Live Free Radio Keep Living Free

International Data Privacy Day
January 28, 2011

Tracking Cookies are Crummy, says Search Engine Startpage.com Privacy-friendly URL Generator supports snoop-free settings

"Tracking cookies are not only obnoxious, they leave crumbs that lead marketers straight to your door," says Robert Beens, CEO of Startpage.com, the World's Most Private Search Engine.

So he's making it his mission to educate consumers about the "Internet crumbs" cookies leave behind. He's also encouraging consumers to delete tracking cookies from their computers on January 28 in honor of International Data Privacy Day.

Tracking cookies are "a huge privacy problem," according to Beens, who accuses advertisers of being information vultures. "A better name for them might be 'stalker cookies'," he says.

What some Internet companies are doing with consumer information is unconscionable, Beens contends. "Most consumers are unaware of how most big websites and search engines capture user cookie information and IP addresses to record their search terms, the times of their visits, and the links they click."

He points out that search engine records are especially invasive because they can reveal extremely personal information, like someone's interests, family situation, and medical conditions. These profiles are often stored in giant databases and used for marketing purposes. They can also be hacked or subpoenaed.

"Internet information can come back to haunt you," Beens warns. "If you search for information about diabetes, for example, that could be added to your consumer profile and potentially raise a red flag if you apply for a new job or a life insurance policy."

Beens' company offers consumers a cookie-free service, even when they want custom search settings. Startpage's new URL Generator encodes these settings in an anonymous URL that can be bookmarked or used to create an address bar search box. For example, if someone prefers large font and family-friendly filtering, the URL will automatically deliver searches just the way he or she likes them at every visit.

Startpage has always offered a non-identifying, anonymous cookie option for storing custom settings. This is still available for those users who selectively delete tracking cookies and know how to whitelist Startpage's privacy-friendly cookie.

"Our new URL Generator is just one more way we're offering innovative, privacy-friendly searches and helping to change how the Internet does business," says Beens. "We believe that privacy is a fundamental right and the basis of a free society. We're helping consumers enjoy all the Internet has to offer without giving up that right."

About Startpage

Startpage is an award-winning search engine with an industry-leading privacy policy. Startpage is the only major search engine to provide third-party certified, fully anonymous, private searches. Startpage offers SSL encryption and is the only one offering a free proxy service.
Further information on Startpage, including details about the company's exemplary data-handling practices, can be found at www.startpage.com

GOD'S WORD FOR TODAY

A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.Proverbs 12:16 (KJV)

IN THE NEWS
ACTION
Repeal the Patriot Act https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/campaigns/129

OBAMA NATION

5 Reasons Why Barack Obama’s State Of The Union Address Was Completely Wrong About The Economy
http://bit.ly/dXPzZD

ACLU Rebukes Obama For Pat Down Joke
http://bit.ly/eeDzhO

Ron Paul Attacks State Of The Union Theater
http://bit.ly/eYjVIV

Some in GOP looking to nullify federal health care law
http://bit.ly/fj62sq

Obama defends abortion as a right...
http://bit.ly/fYAY2I

OBAMA CARE

6 New States Make 25 Joining Fla. Lawsuit Against ObamaCare
http://bit.ly/hXNy3a

READ THIS BEFORE JOINING THE PEACE CORPS

Peace Corps Gang Rape: Volunteer Says U.S. Agency Ignored Warnings
http://abcn.ws/fMKsXd

HEALTH NEWS

The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Now?
http://bit.ly/hEyO0R

False Foundations of Science: Can Vaccine Studies Be Trusted?
http://bit.ly/ekRTQG

Common garden weed 'cures skin cancer', say scientists
http://bit.ly/fgJCfV

H1N1 Pennsylvania Deaths Raise Concerns
http://bit.ly/gA4aOH

Hallucinogens & Pharmaceuticals Dr. Confesses Cancer & Other Viruses are Present in Vaccines
http://bit.ly/e9Tz8i

"Zombie Virus" Possible via Rabies-Flu Hybrid? - Do These People Ever Watch Movies?
http://bit.ly/bxay3h

Teachers blamed for record number of children being prescribed ‘chemical cosh’
http://bit.ly/dVLr8o

