Non-Human Life Forms to be Outed on Internet Soon

Start-Up Links 65 Million IP Addresses To Users, Readies Targeting Platform

By Wendy Davis, Thursday, February 25, 2010
Web users who don't want to be tracked via standard HTML cookies can opt out in various ways, including rejecting cookies at the browser level or regularly deleting cookies. Users who don't want to be tracked via Flash cookies also can delete those cookies -- though doing so isn't as easy as deleting HTML cookies.

But even the most tech-savvy users might be stymied by some of the newer, harder-to-control tracking technologies. Two years ago, NebuAd began purchasing data directly from people's broadband providers. While the company said users could opt out of its online behavioral advertising program, it's since come to light that some ISPs that tested the system never gave subscribers that opportunity.

Now, the company ClearSight Interactive is getting ready to launch a form of targeting based on users' IP addresses. ClearSight, which describes IP addresses as the bridge between users' offline and online data, has spent the last 18 months acquiring more than 100 million IP addresses -- along with email addresses and postal addresses -- from publishers. As of today, ClearSight Interactive believes it has collected enough data from publishers to reliably link 65 million "sticky" IP addresses -- typically for people who connect to the Web using cable modems -- to specific individuals, ClearSight president Tim Daly told MediaPost today during a break at the OMMA Behavioral conference.

The publishers collect a host of data from customers -- including their IP addresses -- when they register, says ClearSight . Generally, publishers ask customers if they are willing to share information about themselves with third-party marketers. If they check the box indicating yes, the publishers pass along their names, email addresses and other information -- including the IP address logged at the time. While some of those IP addresses are from work addresses, libraries, etc., others are from users' homes.

ClearSight Interactive, which hopes to launch in the next four to six weeks, intends to serve ads to visitors whom they can identify based on their IP addresses. The company's model involves working with ad networks -- who would get the IP addresses dynamically from publishers, and then serve ads to specific addresses.

For now, the plan is to target those users only by their neighborhoods (ZIP-codes plus-four) but not to append other data about individual users to the IP addresses. Not yet, anyway. CEO Tom Alison says the company will first wait to see what happens in Congress, where Rep. Rick Boucher (D. Va.) has vowed to introduce privacy legislation.

Alison also makes the debatable claim that users have opted in by agreeing to let publishers share data with third parties. But this position seems to distort the meaning of opt-in, considering that users almost certainly believe they're signing up to receive emails from third parties when they give publishers permission to share data. Surely it hasn't crossed many Web users' minds that a publisher would share its IP logs with a third-party targeting company.

Alison also says that people who have previously opted in also can opt out at the publishers' sites. Again, however, if users don't realize that someone has passed along their IP address for targeting purposes, it won't occur to them to opt out.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau has devoted enormous resources to lobbying against regulation of online ad targeting. The IAB, and other ad groups, argue that the industry can on its own ensure that companies notify users about ad targeting and allow them to opt out.

But when companies continue to push the envelop on targeting -- or on fundamental matters like the meaning of opt-in -- calls for new regulations will only grow stronger.

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First-of-its-Kind Behavioral Targeting Suite Launched by ClearSight Interactive

ClearSight Interactive, one of the most robust and sophisticated behavioral targeting services offered, announced the launch of operations today. ClearSight Interactive's proprietary technology allows advertisers to improve their ability to reach target customers by evaluating their online behavior and connecting it with offline profile data, conversions and sales. With a first-of-its-kind approach, ClearSight Interactive bridges IP addresses to verified postal addresses and email addresses, to provide a solution that couples both offline and online mediums in a way that has never been done before. ClearSight Interactive's solutions help identify consumers more successfully online, evaluate which ads are being delivered effectively, optimize ad delivery to focus on the most relevant audience, and canvass consumers across multiple marketing mediums.

Foster City, CA February 26, 2009 -- ClearSight Interactive, one of the most robust and sophisticated behavioral targeting services offered, announced the launch of operations today. Founded by industry veterans Albert Gadbut and Tim Daly, ClearSight Interactive allows advertisers and publishers to more effectively target the consumer by monitoring and evaluating both online and offline demographic, psychographic and consumption behavior for the first time at this level. With a database of over 165 million permission-based online users -identified with state-of-the-art data verification and predictive data modeling strategies - ClearSight Interactive boasts one of the largest collections of online user data, making it possible to generate the most highly-targeted online ad campaigns.

