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DoNotTrackMe simplifies tracking blocking
If ad blocking is the hacksaw of Internet-protecting add-ons, DoNotTrackMe is a finely honed katana, slicing out tracking behaviors embedded in sites without destroying the modern Web.
The latest version makes some helpful changes both on the surface and how it protects you. Formerly known as Do Not Track Plus, the add-on's redesign makes it significantly easier to use. DNTMe's new crosshairs icon sits next to your location bar, and is easier to find than the previous one. It still shows you the number of trackers that it's blocked on the site that you're visiting, but the layout redeco looks much less like a Windows XP reject.
Click on the crosshairs and a drop-down window opens that shows you a sun icon if there's no trackers on the site, or in-depth tracking info if there's more going on than meets the eye. If trackers are detected, you see first a list of the companies tracking you, and then a breakdown of which companies to which they report. These include separate call-outs for social networks, as well as other private companies. The slider at the top is also what you click to allow all tracking from a specific site.
Below the tracker data is a real-time chart showing you how many trackers you've been protected from, although the chart's data is a bit thin. At the very bottom you have links to a combination of Abine privacy products, such as its DeleteMe service, and free blog posts that help explain more information about tracking and privacy concerns.
DNTMe's benefit isn't just that it blocks trackers, but that it keeps the social Web active while protecting you. Publisher Abine does this by actually rebuilding the social-networking buttons on most sites, which prevents sites from gleaning tracking data from you when you're not logged in. By rebuilding social-networking buttons on the fly without sacrificing privacy or site load times, it keeps the kind of functionality people want from the Web.
It's a unique response to the problem of tracking, and reflects how seriously Abine takes its task. DNTMe also blocks ad networks and companies from following you around the Web.
Several under-the-hood changes to DNTMe have improved how it protects you. It's dropped advertiser opt-out cookies, a small change that eliminates confusion about different types of cookies and increases your protection. It will warn you, too, when it knows about social-networking news and when social-networking sites make privacy policy changes.
The settings icon, a small gear at the top, lets you toggle tracking cookie blocking on a per-site basis. And throughout the interface, links take you to Abine's sites that explain what the add-on is doing and why it's doing it. We're talking smart, helpful stuff.
If you're aware of the serious privacy risks on the Internet today, but are looking for something more nuanced than an ad blocker or JavaScript killer that still lets you experience the modern Web, the Do Not Track HTML header is too anemic to be useful despite its good intentions. Protect yourself by putting some serious weight behind that impulse with DoNotTrackMe.
DoNotTrackMe simplifies tracking blocking:Publisher's Description
From Abine:
Every time you use the web, companies are watching, collecting, and storing info about you and your web activity. Now you can stop them with DoNotTrackMe. DoNotTrackMe (DNTMe) is the new and improved DoNotTrackPlus. Its the same free privacy software that prevents online tracking and improves your security on the Internet, with more powerful blocking and an improved UI. DNTMe blocks hundreds of online trackers on millions of sites. View the number of trackers youre blocking by referring to the icon in your browser toolbar. Click the icon to see more details about the companies trying to track you. Online trackers, like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Analytics, can't see or collect your web activity. Forget about deleting cookies that store your info; DNTMe prevents them from being placed on your machine in the first place. Block ads with tracking capability, including annoying ads that seem to follow you everywhere you go. DNTMe is a tool that that prevents online tracking, so naturally, we don't collect any data about our users. Note: Do Not Track Me was previously called Do Not Track Plus.
What's new in this version:
- New name: DoNotTrackMe (formerly DoNotTrackPlus)
- Added over 50 new trackers to DNTMe's block list
- Removal of advertiser opt out cookies
- Refreshed UI with a chart that shows you how many trackers you've blocked while using DNTMe
- Privacy alert feature that appears on the DNTMe icon when we have news or tips about the site you're visiting. For example, if Facebook changes their privacy policy, you'll get an alert the next time you visit Facebook
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 20 votes
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Current version:
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"No problems"
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.2.5.1203
Pros
Works well
Cons
none that I know of
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"Don't notice a difference from DNT"
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.2.5.1203
Pros
Same as DNT, great for preventing tracking.
Cons
None, although I also downloaded it for Safari, and the DoNotTrackMe window is out of focus. But this isn't a problem for Firefox.
Summary
Great service in preventing tracking. But don't see a difference with the previous version, DNT
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"Works great but occasionally blocks videos"
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.2.5.1203
Pros
Very comprehensive and does allow adjustments to enable videos on most sites.
Cons
At Fox Sports, can make it impossible to see videos, due to what I suppose is commercial content/collection of information attached to videos. Same at NFL.com. They really need to address this issue, as it's been a problem for the last three or four years.
Summary
Very effective, sometimes too effective to allow uncomplicated viewing of videos from sources who collect data, such as Fox and NFL.com.
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"Works well to stop trackers."
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.2.1.611
Pros
Easy to install. I installed it for Safari, Firefox and Chrome.
Easy to see who is tracking and very easy to change tracking settings.
I am very computer illiterate, and this software is perfect for me, I didn't have to do anything to get it working.Cons
Only con is that for Chrome, it wouldn't install automatically. I had to drag it into Chrome for it to work.
Summary
For someone like me who doesn't know much about the workings of a computer, this DNT+ software is perfect for preventing tracking of social networks, ad agencies and other businesses. I had no idea just how many cookies in my cookie section were from trackers, at least 50%.
I had no idea how much I was being tracked, even when I go online to banks I was being tracked. Just being on this page ( CNet review) there are 18 trackers. -
"Does as advertised."
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.2.0.514
Pros
Blocks tracking while permitting selective interaction with sites.
Cons
None I'm aware of.
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"where to put the file"
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.2.0.514
Pros
C'mon... one of you geniuses can tell me where to put the file I downloaded. PLEASE?
Cons
HUH? don't know where to put the file to make it work
Summary
Please, somebody... ANYbody, where do I put the file?
NEVER MIND. I contacted the manufacturer and downloaded it directly from them instead of CNET. This one works.
Updated on May 15, 2012 -
"As promised"
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.1.0
Pros
Blocks while providing some flexibility
Cons
Do you want extra steps necessary to permit "Like," etc.?
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"Excellent! Thank you Abine Software!"
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.1.0
Pros
Easy to install, gives just the right amount of information, great company. You could do a lot of this yourself, but Do Not Track Plus does it for you. Now if only Safari would allow better access to blocking. I've moved to Firefox, as much as I like Safari, because they only allow partial blocking. Keep up the good work!
Cons
None that I can see so far.
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"Works in the background; does it work?"
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.1.0
Pros
Says it is blocking a lot of sites
Cons
How do I know?
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"Had it three days and it has blockd 540 followers."
Version: DoNotTrackMe for Firefox 2.0.9
Pros
Seems to be effective
Cons
Still trying to determine if it is slowing my downloads from Firefox. I was having a great deal of trouble with speed yesterday. If it is scanning all downloads, then this is going to be a problem. I would like to know if other people are experiencing the same problem
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