AOL/Netscape spies on surfers

Solutions: delete the cookie, uninstall SmartDownload

Since this combined information on downloads, search queries and e-mail address works on the basis of the Netcenter cookie, this cookie should be deleted. Switching off cookies altogether will only result in complaints from a large number of web pages since they use cookies in a sensible manner.

The Netscape Browser stores all cookies in a file called "cookies.txt", which can be modified with any text editor. One cookie always takes up at least one entire line.

If you delete the lines that include "netscape.com" in this file, the nosy Netscape cookie crumbles - and it remains switched off at least until you log on to Netcenter again. Then you will have to delete the cookie once more.

However, this will not switch off the transmission of file names and search queries to Netscape altogether. We recommend to start downloads by right-clicking on the file and clicking on "Save Link as" to those of you who would like to continue using the Netscape Browser. This will prevent the SmartDownload feature from starting. Initiate any search queries directly with the search engines and avoid using the "Search" button provided by the Browser.

If you want to get rid of SmartDownload completely, you may uninstall it through the Windows control panel using the button "Software". The browser, however, has no menu options for that feature as to turn it off temporarily. One should keep in mind that once SmartDownload is uninstalled, the "Search" button still transfers data to Netscape without asking. To date, we have found no way to prevent the browser from doing so.

Anonymizers do not help here

As our tests have shown, even the use of an anonymizing service will not protect you against Netscape nosing around. The most important information comes from the Netcenter cookie. So when you use one of the anonymizers, Netscape will also receive information on whether or not you use such services.

Read up in a tecChannel report on details about how anonymizing services work and how you can use them in a sensible manner. This feature is currently only available in German - please bear with us.