Updated timeline of mysterious animal deaths
http://bit.ly/hvIci7

CDC Issues H1N1 Alert In United States
http://bit.ly/ffRdk7

Pelicans turn up sick, dead off Jacksonville coast
http://bit.ly/fe5nFn

Yankton Sees Bird Kill-Off
http://bit.ly/eIG2pa

Thousands of dead octopuses wash up on Portugal beach
http://bbc.in/7FJMA9

WICKED WEATHER

621 Earthquakes In The US In The Past 7 Days
http://bit.ly/22AvCS

POLICE STATE NEWS

Traveler sporting 4th Amendment not terroris - Hey Hilary What About This Guys Rights?
http://bit.ly/eKsGPB

'Lawfare' = legal intimidation
http://bit.ly/gSfbyN

Atlanta Police Investigated Over Public Strip Search Claims
http://bit.ly/gaTYSP

Springfield, MO Airport Wants to Opt Out of TSA
http://bit.ly/gnbqKB

California Residents Hit With Government Ban On Paying By Cash
http://bit.ly/eKLWGx

Justice Department seeks to have all web surfing tracked
http://bit.ly/i8lmxZ

Americans use iPhones to annoy politicians and stop abuse by police
http://bit.ly/eKLWmg

'Sidejacking,' face-scanning and car-finding
http://bit.ly/hBLMwM

D.C.'s spy cameras target the wrong people
http://bit.ly/eXwvLa

E-Verify still flags eligible employees, says GAO
http://bit.ly/h4bdrE

Trial Begins For Seattle Man Who Refused To Show ID At TSA Checkpoint In Albuquerque
http://bit.ly/fuEHWV

Big Brother is watching you from Israel
http://bit.ly/fV716j

The Companies Who Support Censoring The Internet
http://bit.ly/g0B0fT

Renewing the Patriot Act While America Sleeps
http://bit.ly/h4oTX3

State joins fingerprint database
http://bit.ly/egMOE2

The coming Green Police State
http://bit.ly/hr5Y17

Google Seeks to Weaken Search Engine Ranking of "Content Farming" Websites
http://bit.ly/g3iHRR

'V for Victory, You are the Resistance' to fight DHS
http://bit.ly/etcn0o

Fast-tracking of voter ID raises red flag
http://bit.ly/ekSzSm

Christian homeschooling family broken apart by N.J. agency
http://bit.ly/gZ3I8H

Wal-Mart to make, sell healthier foods
http://yhoo.it/gRJejK

World Trade Center Becoming a Police State?
http://bit.ly/fDF9mK

New Scanner Reads Fingerprints Two Meters Away
http://engt.co/g2XDtn

Aerial drone testing proposed for Central Oregon
http://bit.ly/fWGkzE

Surveillance blimp infringes on privacy
http://bit.ly/h54NaL

Need a Social Security number to drive? Maybe not in D.C.
http://wapo.st/gE0xCX

Feds come knocking for home inspections
http://bit.ly/g1kt0b

‘No Refusal’ Blood Test Checkpoint Program Continues To Expand Nationwide
http://bit.ly/hf3qYH

TSA Now Forcing Opt-Outs To Walk Through Body Scanners
http://bit.ly/gnPwfx

REAL ID & PRIVACY NEWS

The Internet ID: Do we have any say in it?
http://bit.ly/haAuW1

Computer problems at DMVs across the state
http://bit.ly/dSYP75

Wash. Lawmakers Push For Driver's License Citizenship Checks
http://bit.ly/gMNzFq

Identity Theft in the Electronic Age
http://bit.ly/i53wHc

Are Your DMV's Lying to You?
http://bit.ly/i5nP0V

Driver's license renewal and the REAL ID Act
http://bit.ly/fCpAYL

Local drivers frustrated over new driver license delays at DMV
http://bit.ly/hIX75o

Mexico to become first country to use iris scans on ID cards
http://bit.ly/e82Ntv

New California drivers licenses driving people crazy with delays
http://bit.ly/fL8mri

Roadshow: A 23-year-old, out-of-state ticket delays license renewal
http://bit.ly/e55b7N

Driver's licence overkill
http://bit.ly/h2HUyX

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Fresh anti-govt protests in Egypt
http://bit.ly/gMuuDl

