Unbeknown to WH, outside contractor tracking visitors to WH Web site

U.S. to Probe Contractor's Web Tracking
By ANICK JESDANUN
Thursday, December 29, 2005 7:51 PM CST
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NEW YORK - Unbeknown to the Bush administration, an outside contractor has been using Internet tracking technologies that may be prohibited to analyze usage and traffic patterns at the White House's Web site, an official said Thursday.

David Almacy, the White House's Internet director, promised an investigation into whether the practice is consistent with a 2003 policy from the White House's Office of Management and Budget banning the use of most such technologies at government sites.

"No one even knew it was happening," Almacy said. "We're going to work with the contractor to ensure that it's consistent with the OMB policy."

The acknowledgment came a day after the National Security Agency admitted it had erred in using banned "cookies" at its Web site. Both acknowledgments followed inquiries by The Associated Press.

The White House's Web site uses what's known as a Web bug to anonymously keep track of who's visiting and when. A Web bug is essentially a tiny graphic image _ a dot, really _ that's virtually invisible. In this case, the bug is pulled from a server maintained by the contractor, WebTrends Inc., and lets the traffic analytic company know that another person has visited a specific page on the site.

Web bugs themselves are not prohibited.

http://www.examiner.com/articles/2005/12/29/ap/hitech/d8eq8kb80.txt

:rofl:

O.K. if the White House says so. They would never lie. :sarcasm:

But this is BS. I'm a Web professional and this is SOP. As long as the WH privacy policy and subscriber agreement cover the use of cookies and how personal information will be used there should be no problems here. You need to know basic information to determine how people use your site, and there's nothing here that indicates that anything nefarious has been done. WebTrends is one of the leaders in Web site user measurement -- I've worked with them -- and I have no reason to think that they have some sort of hidden agenda.

Sorry, folks. Pure BS. Mountains out of molehills, etc. Let's find real reasons to criticize Little Lord Pissypants.

but I disagree with you. Planting "Cookies" into your computer when you visit a web
site is spying.* End of story. I used to read press releases and *'s b.s. on the White House
web site all the time. And from that they could track my computer use. Their was nothing
about "this" on their site.

Besides "We did not know what the contractor we hired was doing." Is pure b.s.

I would be willing to believe you about this if "they" haven't lied about every other fucking thing too.


* That is what free porn sites do.

Look, I haven't really investigated this issue. I'm not exactly a frequent visitor to the WH Web site, and I don't plan to be. But I really don't think there's anything going on here. We could get into a debate about first person vs. third person cookies, but I'd think we'd bore most DUers to death. Cookies are essential for providing basic Web services, and you have the option to reject them on several levels. If you completely reject them you'd have a hard time efficiently navigating the Web.

Porn sites are the most evil (from a computer perspective -- I don't care if you enjoy them or not), and profitable of all, and I really don't think the WH would emulate porn site tactics. In fact, I'd be surprised if the Bush WH really pays attention to their site at all, other than using it as a vehicle to disseminate properly-worded propaganda and to stay out of trouble. Just MHO.

And thanks for the welcome to DU. I've been a lurker for many years, and I've finally decided that it's time to participate in the discussion.

"In fact, I'd be surprised if the Bush WH really pays attention to their site at all, other than using it as a vehicle to disseminate properly-worded propaganda and to stay out of trouble."

The most paranoid and secretive WH in history does pay attention to their web site? I was born at night .... just not last night.

BTW i live in Columbus, Ohio and saw and heard way too much to not think that * and company would stoop to and
do anything for power. They are flat out evil ..... read "Worse then Watergate by J. Dean."

Hey Botany,

Let's agree to disagree on this topic. I'm totally with you about the fact that this is "the most paranoid and secretive WH in history." I'd bet that we're totally in synch about almost all issues. I just disagree with you on this one.

Best regards,
Belpejic

BTW, Botany, Columbus is a sweet town. Loved the time I spent there, even if it was brief. Rock on, and get rid of those Repub criminals in your state.

I'm kind of annoyed to see these articles about cookies while ignoring the more important and MUCH LARGER privacy and criminal issues surrounding Bush.