The proprietary system opens new possibilities to businesses that want to save valuable marketing dollars while enhancing the effectiveness of their online and offline marketing campaigns. ClearSight Interactive's proprietary technology allows advertisers to improve their ability to reach target customers by evaluating their online behavior and connecting it with offline profile data, conversions and sales. After a consumer views or clicks an ad, the company can then monitor the users future behavior using contact information databases to determine if they later made a purchase - e.g. did someone who viewed a car ad actually visit the dealership and purchase a vehicle? By accessing this contact information database of interested parties, businesses are also able to target their current and potential consumers via multiple channels beyond banner ads such as email and direct mail to create focused, yet comprehensive marketing plans.

"We are proud to offer advertisers and publishers a lasting solution to the problems that have plagued them since the inception of the web," said ClearSight Interactive President and co-founder, Tim Daly. "These solutions will help foster innovation and increase opportunities previously unavailable to online advertisers, publishers and media buyers throughout the industry. At a time when the economy is struggling and with marketing budgets being slashed, it is a necessity for businesses to streamline their marketing dollars to ensure they are reaching their desired audience in the most effective and cost-efficient manner, rather than using a blanket, non-specific approach," he added.

With ClearSight Interactive's tools, businesses can now better track the effectiveness of a particular banner ad at reaching its target audience and driving sales for the company. As a result, campaigns that do not meet marketing objectives will be optimized in real-time or possibly eliminated and replaced by more effective media strategies that work.

With a first-of-its-kind approach, ClearSight Interactive bridges IP addresses to verified postal addresses and email addresses, to provide a solution that couples both offline and online marketing mediums in a way that has never been done before. ClearSight Interactive packages their proprietary technology and consumer insights into a suite of four products:

ClearTarget
ClearTarget offers the most complete data collection of online users and the most powerful predictive data elements for ad serving available. By limiting wasteful ad serving and improving user identification to better serve ads based on user behaviors and profile data, ClearTarget offers a new way for advertisers and publishers to run effective ad campaigns. ClearTarget is able to identify users within milliseconds to serve the most relevant ad to a user at the most appropriate time.

ClearAnalytics
Leveraging a database of over 100 million identified online users, ClearAnalytics provides insight into the demographic, psychographic and consumption traits of users. This reporting system evaluates the advertisers' target audience and how effectively their media buy is reaching them. Additionally, ClearAnalytics offers the capability to matchback offline sales to online banner impressions, providing valuable information regarding the true branding value of banner advertisements and allowing marketers to ensure their budgets are used effectively.

ClearTrigger
ClearTrigger offers advertisers an opportunity to engage and interact with prospective customers via email. With over 165 million permission-based CAN-SPAM compliant email addresses integrated into ClearSight Interactive's database, ClearTrigger allows for multiple communication touchpoints both through banners ads as well as email. ClearTrigger allows advertisers to re-engage the online user through email and speak with these users on a one-to-one basis about their product or service offering.

ClearMail
Web marketers are challenged by trying to reach a mostly anonymous audience. ClearMail allows advertisers to identify online users and match back their behavioral activities to a known postal address, therefore bridging both the offline and online mediums and allowing advertisers to communicate with their target market through multiple marketing channels.

ClearSight Interactive's solutions help identify consumers more successfully online, evaluate which ads are being delivered effectively, optimize ad delivery to focus on the most relevant audience, and canvass consumers across multiple marketing mediums. "The goal with ClearSight Interactive's suite of solutions is to eliminate errors committed in the advertising process, to not only make it more efficient, but also more productive and profitable in order to help business grow, particularly during such tough economic conditions. We want to stop advertising dollars from being wasted on non-target markets and improve ROI beyond expectations for advertisers and publishers alike," said Al Gadbut, ClearSight Interactive co-founder and Chairman.

ClearSight Interactive is currently in its Alpha stage of development and has already attracted an impressive roster of inaugural clients and development partners. To learn more about ClearSight Interactive and how their ground-breaking solutions can empower advertisers and publishers, visit www.ClearSightInteractive.com.

About Clear Sight Interactive
ClearSight Interactive provides a comprehensive range of behavioral targeting solutions for both advertisers and publishers. Taking the step forward as a pioneer in this industry, ClearSight Interactive bridges the divide between offline and online consumer marketplaces while identifying the largest volume of online users in the industry. Our proprietary technologies have intelligently identified over 100 million permission-based online users and have captured billions of behaviors concerning these individuals, from both online and offline sources. ClearSight Interactive is privately held, with headquarters in Foster City, CA and offices in New York and Philadelphia, PA.