US should push democracy
http://bit.ly/gSN8RB

UN human rights official claims 9/11 was US plot
http://bit.ly/hoinYl

Blackwater suit tossed 7 years after grisly deaths
http://bit.ly/eooxHS

And Then You've Got Your Pro-Regulatory Republicans
http://bit.ly/hUzjJI

House leader Cantor believes Obama is a US citizen
http://bit.ly/gRWezf

How Top Secret America Misfires; A Call for a 21st Century Church Commission
http://bit.ly/fEu4hV

HR 408: Spending Reduction Act will actually ELIMINATE programs!
http://bit.ly/eZRVwm

Hard-hitting Letter from Louisiana Senator to Obama Regarding COREXIT Poisoning of the Gulf
http://bit.ly/h0s6sT

It's like Bush-Cheney all over, but worse!
http://wapo.st/fr7aGB

Massive U.S. Military Aid to Tunisia despite human rights abuses
http://bit.ly/eQSkpp

Tunisia and Haiti: One tyrant returns home, one flees
http://bit.ly/gWyFFg

Obama to grant Hu Jintao the state dinner denied by George W Bush
http://bit.ly/dE9kak

Look Hu's in Town to Talk Trade and Security
http://bit.ly/fudsUD

China: Usa: Trade and foreign policy, the "crossroads" of Hu Jintao in the U.S
http://bit.ly/fz9ipm

The Media War On Nullification
http://bit.ly/i5nKRR

After Tragedy, Ariz. Looks to Expand Gun Rights
http://bit.ly/epUJqx

Austerity In America: 22 Signs That It Is Already Here And That It Is Going To Be Very Painful
http://bit.ly/eiYV89

MILITARY NEWS

Congress to investigate Pentagon’s decision to deny coverage for brain injured troops
http://bit.ly/gAHMU3

ECONOMIC NEWS

A Scary Signal to the US
http://bit.ly/dE0FDy

Warning Signs
http://bit.ly/hIl9s2

Postal Service Eyes Closing Thousands of Post Offices
http://fxn.ws/gsi88b

Cattle Network Warns Farmers: Big Time Inflation Is Coming and You Better Have an Explanation
http://bit.ly/gjyY9N

Path Is Sought for States to Escape Debt Burdens
http://bit.ly/gP97ez

NYT Reports States Looking For Ways To File Bankruptcy, Muni Bondholders To Be GMed
http://bit.ly/fgk7PV

2010 weakest year for home sales since 1997
http://yhoo.it/ehR2CI

Which Of The Currencies Of The World Is Going To Crash First?
http://bit.ly/eEw9Ds

Crime-ridden Camden, N.J., cuts police force nearly in half
http://bit.ly/hAiroD

The More Americans That Go On Food Stamps The More Money JP Morgan Makes
http://bit.ly/i8SoZ3

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Chicago's Mayoral Race - Rahm Emanuel's Eligibility Issue
http://bit.ly/g2T0tE

Haskell Blows Whistle on Underwear Bomber, Government Op
http://bit.ly/fCzX2k

Human hurdle awaits marriage amendment in Iowa
http://bit.ly/hXnYuy

Appeal thwarted, mosque given go-ahead
http://bit.ly/fQoTVR

Veterans won't be ignored
http://bit.ly/ihJQEn

State's Rights Amendment Gets Cool Response from Maine
http://bit.ly/fPYZub

Internet, phones cut off as Egypt braces for protests
http://bit.ly/ghMz6V

How Egypt shut down the internet
http://bit.ly/ghMYMk

US funded Egyptian pro-democracy movement - Oh Now I Understand Clinton's Comment
http://bit.ly/eI0yHM

Egypt must respect citizens rights says Clinton - Except when it comes to TSA Groping
http://ind.pn/efdOp6

Iran must respect rights of citizens, international obligations - Except when the US Govt is Involved
http://bit.ly/cDuCFp

Wow, If You Doubted That Obama Was Going Corporate, Look Who’s Replacing Volcker
http://bit.ly/g67Ypu

