The following is a comment just published to this post about Sitemeter and Spyware.
Dear Eric,
The chatter in the blogosphere has gotten to the point that we feel we need to go outside of our companyblogand set the record straight regarding the SiteMeter utilization of the specificclick.net cookie. We have not addressed any comments in the blogosphere directly until now as we have made an official post on our own blog regarding this matter and have responded to every single email inquiry made directly to us via email and updated our privacy policy.
To be clear, SiteMeter fully vets out all potential 3rd parties that we work with to make sure that they are reputable companies that are completely above board and are industry leaders. In keeping with this, we did extensive due diligence on Specific Media and found them to be a trustworthy and reputable company. In fact, Specific Media is a board member of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) (one of 10 companies) which is tasked with the protection of consumer privacy on the Internet and related legislative issues. We found that Specific Media’s technology completely protects consumer privacy and also allows users to permanently opt out of the cookie if they so choose to do so via the NAI website, which was a big factor in us choosing Specific Media. In addition, many of the Internet’s biggest web publishers utilize Specific Media’s technology including Foxnews, CBS, NBC and Time.com. These companies utilize this technology in the same way that we are using it, to provide useful information about the users who visit their websites so that they can create relevant content on their websites. The only difference is that SiteMeter, which is primarily a free service, has licensed the technology and are passing it onto our customers.
The specificclick.net cookie is being inaccurately characterized as Spyware, as it is only a cookie and does NOT install any software. The specificclick.net cookie is NOT spyware. The specificclick.net cookie performs no such activities that can be construed as spyware. We cannot control the fact that anti-spyware software companies incorrectly mark cookies as spyware. However, the specificclick.net cookie IS a cookie that enables SiteMeter to accurately provide true unique user counts, user demographics, content interests, heat mapping and other useful information about your website’s visitors, see a full list here.
SiteMeter is a community driven company and we would never do anything that would compromise the integrity of our customers or their users’ privacy. All of our customers can opt out by requesting that we move them to a separate server that does not include the specificclick.net cookie or you can simply begin using the HTML version of our code which does not include the specificclick.net cookie. We have also posted a survey on our homepage where customers can vote if they think this type of information is useful. As previously stated, we are a community driven company, the SiteMeter community is what drives our innovation and development. We feel that this information will help our customers attract more users to their site and keep them engaged in relevant content offerings. If our customers vote on the site that they do not think that certain information is useful, then we will not provide that information.
We hope that clearly defines our use of the specificclick.net cookie and that SiteMeter has in no way sold out to Spyware, nor would we engage in any such activities. We are strictly committed to providing the best service to possible to our customers. We hope that this will help earn your trust and that we may be able to have you as a customer again.
Thank You,
SiteMeter Team
About eric:
Eric Odom is project manager for Blogivists.com. A web strategist by trade, Odom is currently working to develop infrastructure for activists within the liberty movement.
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24 Responses to “Sitemeter responds to the blogosphere!”
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[...] Sitemeter responds to the blogosphere! [...]
sitmeter “would never do anything that would compromise the integrity of our customers or their users’ privacy”
BUT YOU ALREADY HAVE!!
This post stinks of damage limitation. It’s too little too late.
1. Why didn’t sitemeter tell their members BEFORE they started this behaviour?
2. Why don’t sitemeter disclose how much money they are being paid for this deal?
3. Forget about definitions of spyware – a data mining cookie is bad news however they try to squirm out of it.
4. Why have so many emails about this gone unanswered?
5. why has the privacy policy not been updated?
6. LOL! sitemeter survey currently says 80% of members think this supposedly great information is a load of sh!t! Way to listen to your members!
7. Why haven’t sitemeter posted about their ‘trusted partner’ in their blog?? (because they don’t want members who HAVEN’T found out abotu this dirty deal already to find out – that’s why.)
8. How come comments are all closed on the sitemeter blog? (Because the flood of complaints would be huge and AGAIN it might alert all the poor unfortunates who use sitemeter and haven’t yet realised what’s going on)
9. oh boy – this stuff just keeps on coming. Last night sitemeter reset the survey on their website…and guess what? NOW the negative percentage is down (from 80% yesterday) to 30% today…that’s it sitemeter when your members don’t do what you want, fudge it! what kind of agenda is behind this? cos it sure ain’t looking after the members…
Brian, you’re using a fake e-mail address to post, so I have no way to contact you. Can you please drop me a line?
ericjodom AT gmail DOT com
-Eric Odom
Sure thing Eric.
don’t want to risk being spammed by leaving my address lying about – will email you shortly.
“The specificclick.net cookie is NOT spyware.”
Fine, Eric, it’s not spyware. It’s some kind of hyper-sensitive cookie that gets into a 5 minute struggle to the death with my pop-up blocker every time I try to see my stats. If I can’t see my stats in some reasonable amount of time, I have no reason to have a sitemeter account. If I can’t see my stats, I’m dropping sitemeter, and getting another counter. Pretty simple how that works, isn’t it?
[...] Así, sólo cuando el escándalo provocó una fuga masiva, SiteMeter pareció reaccionar publicando sus descargos… como un comentario en algunas de las bitácoras más referidas sobre el tema. [...]
[...] The controversy of SiteMeter installing ‘spyware cookies‘ on their user website’s visitors without any of their consent continues. Apparently, the SiteMeter Team posted a reply on the spyware allegations. Despite that, an individual suggested SiteMeter did not post any reply in their blog to prevent those who haven’t already know to get to know about it. [...]
I emailed sitemeter’s website email (webmaster@sitemeter.com) two days ago about cancelling my account due to the specificclick debacle. I received no reply, and today my bank account was charged for one of my three Sitemeter accounts. I tried to reply to the Sitemeter email telling me of the charge, and the email bounced back. I just got off the phone with my bank and have made arrangements to block all further Sitemeter charges.
I’ve been with Sitemeter for years and I’m seriously displeased and disappointed at both the specificclick issues and the fact that they make it so hard to contact them or get any response. This has not been a good experience.
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[...] Eric Odom quotes a long response from Site Meter on the issue where they essentially say the specificclick cookie is harmless, the company is reputable, they check out any company before doing business with them. [...]
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[...] As seen in the comments of my previous posts and here, Sitemeter decided to respond. Two points: 1. Why wait for over a week before a response? Blogs are there for a reason – its gives companies ability to respond quickly. 2. Why not post about it on their own blog? [...]
They are telling the truth that they don’t infect computors with spyware, because tracking coockies are technically not spyware. If you like people looking at your passwords, usernames and everything else you do you type into the internet browser, then tracking cookies aren’t a problem for you.