Contact Information
Tim Daly
ClearSight Interactive
http://www.ClearSightInteractive.com
(215) 543-3492

Al
ClearSight Interactive
http://www.ClearSightInteractive.com

 

Toyota Sells More Cars After Accelerator Recall

Florida Toyota Dealer Sells More Cars the Week After Accelerator-Related Recall

North Palm Beach, FL, February 01, 2010 -- Toyota dealer Earl Stewart Toyota of North Palm Beach (FL) reports that his dealerships sold more cars this Friday, Jan. 29, than on Friday, Jan. 22 before the Toyota accelerator pedal recall was announced. The dealership sold 15 cars on Friday. "That's actually three more cars than we sold one week ago Friday," Earl Stewart said. "We've only had one bad day since the recall hit last Monday night. That was on Tuesday when we sold only six cars. But on Wednesday we sold 11 cars, on Thursday we sold 12 cars and on Friday we sold 15, better than what we normally sell on a Friday."

Stewart said the continuing good business at his dealership, which is one of the top 12 dealerships in the nation and enjoys the highest customer satisfaction rating in the entire country, is "because human beings naturally gravitate toward those companies and institutions they find they can trust during a crisis."

Earl Stewart Toyota, upon learning of the recall, immediately decided to provided free loaner cars to its customers who were experiencing trouble with the accelerator involved in the recall. Further, the dealership released to the public, through the media, a photo of the accelerator in question so that Toyota owners could easily determine for themselves if their accelerator was involved in the recall -- saving their customers from unneeded worry and from taking time off from work or leisure to bring the car to the dealer unnecessarily. The dealership also invited customers with the recalled accelerator to bring their cars into the dealership for a free inspection to determine if there was any need for concern related to their specific vehicle.

"Earl Stewart Toyota has earned the reputation of a car dealership that can be trusted and that's why we are actually thriving during this recall," Stewart said.

To interview Earl Stewart, contact Margie Yansura, Wordsmith Communications, at 561-313-5028 or call Earl Stewart directly on his cellphone at 561-358-1474

Contact Information
wordsmith communications
Margie Yansura
561-313-5028
mywordsmith@bellsouth.net

Anyone who would like to report information related to the Toyota Recall is urged to become a Toyota Whistleblower and share their story with authorities.
 

Google Keeps Privacy Snafu Quiet

Google Keeps Privacy Snafu Too Quiet For Too Long 

 By Wendy Davis, Tuesday, January 26, 2010
One of the most vexing issues concerning online privacy is that consumers often have no way of knowing whether companies are honoring their promises. Web users can opt out of being tracked, or even delete their cookies, but in many cases they then simply trust that their choices are being respected. The problem is, that doesn't always happen. Sometimes companies deliberately disregard users' privacy (as when AOL released search queries of 650,000 users), and sometimes privacy snafus occur by accident (as when an AT&T glitch allowed Facebook users to log into other people's accounts from mobile phones). Either way, it's a concern.

Now Ben Edelman, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School, points to yet another privacy problem, this time with Google. Edelman found that a recent version of Google's toolbar was sending information about users' Web activity back to Google even when users thought they had disabled the toolbar.

Google said the inadvertent tracking was the result of a bug, and that it had taken care of the problem this morning. While the fix came out the same day as Edelman's report, Google had been working on it for a while.

Google also said in a statement that the glitch affected only a small number of users. "Specifically it affects those using Google Toolbar versions 6.3.911.1819 through 6.4.1311.42 in Internet Explorer, with enhanced features enabled, who chose to disable Toolbar without uninstalling it. Once the user restarts the browser, the issue is no longer present." the company said in a statement. It also released a new fix at www.google.com/toolbar.

Edelman certainly isn't a disinterested observer. He is co-counsel in a lawsuit against Google and consults with companies that compete with the search giant. But that doesn't make his report any less troubling. In fact, it raises real questions about how seriously Google takes its privacy commitments.

Yes, coding errors can happen to any company. But that doesn't explain why Google didn't alert users to the toolbar problem -- and tell people that if they enabled enhanced features (like SideWiki and PageRank) and didn't want to be tracked, they should restart their browsers rather than disable the toolbar -- as soon as Google learned of the bug.

If Web companies want to persuade consumers -- and Congress -- that no new privacy regulations are needed, the least those companies can do is inform users of potential privacy issues as soon as possible.

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Ohio Scientists Determine Asbestos Causes Cancer

LegalView Reports Development of a Breakthrough Study Explaining How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma Cancer

LegalView recently reported of a study by scientists at Ohio State University who are attempting to determine the molecular details of how asbestos fibers bind to human cancer cells. The scientists hope that with the study, they will eventually be able to produce more adequate mesothelioma treatments.

