Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

3 points

Where is the Safari 5.0.5 "Do Not Track" setting?

The WSJ -- as well as most of the Apple Interest sites -- have promised that there would be a "Do Not Track" setting in the new version of Safari -- namely, and specifically, 5.0.5. For what it's worth, I can't find it. It's not in the "Preferences" settings; there's no privacy tab there at all, actually; it's also not referenced in the Help menu system; and finally, there's no sign of it in the Apple Site. In fact, the only references are all from these 3rd Party groups, starting with the Wall Street Journal.

I'm guessing it may be there somewhere -- the new Firefox actually does have the setting, but it's very difficult to find. Sort of a grudging attitude, I'd say. "You can have it if you can find it, but we're sure not going to help you find it."

Google Chrome, of course, doesn't have it at all: how could they? They make all their money off selling all the information/using all the information they can, in their advertising business model.

So.....I'm guessing that Safari -- in spite of the promises -- doesn't have the "Do Not Track" option, at least not yet. If you can find it, please let me know.

Thanks.

bluequasar

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Apr 16, 2011 9:10 PM

18 replies

Apr 18, 2011 12:49 AM in response to ds store

ds store wrote:

The "Do not track" is only a REQUEST that the web site honor the visitors request that they don't use tracking software to monitor their web usage...

...

So it's pointless to argue about this "Do Not Track" if it's on or not, it's a worthless feature.

It's like asking the robber nicely not to take your wallet. The only effective solution is a user side blockers.

Thank you for your very enlightening posts, ds store. You nailed the issue with the first post and the second post is really helpful and I will be implementing a computer level block list as you have described. I am obliged to you for your informative post.

🙂

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Apr 18, 2011 4:45 AM in response to Jeff Cable

Glad to be of help, I don't like giving the megalomaniac marketers any information they will only use to abuse.

I see no blinking, flashing ads. I don't get startled by a sudden sound blasting through my stereo from adverting. When I mouse over what appears to be a link, no javascript intellitext ads popup. (hosts file blocks that)

I wouldn't mind advertising if it was simple side ads with no distractions, no animation. I do like being informed of potential products that might be worth buying and I do like supporting the web pages that I frequent.

As long as advertisers think they have a right to stick their fingers into people's faces, disrupting the purpose of visiting those sites in the first place, invading people's privacy and introducing malware (yes they do!), then they all can go to Hades far as I'm concerned.

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Apr 18, 2011 5:42 AM in response to ds store

And since I'm in a giving mood, dealing with iMac users here with dedicted powerful graphics cards, here's a neat AppleScript that will place your current screensaver as your desktop picture.

Just copy and paste the following into AppleScript Editor, save as a "application" and drag into your Dock.

You get the code because Apple Script has to compile it differently for 32/64 bit computers.

Enjoy your Mac! 🙂

display dialog "Select the desktop background type:" buttons {"Cancel", "Normal", "ScreenSaver"}

if button returned of result = "ScreenSaver" then

do shell script "System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Versions/A/Resources/ScreenSav erEngine.app/Contents/MacOS/ScreenSaverEngine -background > /dev/null 2>&1 &"

else

tell application "System Events"

if process "ScreenSaverEngine" exists then tell application "ScreenSaverEngine" to quit

end tell

end if

Where is the Safari 5.0.5 "Do Not Track" setting?