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Google may be near record fine to settle FTC privacy charges

Google is close to paying a record settlement to resolve charges related to bypassing Apple user privacy settings, The Wall Street Journal reported this evening.

The Web giant is expected to pay $22.5 million to settle charges it sidestepped user privacy settings in Apple's Safari Web browser -- the largest penalty the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has ever levied against a single company, unidentified officials told the newspaper.

In a practice it has since ceased, Google used special code to get around Safari's privacy controls, allowing the company to track users on computers and mobile devices. … Read more

How to outfox Web sites trying to get you to pay top dollar

So, Orbitz has spilled the beans, well some of them, and says it in essence up-sells to people based on which browser they use.

The site told The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) that it discovered that Mac users tend to pay as much as 30 percent more for hotel rooms. (Well, they are paying a premium for the computer too so it's not that surprising, although $20 to $30 more is significant.) Leveraging that information, Orbitz decided to experiment with displaying pricier hotels in search results to Mac users than to Windows users. Before you get too miffed, … Read more

Behavioral data tracking rising dramatically (Q&A)

Web sites are increasingly targeting ads at visitors based on behavioral data collected via cookies and other tracking techniques behind the scenes. This riles privacy advocates and many consumers, but there's no question it will become even more widespread.

Since November 2010, behavioral tracking has increased 400 percent, according to a new study from Krux, a firm that helps Web sites manage customer data. The average visit to a Web site in December triggered 56 instances of data collection, up from 10 instances in Nov. 2010, the company found after crawling pages on the 50 most-visited sites measured by … Read more

What Britons need to know about U.K. 'cookie law'

If you've seen a "cookie settings" warning like this recently, you're not the only one.

A few high-profile U.K. Web sites have in the past few days started to warn its visitors that it uses cookies on their sites.

If this is the first you've heard about it and you own a U.K. Web site that uses cookies -- such as those with shopping carts, adverts, a log-in function, or text-size preferences -- or develop for a mobile application platform...whoops.

You had until today to comply with the new European cookie law.… Read more

Remove all traces of programs with Advanced Uninstaller Pro

A good standalone uninstallation application can remove traces of programs that other uninstallers leave behind, and that includes the built-in Windows feature. Advanced Uninstaller Pro is a free tool that not only removes all detectable traces of the programs you uninstall but also automatically cleans traces from the Registry. Its unique installation-monitoring feature automatically or manually tracks what happens to your system when you install or uninstall programs. It not only ensures that all traces of installed programs are removed but also helps diagnose installation problems. Advanced Uninstaller Pro also packs a wide range of system maintenance tools and tweaks.… Read more

Google may face fine over Safari privacy bypass

Google may soon find itself paying another fine for privacy violations.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is expected to decide during the next 30 days whether to fine the Web giant for bypassing user privacy settings in Apple's Safari Web browser, according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News that cited sources familiar with negotiations between Google and the agency.

In a practice it has since ceased, Google used special code to get around Safari's privacy controls in order to track users on computers and mobile devices. Google has previously told CNET that the company … Read more

The 404 1,015: Where we take Katie Linendoll to sleepaway camp (podcast)

Former CBS Early Show tech correspondent, HSN host, and all-around protogeek Katie Linendoll checks in with us today and brings gifts! She'll tell us about her long history with consumer tech and her new show on Spike TV's All Access Weekly, a show with a live audience that covers gaming, comics, and gadgets. Even cooler--they film out of the old MTV TRL studio!

We'll also cover the breaking news of the day: AirBnB bought its competitor Crashpadder in advance of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Angry Birds Space comes out tomorrow, and the Girl Scouts of America debut their new Netiquette Pledge.

Thanks again to Katie for joining us today, and be sure to check out All Access Weekly every Thursday at midnight!… Read more

The 404 1,012: Where we bring our Ella, Ella (podcast)

There's so much to talk about with our guest today, Ella Morton. She's a former editor from CNET Australia, so we'll talk to her about her appearances on Planet CNET, a book she co-wrote with the founders of RecordSetter.com, and her visit to Sesame Street with RocketBoom.

Ella is currently working on a guide book to the world's hidden wonders with the team from Atlas Obscura, so she'll also tell us a few of her favorite stories from her research. We'll finish out the show with a chat about Ella's other love: burlesque!

With so much to talk about, we'll definitely have Ella back on the show, but in the meantime be sure to follow her on Twitter and check out her own podcast, Ellipsis.… Read more

Mobile Safari's default cookies settings changing randomly

Earlier this week it was found that Google had been overriding privacy settings for several Internet browsers, including Apple's Safari and Microsoft's Internet Explorer, in order to display its Google+ buttons in advertisements.

Now, according to a couple Apple Communities support forum threads (one, two), using Google products on Mobile Safari may be related to a bug that changes a user's "Accept Cookies" settings.

But, despite reports from many users saying the problems with Mobile Safari were in relation to the use of their Gmail accounts and the odd coincidence that Google is in the … Read more

Does your browser feed the cookie monster--or starve it?

Google's latest public display of cookie addiction revealed that while the ad side of Google enthusiastically embraces third-party cookies, the browser division is more hesitant. Here's how the five major browsers--Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera--protect you from those third-party tracking cookies.

But first: what's a tracking cookie? And why are they so important as a component of your online privacy?

A tracking cookie can be used to follow people around the Web as they jump from site to site. Though your IP address or your HTTP request header's referral field can also be used … Read more