Google/Gmail using tracking pixels?! Screenshot in FireFox - WickedFire - Affiliate Marketing Forum

theguywillwin · 02-20-2008, 01:35 AM

OK this is pretty crazy shit if you ask me. I might be the only one thats having this happen. (hopefully not)

A few weeks ago I noticed what appears to be a tracking pixel in the top left hand corner of Firefox. It only shows up after I click out of Gmail, usually to Google.com or Google Trends. Basically I'll my Gmail open and I'll hit home (Google.com) and I notice the page go blank before the change, as this happens I can see the pixel pop up in the left hand corner.

I thought I was crazy but it really seems to be a tracking pixel, I mean it could be something else but wtf else could it be.

After a few failed screenshots I finally got it captured just as it showed up.

What do you guys think? Anyone else seeing this?

Screeny

Mahzkrieg · 02-20-2008, 01:38 AM

Tracking pixel or not, what's the big deal?

"How dare they" ?

theguywillwin · 02-20-2008, 02:00 AM

I just noticed it recently, the big deal is WTF. What makes me so special? Had a few friends try it and no one had the pixel but that's a small limited group.

If you want to try to replicate this open up Gmail then once loaded jump to another page preferably Google.

m0rtal · 02-20-2008, 02:03 AM

I did see it actually, but who cares? They already know everything you do online so why should we be worried about this one pixel?

ggg · 02-20-2008, 02:08 AM

Google is Big Brother. Get over it, or don't play.

tob · 02-20-2008, 02:10 AM

You need to actually investigate... LiveHTTPHeaders...

theguywillwin · 02-20-2008, 02:16 AM

Mainly privacy. You don't have to be a criminal to want your privacy. Honest, law bitting is it citizens want their privacy. Now I know Google runs the Internet for the most part and you're probably right they know a lot of what goes on but WTF is going on with this tracking pixel?

Jon · 02-20-2008, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theguywillwin

Mainly privacy. You don't have to be a criminal to want your privacy. Honest, law bitting is it citizens want their privacy. Now I know Google runs the Internet for the most part and you're probably right they know a lot of what goes on but WTF is going on with this tracking pixel?

Think of it this way then..

There's a REASON why Google has all these free services for the masses to use, that have cost them tens of millions of dollars to acquire and develop. They mostly use the whole "we're expanding for advertising revenue purposes" excuse, which is partly true. But the real reason is plain and simple "we want to find out as much information about every user on every service we provide so that we can build more shit to track them, log them, and ultimately predict their behaviors and habits -- and then use it together with our advertising services and make a big fat juicy buck off of each and every one of you little sheep!" -- I added the sheep part at the end.

theguywillwin · 02-20-2008, 04:35 AM

So Jon, you don't use many Google services? AdWords aint free

Deliguy · 02-20-2008, 05:12 AM

you sure its google and not firefox doing it? ooo think about that conspiracy!

Red_Virus · 02-20-2008, 05:27 AM

Get over it ! Google knows everything. They also have the Web History turned on by default when u create a new gmail account.

robertdotcom · 02-20-2008, 06:44 AM

...yeah ..it happened to me 2 ..yesterday...lol..dont know what it is tho...

mubin · 02-20-2008, 07:03 PM

its not just when you go to the google homepage or google trends. When you travel away from any page from GMail I get the pixel in firefox.

02-20-2008, 01:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
theguywillwin Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 48	Google/Gmail using tracking pixels?! Screenshot in FireFox OK this is pretty crazy shit if you ask me. I might be the only one thats having this happen. (hopefully not) A few weeks ago I noticed what appears to be a tracking pixel in the top left hand corner of Firefox. It only shows up after I click out of Gmail, usually to Google.com or Google Trends. Basically I'll my Gmail open and I'll hit home (Google.com) and I notice the page go blank before the change, as this happens I can see the pixel pop up in the left hand corner. I thought I was crazy but it really seems to be a tracking pixel, I mean it could be something else but wtf else could it be. After a few failed screenshots I finally got it captured just as it showed up. What do you guys think? Anyone else seeing this? Screeny __________________

02-20-2008, 02:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
theguywillwin Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 48	I just noticed it recently, the big deal is WTF. What makes me so special? Had a few friends try it and no one had the pixel but that's a small limited group. If you want to try to replicate this open up Gmail then once loaded jump to another page preferably Google. __________________

02-20-2008, 02:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
m0rtal King of the Jungle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 796	I did see it actually, but who cares? They already know everything you do online so why should we be worried about this one pixel? __________________ twinkle twinkle little star

02-20-2008, 02:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
ggg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 249	Google is Big Brother. Get over it, or don't play. __________________ I'm not bad, I'm just drawn this way.

02-20-2008, 02:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
tob Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 373	You need to actually investigate... LiveHTTPHeaders... __________________

02-20-2008, 01:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mahzkrieg Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 159	Tracking pixel or not, what's the big deal? "How dare they" ?

02-20-2008, 02:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
theguywillwin Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 48	Mainly privacy. You don't have to be a criminal to want your privacy. Honest, law bitting is it citizens want their privacy. Now I know Google runs the Internet for the most part and you're probably right they know a lot of what goes on but WTF is going on with this tracking pixel? __________________

02-20-2008, 04:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
theguywillwin Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 48	So Jon, you don't use many Google services? AdWords aint free __________________

02-20-2008, 05:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
Red_Virus SEO Services Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,036	Get over it ! Google knows everything. They also have the Web History turned on by default when u create a new gmail account.

02-20-2008, 06:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
robertdotcom Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 210	...yeah ..it happened to me 2 ..yesterday...lol..dont know what it is tho... __________________ Super Copeac made me 300$ on the 1st day after joining

02-20-2008, 07:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
mubin Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 70	its not just when you go to the google homepage or google trends. When you travel away from any page from GMail I get the pixel in firefox.

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