What are web bugs? You may ask. Web bug is a coactive name given to all hidden object on a website that is used by the owners of the web site to secretly track visitors. They are invisible to the visitor so that they can secretly track a web visitor without being noticed. Bugs are created from images, scripts, and iframes among other objects found on the web. Objects used here must have the ability to camouflage into the background of the website or they are mad transparent so that they may not be detected easily. This makes them invisible to the human eye and therefore more effective in playing their role. Track web visitors, bug usually use cookies, IP addresses and header information. They can be used track an individual’s browsing history and thus are very dangerous.
Why are web bugs are created and how are they harmful? You may wonder. As the world moves towards an advanced e-commerce platform, competition is getting fiercer and therefore to reach more people a lot of information about these people is required. Thus web bugs are created most to gather information about internet users for marketing purposes. Bugs do not cause any harm to a computer system, however, their transparent nature and the difficulty in detecting them, cause privacy concerns as people are not give an option of opting out.
Sometimes information illegally gathered is sold off to third parties who may have ulterior motives. The originators of spam mails also use bugs to monitor the spam mails they send out. This can be annoying at times to receive mails of things you are not interested in. Lastly anything invisible is always linked with viruses, malware and other security threats associated with the internet. You should therefore have a reason to worry about web bugs.
Sometimes information illegally gathered is sold off to third parties who may have ulterior motives. The originators of spam mails also use bugs to monitor the spam mails they send out. This can be annoying at times to receive mails of things you are not interested in. Lastly anything invisible is always linked with viruses, malware and other security threats associated with the internet. You should therefore have a reason to worry about web bugs.
Then how can you combat web bugs? The most effective way of repelling web bugs is always disabling third party cookies whenever you are surfing the net. Only accept cookies you need to work and you could reduce the chances of being a victim of web bugs by up to 70%. Another way to fight the effects of web bugs is by acknowledging the integrity of your browser and by not opening mails in your spam box as they are always sends there for a reason. By regularly clearing your browser history and cache makes it difficult for the few bugs that sip into your system to copy your browser history and this helps keep your privacy. Lastly today you can purchase or find free web bug filters to help maintain your privacy. Such web filters may include Privacy mark, better privacy, and Beef Taco among others.
In conclusion we all agree, including the creators and the users of web bug that they are epitome of online privacy inversion. They can cause embarrassments and even harm people’s reputation depending on how information gathered is used. We deserve our privacy which web bugs often rob from us. Keep your privacy, beware of web bugs!

