There has been a rumor on the web lately: The new ETag technology can be used to place cookies on a user’s computer that can track websites visits but cannot be deleted. The way it works is that a JavaScript file that restores the cookie on every session even if it was deleted by the user. This is potentially illegal, but users shouldn't wait for the authorities to make an end to this.
There is a solution for Chrome users concerned about their privacy: Chrome Adblock Plus. Adblock Plus is best known for blocking advertisements from websites but by adding additional filter lists it can also be configured to block tracking codes – including the scripts responsible for placing the ETag cookies. You can easily make Adblock Plus for Chrome block ETag cookies by adding a privacy protection list. Here is how you can do this in a few simple steps: 1: Install Adblock Plus from the Chrome Web Store. During the installation a warning will be displayed that Adblock Plus can access sensitive data such as the browsing history – this is a standard notification in Chrome for extensions that can modify webpages, Adblock Plus is open-source and never collects and personal information. 2. Add a privacy protection filter After Adblock Plus has been added to Chrome, an icon will be placed in the address bar. To access the filter list menu, right-click on the logo and choose “Options”. There you will find a tab called “Filter lists” that provides an overview of all filter lists a user has subscribed to. At the bottom of the filter list tab there is a field in which users can add the URL of an additional filter list they wish to subscribe to. There you just need to paste the following URL: https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/easyprivacy.txt. Confirm the subscription by clicking the “Add URL” button and a few seconds later the filter is activated. Congratulations, the next time you visit a website that is trying to profile you with, all tracking codes will be blocked from being loaded and your privacy stays protected.
Infotech
There is a solution for Chrome users concerned about their privacy: Chrome Adblock Plus. Adblock Plus is best known for blocking advertisements from websites but by adding additional filter lists it can also be configured to block tracking codes – including the scripts responsible for placing the ETag cookies. You can easily make Adblock Plus for Chrome block ETag cookies by adding a privacy protection list. Here is how you can do this in a few simple steps: 1: Install Adblock Plus from the Chrome Web Store. During the installation a warning will be displayed that Adblock Plus can access sensitive data such as the browsing history – this is a standard notification in Chrome for extensions that can modify webpages, Adblock Plus is open-source and never collects and personal information. 2. Add a privacy protection filter After Adblock Plus has been added to Chrome, an icon will be placed in the address bar. To access the filter list menu, right-click on the logo and choose “Options”. There you will find a tab called “Filter lists” that provides an overview of all filter lists a user has subscribed to. At the bottom of the filter list tab there is a field in which users can add the URL of an additional filter list they wish to subscribe to. There you just need to paste the following URL: https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/easyprivacy.txt. Confirm the subscription by clicking the “Add URL” button and a few seconds later the filter is activated. Congratulations, the next time you visit a website that is trying to profile you with, all tracking codes will be blocked from being loaded and your privacy stays protected.