Why China Does Capitalism Better than the U.S.
http://bit.ly/hTHkfd

Hu reaches out to US businesses with China ties
http://yhoo.it/hDlX9f

How accurate are property records?
http://bit.ly/fYvCM8

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision: Constitution is Void
http://bit.ly/fHxu8t

CHRISTIANITY NEWS

Hoping Christian politicians 'will be found faithful'
http://bit.ly/fRFTL0

A milestone anniversary for the KJV
http://bit.ly/fJMJZk

'Same faith' hiring policy protected
http://bit.ly/dXa6Ct

Bible bricks rejected
http://bit.ly/fosYat

Pinning Ceremony & First Amendment Retaliation at University of West Virginia
http://bit.ly/eAFSlf

New Ala. gov: Just Christians are his family - A Politician Not Being a Politician
http://yhoo.it/geed8M

U of KY settles suit with astronomer
http://bit.ly/epF5lJ

MORAL DECLINE

'Raunchy' MTV show on shaky ground
http://bit.ly/i1W4nI

'David vs. Goliath' in Tipton
http://bit.ly/ia74oz

MTV's child exploitation illegal
http://bit.ly/hHg1Ow

Craigslist killer: Police identify 3 more prostitutes found on Gilgo Beach in new case
http://bit.ly/eTbZbo

"Choose Life" license plates could be boon for faith-based pregnancy centers
http://ainn.ly/gQlpuP

Mountain View sisters say they feared reporting relative's sexual abuse to family
http://bit.ly/f8zpAF

Parents Television Council Calls for Federal Investigation Into MTV's Skins
http://bit.ly/f0Kv97

Boys will be boys: Cops naked golf romp goes unpunished
http://sbn.to/dQYmCM

Two charged with sex assault on 12-year-old girl
http://bit.ly/ec56qS

ABORTION NEWS

Unplanned Awakening
http://bit.ly/dJOyUY

Planned Parenthood's troubling 'philosophy'
http://bit.ly/dXNtuM

Seminary standing strong on critical issue
http://bit.ly/emJ5KN

Doctor accused of killing 7 babies with scissors after they were born alive in abortion clinic
http://bit.ly/gPxohS

IMMIGRATION NEWS

Let Border Patrol do its job
http://bit.ly/fLyGPh

Lawmaker introduces Arizona-style immigration law
http://bit.ly/eUznM6

Mexico's Ex-President Vicente Fox: Legalize Drugs - But then how would the govt make money?
http://yhoo.it/hAXVj7

Video Shows Women Climbing U.S.-Mexico Border Fence in Less Than 18 Seconds
http://fxn.ws/e8K9SQ

HACKER NEWS

Are you safe on Facebook?
http://bit.ly/ft3Ev0

Smart Cards No Match for Online Spies
http://bit.ly/gYj18r

'Anonymous' teen hackers arrested in UK
http://bit.ly/fkAYwg

Britain, U.S. carry out raids in hacker search
http://bit.ly/gc38hI

FBI issue 40 search warrants in bid to catch hackers who attacked WikiLeaks enemies
http://bit.ly/eJGCzU

'Anonymous' Calls It War After US, UK Police Go After Hackers
http://aol.it/e8uitl

Sony releases new PS3 firmware, hackers shrug and get to work
http://bit.ly/f2S07g

Hackers using social networks as communications channel
http://bit.ly/hhN4bX

Anon hackers join Egyptian protests
http://bit.ly/ecMM9r

Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook account hacked
http://bit.ly/g7NZ7x

Site of AT&T-iPad hackers is hacked
http://bit.ly/glXdoI

Hackers Turn Back the Clock With Telnet Attacks
http://bit.ly/e9w9M4

Mail & Guardian website taken down after hacker attack
http://bit.ly/h6s35x

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg 'attacked by hackers'
http://bit.ly/eaSzYN

Hackers bring on thoughts of Natalie Portman and Sarah Palin
http://bit.ly/gIJebv

Facebook's new security method: Can you beat it by Googling the names?
http://lat.ms/eQmFhC

'Anonymous' hackers threaten Egypt govt websites in reprisal for censorshi
http://bit.ly/grSXbu

Cellphone network flaw is a gift to hackers
http://bit.ly/fRzw8E

Global spam volumes drop, hackers tire of Windows, Cisco says
http://bit.ly/eYQopv

