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Yahoo to Take on Google Analytics

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the battle-of-the-network-titans dept.

whencanistop writes "Having seen Google set up their Google Analytics product for free (in an attempt to get everyone to spend more money on adwords) and then seen Microsoft release their version of a free web analytics tool into beta, Yahoo have decided to do the same thing, by buying someone else and releasing it into the wild for free. Great news for bloggers who don't want to sign up for Google's 'evil' plans."

7 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. Thank you Adblock by Gothmolly · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://.google-analytics.com/*

    I heard of Google Analytics in the first few seconds after I installed Adblock, and then never worried about it again.

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    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
    1. Re:Thank you Adblock by internewt · · Score: 2, Informative

      You're gonna want to make sure you block *urchin.js* too with adblock, and I think */_ga.js* since some sites have the Google javascript in a different file. I think the way Google spy-alytics works is that a bit of JS runs from the domain you're browsing, either in a file called urchin.js [1] or directly on the webpage, and when combined with another script from google-analytics.com it then phones home with your habits.

      Also block third party cookies.... I have never seen a site break when you block third party cookies, and they're only used for nefarious purposes anyway. An add-on for FF might be needed to make changing this option easier, but an add-on will also allow management of other cookies: I recommend totally blocking 3rd party cookies and accepting first party as session only, and allow longterm cookies for sites you trust or you know aren't trending.

      Oh, and modify your existing adblock filter to catch http and https! My bank (Barclays in the UK) have third-party based tracking on their online banking, and the spy-scripts and graphics are served by https (only to be blocked by adblock!). I'm pretty sure I've seen trending crap served up by https on other sites too.

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      Car analogies break down.
  2. Re:Good luck with all that by larry+bagina · · Score: 5, Informative

    Galileo.

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    Do you even lift?

    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

  3. Google Analytics = Urchin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The blurb sounds kind of down on Yahoo for buying somebody and then giving the product away, but Google did exactly the same thing. Google Analytics is a retooled version of Urchin, a web stats company that Google purchased in 2005.

  4. Re:Good luck with all that by Goaway · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not necessarily. Anchors usually fall in water, where drag is high and terminal velocity is quickly reached. Thus the speed of fall mainly depends on the combined drag of the two anchors, which may or may not be twice the drag of one anchor, depending on all kinds of factors.

  5. Re:Get Out of the Way for Victory by Quixote · · Score: 3, Informative

    Adblock is your friend. :-)

    I block any 3rd-party site that takes too long to respond.

  6. Re:Google-analytics.com is a PITA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Javascript's defer attribute is your friend.