free proxy service.
Further information on Startpage, including details about the company's
exemplary data-handling practices, can be found at www.startpage.com
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ABOUT CASPIAN
CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering) is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes since 1999 and irresponsible RFID use since 2002. With thousands of members in all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide, CASPIAN seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies that invade their
privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits across the retail spectrum.
http://www.spychips.com/
http://www.antichips.com/
http://www.nocards.org/
Rachel and I took what we are called a "holiday." Since Eddie had to be at a Case IH meeting in Nashville, Rachel and I (well, actually me!) decided to tag along (if Dad would Okay it). Nana was sweet to let the guys come hang out with her and Poppy. And the staff at the Opryland were gracious to upgrade us to a Cascade room (and to give us a late checkout too). Ah... being lazy is nice ever once in awhile. I took my laptop of course and a bag of books. Eddie even treated me to "breakfast in bed" with a blueberry muffin and hot tea. What a sweetie!
Less than a year ago, flood waters caused the Opryland Hotel to close for 6 months. As a matter of fact, it has only been reopened for a couple of months. I would have never known the Cascades looked like the above picture last year. 
Rachel and I found a wonderful little restaurant where I enjoyed a veggie burger. What a treat to eat without interruptions and I didn't even have to share!
Here's what Little Lady enjoyed... looking out our balcony doors. We could hear the waterfall right outside our room. She loved it!
We ventured up to the sixth floor of the Garden Conservatory to check out the view. It's so funny how people react to babies. When we got off the elevator, there was an open door of a room being cleaned. I spoke to the housekeeper and the next thing I knew, she had invited us inside to see the suite. Would you believe it was $1500 a night? Ha! Not for me... it didn't even have a balcony. Rachel and I much preferred our 2nd floor Cascade Room. Thanks Sweetheart for a wonderful little holiday.
I was especially glad that Isaac snapped a photo of Bo with Rachel. It will have a special place in her baby book.