Defense Department pharmacy site hacked
http://bit.ly/gjUOuH

Speedy Drivers Can Hide From Cops, But Not Hackers
http://bit.ly/hSqR3u

Lush tries to placate customers after website falls victim to hackers
http://bit.ly/g4MePv

Legislature a lesson in wireless insecurity
http://bit.ly/gMZfvK

EFF Calls Sony's Lawsuit Against PS3 Hackers "Dangerous"
http://bit.ly/gZDut1

Hackers Could Get Jail Time for Exposing iPad Security Flaw
http://bit.ly/gkWVNd

Facebook Fought Off Tunisian Government Hackers
http://bit.ly/dPF54x

LUSH Cosmetics Website Hacking Highlights Need For Better Reputation Management
http://bit.ly/eTY28G

Hackers sell access to hacked .mil and .gov sites
http://bit.ly/etjq2W

Hackers break into Sarkozy's Facebook page and announce his resignation
http://bit.ly/hL1JlQ

Scams on rise as hackers target Facebook users
http://bit.ly/hz1ImO

Brown: Did hackers target my phone too?
http://bit.ly/fRpEiw

Mobiles offer hackers open door to sensitive data, says report
http://bit.ly/hQglfK

Report: Restaurants a Big Target for Hackers
http://bit.ly/gT1QBH

Hackers Targeting Lax Security in Mobile Devices
http://bit.ly/gBvohK

Trapster Notifies Millions After Breach
http://bit.ly/i9zLON

Cisco: Windows Not The Only Hacker Target Anymore
http://bit.ly/goC9rl

NH radiologists' computer hacked by gamers
http://bit.ly/fyHKdW

EU disarray makes it easy for carbon credits hackers
http://bit.ly/eMFKUL

Hackers steal 2 million tonnes of EU carbon credits
http://bit.ly/hUL90Z

Hackers force closure of emissions trading scheme
http://bit.ly/dLhXBd

Feds Arrest Hackers for AT&T, iPad E-Mail Breach
http://bit.ly/fTsmtW

Lush hackers cash in on stolen cards
http://bbc.in/dOI3dg

Poole-based cosmetics firm Lush has website hacked
http://bbc.in/hS6Vp3

Hackers Taking Aim At Smart Phones - News Story
http://bit.ly/dXjHCT

Hackers are gambling that casino databases will have big payoff
http://bit.ly/e10QU4

Casino Gambler Databases Becoming A Key Tool For Hackers
http://bit.ly/eiaB2i

Hackers steal $150,000 with malicious job application
http://bit.ly/hKOakk

Hackers are gambling that casino databases will have big payoff
http://bit.ly/e10QU4

The Hacker's Toolkit Returns
http://bit.ly/dXWGys

Hackers will target mobile phone, SMS
http://bit.ly/eS2fVi

Hackers targets University of Sydney
http://bit.ly/eplvbv

Charges laid against iPad hackers
http://bit.ly/fkOqax

DIY Malware Kits Expand Hacker Pool
http://bit.ly/hOBsp1

Hackers may have stolen South Carolina employees' data
http://bit.ly/fWNezr

AT&T iPad hackers' chats were turned in by secret source
http://bit.ly/hTKomj

MIT speaker warns against hackers
http://bit.ly/gYSpMZ

Hackers leave Iranian message on Hillsboro Beach's website
http://bit.ly/f8kkII

Hacker breaches security at Pentagon Federal Credit Union
http://wapo.st/eitlcp

Google Security Reward Program Pays More than $14,000 to Uncover Chrome Flaws
http://yhoo.it/giy9Lk

Hackers face five years for mocking ipad insecurity
http://bit.ly/fuQeaE

U.S. Announces 120,000 iPad Users Had Data Stolen
http://rww.to/hbiiwJ

Expert: 'Cyberwar' an exaggerated threat
http://bit.ly/hXW3bB

ANIMAL DEATH NEWS

U.S. government admits poisoning birds in South Dakota
http://bit.ly/fMq7uv

55 buffalo die mysteriously on southern Cayuga County farm
http://bit.ly/gWlrRS

GOD'S AMAZING BEAUTY

Nasa captures runaway star
http://bit.ly/hbL7ob