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Do Not Call Site Has AT&T Stats Tracker?

Posted by simoniker on from the ring-ring-doh dept.

hookedup writes "The Register is carrying an article about suspicious content at the FTC's Do Not Call site. It has been a runaway hit with US consumers, with over fifty million signing up to avoid spam calls from telemarketers. But the web site hides a little secret: a 1x1 pixel image tracking visitors... and where does the trail lead but to the AT&T, one of the most persistent telemarketers." However, the tipster, James 'Kibo' Parry, notes: "There isn't any evidence proving they _are_ up to anything improper, but this relationship between the FTC and AT&T fails to avoid the potential for impropriety."

5 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. should be called by joeldg · · Score: 2, Interesting

    the "don't call me, spam me" list.. saying they are collecting millions of email from users and have a dubious privacy policy.

    --
    anime+manga together at last.. in real time.
  2. Re:So? by Christopher_G_Lewis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The web bug is to http://g6589dcs.nyc2.aens.net

    Aens.net is
    AT&T Enhanced Network Services (AENS6-DOM)
    POB 919014
    San Diego, CA 92191-9014
    US

    Which is basically AT&T Managed Services.

    I'm assuming its a bug to make sure the site is up and running...

    Course I could be wrong, and it is a part of a national conspiracy to make my dinner get cold.

    --
    www.christopherlewis.com
  3. Re:So what? by Paul+Jakma · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Oh even better, Slashdot run ads for bulk-mailers and spam, sorry, "opt-in" address list resellers. Kind of ironic considering slashdot's editorial stance on spam: "Spam is evil and bad", - unless of course its money they send you rather than spam...

    --
    I use Friend/Foe + mod-point modifiers as a karma/reputation system.
  4. Web bugs are a violation of federal policy by sakusha · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I clearly remember reading that the fedgov had implemented a strict ban on web bugs and cookies. I couldn't find the exact law, but here's an interesting tidbit from a .mil site:
    http://www.defenselink.mil/nii/org/cio/doc/ cookies .html

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reaffirmed (attachment 1) that it is Federal policy that each Federal agency operating a public web site, or contractors operating such sites on behalf of an agency, must post clear privacy policies at their principal web sites, at known, major entry points to the sites, and at those sites where the agency or the contractor collects substantial personal information from the public. The OMB emphasizes that it also is Federal policy that web technology, such as "cookies," should not be used at Federal web sites to identify and track the activities of web users unless a compelling need exists to collect such information, appropriate publicized procedures are established to safeguard the information, and collection has been personally approved by the head of the agency.
  5. Check out the site's suspicious JavaScript by Animats · · Score: 2, Interesting
    You can read the Do Not Call site's Javascript. Here's an excerpt:
    • // START OF Data Collection Server TAG
      // Copyright 2002 NetIQ Corporation
      // V2.1
      ...
      var dcsADDR="g6589dcs.nyc2.aens.net";

    What's that doing in there?

    There's also a link to Microsoft's Intellisense web site on the Government's Do Not Call page, but that looks like typical Microsoft dreck from their page generator. The "NetIQ" stuff was put there on purpose.

    All this is totally unnecessary. The pages are so simple that all this stuff is doing nothing useful.