Fergie's Tech Blog

ComScore Networks: The Big Brother of the Internet?

Lisa Lerer writes on Forbes.com:

ComScore Networks is the Big Brother of the Internet. The widely-used online research company takes virtual photos of every Web page viewed by its 1 million participants, even transactions completed in secure sessions, like shopping or online checking. Then comScore aggregates the information into market analysis for its over 500 clients, including such large companies as Ford Motor, Microsoft and The New York Times Co.

ComScore says that its participants are willing exhibitionists, happily selling their online privacy for gift certificates and free screensavers. But two computer scientists are raising new questions about comScore, claiming that company tracking software is being installed without consent on an unknown number of computers.

posted by Fergie @ 12/08/2006 11:05:00 AM