Does VHelp make any use 2o7.net cookies?

[gll99]

This 2o7.net series of tracking cookies is supposed to be site specific but I doubt Videohelp is involved. Using Firefox 3, I deleted all of these cookies, closed the browser, opened the Videohelp site only (my home page) and then closed the browser again but then on the next reopen I got the warning again about the tracking cookie 2o7.net. I googled the topic and found an opt-out option but it too requires a 2o7.net cookie be installed which means you have to be careful not to delete this self serving cookie and it also requires a measure of trust as to its purpose.

My question is: I'm sure I already know the answer but just need to confirm it, does Videohelp make use of these cookies? Does anyone know if they come with a toolbar or a browser add-on? I just find it funny that they reinstall themselves as soon as I open the browser unless I have the opt-out cookie installed. If Vhelp is not involved, that means there is some kind of specific cookie check and reinstall on the browser open or close. This implies that the browser, an add-on or a toolbar is complicit with this company otherwise how could it reinstall itself and require an op-out cookie.

I didn't notice this problem with Firefox 2 it only occurred after installing V3 a few weeks ago, so either V2 was missing this reporting and V3 is catching this tracker or a new v3 add-on is at fault. Apparently from what I've read this is not unique to Firefox it affects ie also.

I'm looking at other options like blocking their site etc.. and I'm sure I'll find a better option than relying their own suspect opt-out cookie. I don't like the forced intrusion. If anyone has a tried and true quick solution, please post it. When it comes to viruses / trojans etc... there is a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of ideas like "try this or try that" but most people are just trying to be helpful but haven't actually used their own suggestions. I can do my own hunt and peck but an effective known solution would be appreciated.

Thanks

[minidv2dvd]

in ff version 3 go to tools/options/privacy and uncheck the box "accept third party cookies". it works, i've never seen one.

[gll99]

in ff version 3 go to tools/options/privacy and uncheck the box "accept third party cookies". it works, i've never seen one.

What I did for now is added 2o7.net to the cookies exception list and selected block. That seems to work so far. I'm still looking to explain (before I blocked it) how with all cookies deleted, it still checks for itself and reinstalls when I open or close the browser with my home page set to Videohelp. I could understand if I was visiting their site or another one that uses their cookies but I can't believe that Videohelp uses those on the main page. I can block it but I'd really like to know the source. If it's a add-on I'll get rid of the sucker.

[minidv2dvd]

adobe

[gll99]

adobe

I use Foxit as the pdf reader on this system and the default for the "PDF Download" plugin in FF is set to use the OS default reader. I don't have an Adobe plugin installed with the browser.

There might be old traces but right now I don't believe I have any Adobe software installed.

Good call but in my case if it's not Vhelp then there must be another app doing it.

btw) I also scanned the registry and there's nothing under 2o7. I also disabled the 3rd party cookies for now but I'm certain I'll need those for some video sites and a few other businesses who track selections made while visiting. I remember blocking those in Zone Alarm before and having navigation and content issues on some sites I use.

[minidv2dvd]

there are other software packages that use 2o7 to track you. having 3rd party cookies blocked hasn't stopped me from using any website. you could put 207 in your host file. also there is dll you need to get rid of mydll.dll in the system32 folder unregister and then delete.

[gll99]

there are other software packages that use 2o7 to track you. having 3rd party cookies blocked hasn't stopped me from using any website. you could put 207 in your host file. also there is dll you need to get rid of mydll.dll in the system32 folder unregister and then delete.

I finally got around to working on some of my own computer problems. The issues I had with ZA 3rd party cookies must have been caused by something else, I just don't remember now that was a while back. You're right, blocking 3rd party cookies in FF didn't affect the video content on the sites I usually visit. I must have changed the privacy settings when I installed FF 3 and didn't catch it. Like I said, I also blocked the site's cookies directly even though I have no plans to visit that site.

Also, no trace of that dll on my 2 pc.

It still doesn't explain how these cookies could have reinstalled themselves just by visiting this site but anyway, I'm too tired to care, just happy to say problem solved.

Thanks

[lordsmurf]

HOSTS block it.
HostsMan is nice for this.

[gll99]

you could put 207 in your host file.

HOSTS block it.
HostsMan is nice for this.

Thanks for the reminder lordsmurf, I totally missed the original comment by minidv2dvd. According to the dates of the backup files, it was back in 2006 and 2005 when I edited the hosts file to block and/or speed up DNS lookups for some sites and had completely forgotten about this feature. When I checked the current hosts file, I noticed that Spybot added a lot of new blocked entries.

I'll give HostsMan a try.

[lordsmurf]

I use Hostsman, it lets me temporarily disable blocks when needed, such as doubleclick.net and some others.

I don't like the "block everything" approach from some of those list. Links from cj.com, linksynergy.com and others should not be on there. Otherwise you'll run into too many blocked URLs, especially ones using referral tags to fund their sites.

Block sites manually, for the best experience. Otherwise you screw a bunch of folks, yourself included.

[gll99]

What the Spybot list lacks is a description of why a site is being blocked. Some seem obvious ie...pron, possible fake virus scanner sites, ads and some who deliberately use similar names to legit sites just to mislead but others are not so clear. A spyware blocking company with a wide circulation could easily cause problems for a competitor by adding them to this list by hmmm "mistake". It's pretty hard for the average Joe to know which ones to delete and which ones to leave blocked. In my case, no one else uses my computers so I could remove 99% of those entries and they would probably never come up in anything I do.

[lordsmurf]

A big HOSTS file also slows down your browsing a good bit.