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Do Not Track Plus

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Bear

unread,
Jan 29, 2012, 6:12:53 AM1/29/12
to
This may be argued as off-topic: (however I think it may be of interest
to some here)

Do Not Track Plus is a free online tracking protection that blocks
trackers before they get your information. Protects you from over 125
tracking technologies and updates itself automatically to catch new
trackers. PC and Mac, Firefox, Safari, & Chrome! You won't find this
extension in the FireFox Add-ons or Chrome Web Stores. An interesting
behavior about this extension is after you download the extension - say
to your desktop, it automatically runs and asks for you to install or
cancel. If you do nothing, it removes itself from the desktop. If you
click install, it installs in your default browser and removes itself
from the desktop. If you click cancel, it removes itself from the desktop.

http://donottrackplus.com/

Parent Web Site:
http://abine.com/products.php

Video
http://goo.gl/g6z9i


--
Bear
http://bearware.info
The real Bear's header path is:
news.sunsite.dk!dotsrc.org!filter.dotsrc.org!news.dotsrc.org!not-for-mail

Bear

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Jan 29, 2012, 6:19:32 AM1/29/12
to
On 1/29/2012 5:12 AM, Bear wrote:

>
> http://donottrackplus.com/
>
> Parent Web Site:
> http://abine.com/products.php
>
> Video
> http://goo.gl/g6z9i
>
>
Updated description:

Do Not Track Plus is a free online tracking protection that blocks
trackers before they get your information. Protects you from over 125
tracking technologies and updates itself automatically to catch new
trackers. PC and Mac, Firefox, Safari, & Chrome! You won't find this
extension in the FireFox Add-ons or Chrome Web Stores. After installing,
when you visit a website tracking attempts are register in the extension
and blocked. It keeps track of total number of blocked tracking attemts.
It allows one to allow tracking at any particular site by clicking the
On/Off button on the upper right side of the DNTP screen when you click
the extension icon. An interesting behavior about this extension is
after you download the extension - say to your desktop, it automatically
runs and asks for you to install or cancel. If you do nothing, it
removes itself from the desktop. If you click install, it installs in
your default browser and removes itself from the desktop. If you click
cancel, it removes itself from the desktop.

Virus Guy

unread,
Jan 29, 2012, 10:10:11 AM1/29/12
to
Bear wrote:

> Do Not Track Plus is a free online tracking protection that blocks
> trackers before they get your information. Protects you from over
> 125 tracking technologies

How is this different (from an end-user pov) than using a HOSTS file?

I find that these tracking domains or host-names rarely change,
especially those run by doubleclick, google, yahoo, facebook, twitter,
etc. And hence if they rarely change, then a static hosts file should
prove just as effective at preventing this "online tracking" - no?

Bear

unread,
Jan 29, 2012, 10:26:04 AM1/29/12
to
How do you know when you go to a site what service it is using to track
you that isn't in your hosts file?

I find it much more convenient than editing a host file. DNTP
automatically manages it. I also like the ability to select certain
sites to allow their tracking...say google analytics so the site can
better gauge its visitors.

Virus Guy

unread,
Jan 29, 2012, 10:59:33 AM1/29/12
to
Bear wrote:

> > How is this different (from an end-user pov) than using a HOSTS
> > file?
>
> How do you know when you go to a site what service it is using to
> track you that isn't in your hosts file?

Because 90% of the time, that site will be using google. When you add
the known hosts for the other big trackers, you've got 99% of them
covered.

> I find it much more convenient than editing a host file.

Have you heard of or seen the MVPS hosts file?

Download it once, add a handful of google and facebook hosts that the
authors of MVPS are too timid to include, and you've got 100% coverage
against known trackers.

