Yahoo! tracking all your web surfingIf you belong to any Yahoo Groups – be aware that Yahoo is now using “Web Beacons” to track every Yahoo Group user. It’s similar to cookies, but allows Yahoo to record every website and every group you visit, even when you’re not connected to Yahoo.

Look at their updated privacy statement at: http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy

About half-way down the page, in the section on cookies, you will see a link that says WEB BEACONS.

Click on the phrase “Web Beacons.” On the page that opens, find a paragraph entitled “Outside the Yahoo Network.”

In that section find a little “Click Here to Opt Out” link that will let you “opt-out” of their snooping. Be careful! not to click on the next button shown. It is an “Opt Back In” button that, if clicked, will undo the opt-out.

Note that Yahoo’s invasion of your privacy – and your ability to opt-out of it – is not user-specific. It is machine-specific. That means you will have to opt-out on every computer (and browser) you use.” (via Interesting People listserv)

“It’s one of those stories that has a tiny kernel of truth in it, but is massively warped by someone who either doesn’t understand the technology, or refuses to let facts get in the way of a salacious story. In either case, this “urgent” story is a load of dingos kidneys.” (Privacy Clue)