Google ran afoul of yet another privacy problem on Friday , after a Stanford investigator contended that the company has been using mask computer code to bypass users ’ cookies configurations on their Web browsers — including Apple ’s Safari — according to a report from theWall Street Journal .
The effect was discovered by Stanford University researcher Jonathan Mayer , and confirmedby a proficient consultant to theWall Street Journal . repeat Mayer ’s try , the advisor documented that the Google tracking computer code was used by 23 of the top 100 websites , including in ads from site such as Fandango.com , Match.com , AOL.com , TMZ.com and UrbanDictionary.com . Once set up , Google then could track substance abuser movement across a wide telephone number of websites .
Google has denied that its embedded computer code — a type of Web cookie — tracks users , and said that it is only activated when users opt - in to one of Google ’s services , such as Gmail . “ The Journal mischaracterizes what happened and why , ” grant to a program line from Rachel Whetstone , Google elderly vice Chief Executive for communications and public insurance . “ We used known Safari functionality to furnish features that signed - in Google user had enable . It ’s important to accentuate that these advertizement cookies do not collect personal data . ”
But the caller also admitted that the codification unwittingly give up extra Google WWW ad cookies to be installed on users ’ gimmick against their regard ; by default , Safari ’s options permit for no tracking deportment .
Google argues that these cookies were necessary to cater users with individualise service , such as the ability to approve of cognitive content through Google ’s “ +1 ” rating arrangement . “ To enable these features , we created a temporary communication data link between Safari web internet browser and Google ’s host , so that we could ascertain whether Safari user were also signed into Google , and had prefer for this type of personalization , ” Whetstone stated . “ But we design this so that the information glide by between the exploiter ’s Safari browser app and Google ’s servers was anon. — effectively creating a barrier between their personal data and the Web content they surf . ”
“ However , the Safari web browser contained functionality that then enabled other Google advertizing cooky to be set on the web browser , ” Whetstone added . “ We did n’t anticipate that this would happen , and we have now embark on removing these advertising cookies from Safari browser app . ”
In addition to Google , theJournaldiscovered at least three other on-line advertizement company also circumnavigated Safari ’s privacy mount using similar techniques : Vibrant Media , WPP PLC ’s Media Innovation Group and Gannett Company ’s PointRoll .
The news program comes at a sore fourth dimension for Google . Last twelvemonth , the fellowship reacheda sound settlementwith the U.S. Federal Trade Commission about its secrecy practice , and agreed not to misrepresent its privateness practices . Last calendar month , Google consolidated polices for all its sites into one privateness setting .
In a web log point posted Friday , MicrosoftcriticizedGoogle for purposefully parry the Safari seclusion setting , and proffer its own internet browser as an choice .