Bear

unread,
Jan 29, 2012, 11:04:23 AM1/29/12
to
What if you wish to allow a site?...and of course I'm well acquainted
with the hosts file.

http://www.tweaking.com/content/page/system_information.html

has a great tool...it's BearWare :)

Buffalo

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Jan 29, 2012, 5:55:21 PM1/29/12
to


Bear wrote:
> This may be argued as off-topic: (however I think it may be of
> interest to some here)
>
> Do Not Track Plus is a free online tracking protection that blocks
> trackers before they get your information. Protects you from over 125
> tracking technologies and updates itself automatically to catch new
> trackers. PC and Mac, Firefox, Safari, & Chrome! You won't find this
> extension in the FireFox Add-ons or Chrome Web Stores. An interesting
> behavior about this extension is after you download the extension -
> say to your desktop, it automatically runs and asks for you to
> install or cancel. If you do nothing, it removes itself from the
> desktop. If you click install, it installs in your default browser
> and removes itself from the desktop. If you click cancel, it removes
> itself from the desktop.
>
> http://donottrackplus.com/
>
> Parent Web Site:
> http://abine.com/products.php
>
> Video
> http://goo.gl/g6z9i
Does this app uninstall cleanly"
Curious,
Buffalo


Bear

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 8:41:10 AM1/30/12
to
On 1/29/2012 3:19 AM, Bear wrote:
> On 1/29/2012 5:12 AM, Bear wrote:
>
>>
>> http://donottrackplus.com/
>>
>> Parent Web Site:
>> http://abine.com/products.php
>>
>> Video
>> http://goo.gl/g6z9i
>>
>>
> Updated description:
>
> Do Not Track Plus is a free online tracking protection that blocks
> trackers before they get your information. Protects you from over 125
> tracking technologies and updates itself automatically to catch new
> trackers. PC and Mac, Firefox, Safari, & Chrome! You won't find this
> extension in the FireFox Add-ons or Chrome Web Stores. After installing,
> when you visit a website tracking attempts are register in the extension
> and blocked. It keeps track of total number of blocked tracking attemts.
> It allows one to allow tracking at any particular site by clicking the
> On/Off button on the upper right side of the DNTP screen when you click
> the extension icon. An interesting behavior about this extension is
> after you download the extension - say to your desktop, it automatically
> runs and asks for you to install or cancel. If you do nothing, it
> removes itself from the desktop. If you click install, it installs in
> your default browser and removes itself from the desktop. If you click
> cancel, it removes itself from the desktop.
>
Very nice extension for Chrome (add-on Ffx) which is very simple and
management free and does what it claims. As new trackers are found, it
automatically updates itself. The type of 'helper' I like - does all the
work. I've already selected several websites I visit in which I elected
to turn off blocking as it helps their analytics.

It shows how many, type and who it blocked from tracking you on each
individual website you visit. You may elect to unblock(turn it off on
that site)

Shadow

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 10:13:47 AM1/30/12
to
On Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:12:53 -0600, Bear <bearbott...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>This may be argued as off-topic: (however I think it may be of interest
>to some here)

> An interesting
>behavior about this extension is after you download the extension - say
>to your desktop, it automatically runs

That, if true, is extremely ON-TOPIC
What exploit does it use to run without user intervention ?
Scared the s%$&&t out of me.

[]'s

Bear

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 1:08:57 PM1/30/12
to
LOL...it surprised me too...however after thorough evaluation, it's
harmless. I guess everything could be called an exploit by those standards.

FromTheRafters

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 12:02:29 PM1/30/12
to
Bear wrote:
> On 1/30/2012 7:13 AM, Shadow wrote:
>> On Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:12:53 -0600, Bear<bearbott...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> This may be argued as off-topic: (however I think it may be of interest
>>> to some here)
>>
>>> An interesting
>>> behavior about this extension is after you download the extension - say
>>> to your desktop, it automatically runs
>>
>> That, if true, is extremely ON-TOPIC
>> What exploit does it use to run without user intervention ?
>> Scared the s%$&&t out of me.
>>
>> []'s
>
> LOL...it surprised me too...however after thorough evaluation, it's
> harmless. I guess everything could be called an exploit by those standards.
>
An exploit with a harmless payload is still an exploit.

I can imagine it being a normal thing for an HTML w/Script to act like
that on an active desktop, and if coming from an e-mail (or even a
normal download channel) the local zone (desktop) is not the place to
land such a file, but if this is happening while using proper procedures
for handling downloads it is scary.

IIRC some media player was once being exploited because it had such a
function for its 'skins' - drop the file on the desktop and the player
automatically consumes the file and installs the new skin.

Bear

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 3:05:28 PM1/30/12
to
Check it out and tell us what you think. Maybe even Dustin could apply
his expertise here and enlighten the uncodeworthy.

