Be Careful When Visiting Scratch's Blog

[_Simon Belmont]

The Scratchpologists will come to the rescue, but all right minded people will understand the seriousness of what I am about to say. This has long been known to a few here, including myself, but I feel that it needs to be known to a wider audience -- especially to those who wish their information to be kept secret.

Scratch has installed an IP address tracker on his blog, hidden from view. I know this because I can interpret the code on the page. The relevant piece is this:

Code: Select all

<!-- Site Meter XHTML Strict 1.0 --> 
<script src='http://s49.sitemeter.com/Joseph Smith/counter.Joseph Smith?site=s49simonfuchshasafilthymouth' type='text/javascript'> 
</script> 
<!-- Copyright (c)2009 Site Meter --> 

Which appears on lines 1806 - 1809 (you can view this by viewing the page source code).

Let's dissect this snippet of code:

• The first line is an HTML comment.

  Code: Select all

  <!-- -->

  It doesn't do anything other than inform the reader what the following code is going to do.
• The second line opens with the tag

  Code: Select all

  <script>

  and a link to where the script (more code) is stored. According to this, it is stored on the URL

  Code: Select all

  http://s49.sitemeter.com/Joseph Smith

  It also tells us what type of script this is: Javascript.
• The third line is the closing

  Code: Select all

  </script>

  tag, which, obviously, closes the script.
• The fourth line is another comment line.

So, what is Sitemeter? The description on the front page reads (emp. mine):

Site Meter's comprehensive real time website tracking and counter tools give you instant access to vital information and data about your sites audience. With our detailed reporting you'll have a clear picture of who is visiting your site, how they found you, where they came from, what interests them and much more.

Now, I did a little experiment and set up a test website with a test account on Sitemeter. What I found out was astounding: Sitemeter had logged my IP address, my Internet provider, my location, and more!

But, perhaps the most troubling thing about this: why does Scratch feel it necessary to hide Sitemeter on his blog? Why the subterfuge? Why the lurking in dark shadows to view personal information about the site's visitors? A counter I could understand, but this... this is outrageous!

[_RockSlider]

Geeze Simon, you have gained a flare for Scratch’s drama queen creation techniques!

If I fire up a personal web page on my isp account “Site Statistics” comes automatically with the package/account. They tend to be pretty darn good applications (an isp’s edge against the competition).

http://www.xmission.com/products/hosting/web/ - note the Site statistics is free with all levels of accounts – why – because it’s the norm, and totally expected by anybody putting up a web site.

I cannot image any web page out there, where the isp host provider does not provide all of the statistics you mention and more.
This is known as Standard Operating procedure.

[_Simon Belmont]

Geeze Simon, you have gained a flare for Scratch’s drama queen creation techniques!

If I fire up a personal web page on my isp account “Site Statistics” comes automatically with the package/account. They tend to be pretty darn good applications (an isp’s edge against the competition).

http://www.xmission.com/products/hosting/web/ - note the Site statistics is free with all levels of accounts – why – because it’s the norm, and totally expected by anybody putting up a web site.

I cannot image any web page out there, where the isp host provider does not provide all of the statistics you mention and more.
This is known as Standard Operating procedure.

Yes, hosted websites on top-level domains usually do come with free site statistic/web analytics tools. What's more, there are very powerful paid analytics tools provided by Omniture.

However, a blog with detailed statistics? Those are extremely rare, unless the blog is hosted on its own domain. And even then, the webmaster will usually indicate in some way that personal information is being collected for statistical purposes.

The main point I was trying to make was: why the subterfuge? On Sitemeter, you can choose to "hide" the fact that you are collecting information, which is exactly what Scratch did.

Ultimately, if this doesn't bother anyone then don't worry about it. It certainly doesn't bother me. My intention was simply to inform people.

[_MsJack]

Hi Simon,

Question for you. This person appears to be an LDS apologist of some sort. His Web site has some kind of application installed that displays visitor information for all to see. For example, if you go there now, you can see that I just visited from Deerfield, Illinois.

How does that compare to what Scratch has on his web site?

[_Gadianton]

I know this because I can interpret the code on the page

You can read HTML? Better keep those skills a secret, the apologists may tap you next to work on The Book of Abraham.

(actually, I am of the opinion you were mainly trying to be entertaining with this post, and I'll admit it was kind of funny)

[_Doctor Scratch]

I know this because I can interpret the code on the page

You can read HTML? Better keep those skills a secret, the apologists may tap you next to work on The Book of Abraham.

(actually, I am of the opinion you were mainly trying to be entertaining with this post, and I'll admit it was kind of funny)

for what it's worth, I thought it was rather funny, too.

Incidentally, Dean Robbers: what are your thoughts on potentially adding a Frisbee team to the Cassius Athletics Department?

[_Simon Belmont]

Hi Simon,

Question for you. This person appears to be an LDS apologist of some sort. His Web site has some kind of application installed that displays visitor information for all to see. For example, if you go there now, you can see that I just visited from Deerfield, Illinois.

How does that compare to what Scratch has on his web site?

If you display the information you're collecting, that's totally different, in my mind than hiding the fact that you collect it. Why hide it?

You can read HTML? Better keep those skills a secret, the apologists may tap you next to work on The Book of Abraham.

(actually, I am of the opinion you were mainly trying to be entertaining with this post, and I'll admit it was kind of funny)

Well, I didn't claim it was an amazing feat or anything, but you might be surprised at how many don't know you can view a page's source.

for what it's worth, I thought it was rather funny, too.

Incidentally, Dean Robbers: what are your thoughts on potentially adding a Frisbee team to the Cassius Athletics Department?

Glad you think so, but there was a serious question in there: why the subterfuge?

Edit: Did you know your widget isn't working? It says:

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[_MsJack]

Hi Simon,

Well, personally, I dislike having the fact that I've visited a site displayed for all to see, but meh. It's not a huge deal to me either way.

It seems there's some kind of joke here that I'm missing on account of my extreme ignorance of IP address tech, so I think I'll shut up now and let it all sail over my head before I put my foot in my mouth.

Cheers,
-Jack

[_Doctor Scratch]

Thanks for the tip, Simon. by the way: What do you think about joining the Cassius Frisbee Team? You interested?

[_Gadianton]

Incidentally, Dean Robbers: what are your thoughts on potentially adding a Frisbee team to the Cassius Athletics Department?

Frisbee eh? The Dean has been known to throw disc now and again. If we do it, I say we make sure these kids learn to play with real frisbees, no Aerobies or wham-o-rangs or whatever they are.