News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Dell Computers Has Been Hacked. Parent comment

Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by tombrossman on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @04:43AM (#10842330)
Tracking server-side is fine, it is assumed the server logs contain a record of my visits and I have no problem with that. I think what most people object to is the third-party tracking that so many people use.

Company A tracking my visits to Company A's website = OK

Company A using Google Analytics to track my visits (while also enabling Google to track me across multiple sites) = Not OK

EDIT: (replying here as we've reached max comment depth) - I was unaware that it is possible to use Google Analytics server-side only (is this true?) but I hope my original point is still clear, DIY tracking is fine.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by JupiterMoon on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @05:47AM (#10842524)
I agree with your position. However...

You misunderstand. There have been several commentators here on HN saying that they are moving Google Analytics server side. They seem to think that people are only objecting to the cookie or the presence of the JS rather than objecting to the pervasive cross-site tracking.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by vive-la-liberte on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @07:21AM (#10842852)
In that case, f that and f them. Do not track me.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by mhoad on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @10:24AM (#10843663)
Are you are aware that Google provide you with a method to do this regardless that doesn't rely on random script blocking? Details here https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by malka on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @10:29AM (#10843697)
Why would I trust google with this ? I'd rather do it myself.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by JupiterMoon on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @09:35AM (#10843389)
Just a little HN tip. If you click the time of the comment you can reply to it even if there is no direct reply link.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by manigandham on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @08:50AM (#10843194)
Yes. GA has server-side API's available to premium accounts.

You can also just host the ga.js file yourself. Or run a reverse proxy or any of a dozen other methods to collect data and pass it to GA. Using the standard 3rd party tag is just for convenience.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by lstamour on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @11:02AM (#10843898)
FYI, server-side APIs don't require premium accounts. :)

I'm pretty sure it's the same mechanism used for mobile/app non-browser tracking.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by malka on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @10:28AM (#10843693)
how can GA correlate between site then ? The server-side does not have access to my GA cookie. Browser fingerprinting ?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Dell Computers Has Been Hacked by manigandham on Tuesday January 05, 2016 @10:34AM (#10843721)
Yes, cookies are outdated and just a fallback. Also, unless you never go to a google-owned domain name, you'll be cookied regardless.
[ Parent | on HN ]