Bear

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 3:31:13 PM1/30/12
to
Actually what it does is download the file and automatically displays an
install screen which you have to click install or cancel. After it
installs, it deletes the download. Kinda nice to be frank.
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted

Bear

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 9:34:29 PM1/30/12
to
On 1/30/2012 6:23 PM, te...@oiweq.com wrote:
> On Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:47:09 -0600, te...@oiweq.com wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:19:32 -0600, Bear<bearbott...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 1/29/2012 5:12 AM, Bear wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://donottrackplus.com/
>>>>
>>>> Parent Web Site:
>>>> http://abine.com/products.php
>>>>
>>>> Video
>>>> http://goo.gl/g6z9i
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Updated description:
>>>
>>> Do Not Track Plus is a free online tracking protection that blocks
>>> trackers before they get your information. Protects you from over 125
>>> tracking technologies and updates itself automatically to catch new
>>> trackers. PC and Mac, Firefox, Safari,& Chrome! You won't find this
>>> extension in the FireFox Add-ons or Chrome Web Stores. After installing,
>>> when you visit a website tracking attempts are register in the extension
>>> and blocked. It keeps track of total number of blocked tracking attemts.
>>> It allows one to allow tracking at any particular site by clicking the
>>> On/Off button on the upper right side of the DNTP screen when you click
>>> the extension icon. An interesting behavior about this extension is
>>> after you download the extension - say to your desktop, it automatically
>>> runs and asks for you to install or cancel. If you do nothing, it
>>> removes itself from the desktop. If you click install, it installs in
>>> your default browser and removes itself from the desktop. If you click
>>> cancel, it removes itself from the desktop.
>>
>> I installed the program and AVG popped up warning me that a tracking
>> cookie had been installed. Namely, cookies.sqlite.
>>
>> I uninstalled the program.
>>
>> ??
>
> I should have added that AVG never alerted on this file before. Only
> after installing Do Not Track Plus did this happen immediately.

Didn't happen for me. You can copy the file and send it to virus total
etc. as I did...all clean. I also sent it to a tech friend to analyze,
but haven't heard back from him yet. If he says anything nefarious is
there, I'll post it.

David H. Lipman

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 7:59:29 PM1/30/12
to
From: <te...@oiweq.com>


|
| I should have added that AVG never alerted on this file before. Only
| after installing Do Not Track Plus did this happen immediately.

Tracking cookies aren't really malware. At most a privacy concern for the
paranoid. The file "cookies.sqlite" is probably nothing to be concerned
about and should not have been construed as something to dismiss the use of
the software.

--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

Shadow

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 7:59:53 PM1/30/12
to
On Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:34:29 -0600, Bear <bearbott...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>On 1/30/2012 6:23 PM, te...@oiweq.com wrote:
>> On Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:47:09 -0600, te...@oiweq.com wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:19:32 -0600, Bear<bearbott...@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 1/29/2012 5:12 AM, Bear wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://donottrackplus.com/
>>> I installed the program and AVG popped up warning me that a tracking
>>> cookie had been installed. Namely, cookies.sqlite.
>>>
>>> I uninstalled the program.
...
>Didn't happen for me. You can copy the file and send it to virus total
>etc. as I did...all clean. I also sent it to a tech friend to analyze,
>but haven't heard back from him yet. If he says anything nefarious is
>there, I'll post it.

The sqlite is a data file. It would not set off the virustotal
scan. It would be like sending them a text file with your phonebook on
it.
What this donottrack program uses it for would be more
important. Maybe its just a non writable file ? So that cookies cannot
be stored ?
[]'s

David H. Lipman

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 8:04:55 PM1/30/12
to
From: "Shadow" <S...@dow.br>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQLite

"...an ACID-compliant embedded relational database management system
contained in a small (~275 kB)[4] C programming library.

SQLite implements most of the SQL standard, using a dynamically and weakly
typed SQL syntax that does not guarantee the domain integrity. In contrast
to other database management systems, SQLite is not a separate process that
is accessed from the client application, but an integral part of it. SQLite
read operations can be multitasked, though writes can only be performed
sequentially."

G. Morgan

unread,
Jan 30, 2012, 8:18:03 PM1/30/12
to
Bear wrote:

>How do you know when you go to a site what service it is using to track
>you that isn't in your hosts file?

How do you know the software is catching all of them?

Ghostery + Adblock Plus + MSMVPS HOSTS works for me.


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