The Whitehouse Web site is bugged

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>
Date: December 27, 2005 11:43:49 AM EST
To: EPIC_IDOF () mailman epic org
Subject: [EPIC_IDOF] The Whitehouse Web site is bugged

Hi,

The Whitehouse.gov Web site is bugged!  Apparently the Webmaster for the
site has hired Webtrends to track visitors around the site using Web  
bugs
and permanent cookies.  Here's the Web bug that I found on the home  
page of
the Whitehouse.gov Web site:

<SCRIPT src="/js/stat.js" language="javascript"
TYPE="text/javascript"></SCRIPT>
<NOSCRIPT>
<IMG ALT="" BORDER="0" NAME="DCSIMG" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1"
SRC="http://statse.webtrendslive.com/DCSArO55rNH8I36lrbe6wexE5_5B8I/ 
njs.gif?
dcsuri=/nojavascript&amp;WT.js=No">
</NOSCRIPT>

Similar Web bugs can be found on other Web pages at the Whitehouse  
Web site.

Before 9/11, the Clinton administration said this kind of Web  
tracking is a
no-no for U.S. government Web sites:

   http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/m00-13.html

   Because of the unique laws and traditions about
   government access to citizens' personal information,
   the presumption should be that "cookies" will not be
   used at Federal web sites. Under this new Federal policy,
   "cookies" should not be used at Federal web sites, or
   by contractors when operating web sites on behalf of
   agencies, unless, in addition to clear and conspicuous
   notice, the following conditions are met: a compelling
   need to gather the data on the site;

Richard M. Smith
http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com
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