Denver, CO, January 01 -- LegalView.com, the most comprehensive legal resource available on the Internet, recently informed its mesothelioma information blog readers of the development of a breakthrough study by Ohio State University researchers as to how asbestos fibers bind to human cells to cause the deadly condition known as mesothelioma. The scientists will be using a method known as atomic force microscopy "to observe how a single asbestos fiber binds with a specific receptor protein on cell surfaces," according to a Dec. 22 Science Daily news article. Although the study is years away from being complete, scientists hope that one day they may be able to offer a better understanding of the development of the condition, which will result in a more comprehensive knowledge of the disease and more adequate treatments.

Mesothelioma cancer is a condition that occurs in individuals who have inhaled asbestos fibers and/or dust. The condition causes cancerous cells to form on the internal lining of the lungs and, after 10 to 30 years, signs and symptoms of the condition begin to develop. Because mesothelioma cancer remains largely in a dormant state for the duration of its life in a victim, by the time its symptoms develop it is often untreatable.

Individuals who suffer from the deadly cancer should consider speaking with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer as to the details surrounding a potential mesothelioma lawsuit. Such a meeting could benefit anyone suffering from mesothelioma symptoms by resulting in monetary compensation, which may assist a victim in receiving expensive and potentially life-saving treatments.

LegalView also offers an array of other legal topics available through its LegalView library. For example, the site has made available the latest information on brain injury treatments as well as information on controversial prescription drugs such as Chantix and Singulair, which have both been linked to suicidal thoughts and tendencies among patients, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports.

LegalView recently updated its TBI information portal with a new therapy known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which is often used among divers when bends occur. However, new research is finding that HBOT may offer success among brain injured victims by administering the therapy among U.S. soldiers as a brain injury treatment. To learn more of the treatment, visit the LegalView brain injury information portal at http://brain-injury.legalview.com/.

Both Chantix and Singulair have been linked to an increase of behavioral and mood disorders as well as depression, increased suicidal tendencies, thoughts and actions; although both drugs treat very different conditions. Chantix is a smoking cessation drug that has been prescribed to nearly 4 million U.S. citizens whereas Singulair is used to treat allergies and asthma among Americans. If a victim suffers from either the Chantix risks or the Singulair side effects, they are encouraged to locate an experienced pharmaceutical attorney for assistance on developing a potential class action lawsuit.

About LegalView

LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Contact Information
LegalView
Katie Kelley
720-226-6613
press-releases@legalview.com
http://mesothelioma.legalview.com

Personal Property Insurance Coverage Expands

Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Launches New Website to Expand Personal Property Coverage

Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Co., a leading personal property insurance company, recently launched a new website, expanding personal property coverage to a wider range of agents & policyholders.

Baltimore, MD, January 02, 2010 -- Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a leading personal property insurance company providing fire and smoke insurance, tornado insurance, hurricane insurance and more, has recently launched its new website, http://www.imfco.net.

The launch of the new website marks two important milestones for Independent Mutual. Not only does it allow Independent Mutual to experience more accelerated growth on a national level, but the new website also gives Independent Mutual the ability to offer its products and services to both captive and independent agents.

"Our top priorities at Independent Mutual have always been flexibility and fairness towards policyholders and agents alike," reports Scott Sauls, Vice President of Field Support at Independent Mutual. "The website will allow us to offer our personal property insurance products and services to a wider audience. In doing so, we will continue to focus on providing superior levels of customer service to both policy holders and agents."

According to Sauls, the new website offers innovative features that will enable Independent Mutual to offer an unprecedented level of customer service. "Both agents and policyholders can log into customized portals and receive 24/7 access to view the status of their claims reports and adjustments," he says. "We employ real-time claims adjustment technology and provide agents with the ability to instantly quote and issue policies right from their desktop through our AgenTreeT system."

"The new website offers an exciting opportunity for Independent Mutual to provide agents and policyholders with greater fairness and accuracy through the use of technology," Sauls says. For more information about Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company, please visit http://www.imfco.net or call 800-248-7072.

About Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Established in 1948 and headquartered in Cook County, Illinois, Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company has been a leader in personal property insurance for over sixty years. Independent Mutual's Executive Office is located in Baltimore, Maryland and offers flexible, comprehensive personal property coverage throughout the United States.

Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Co. is rated as A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Known for its modest underwriting leverage, irrefutable market expertise, solid investment earnings and long-standing presence in the home service fire and burglary market sector, Independent Mutual provides personal property insurance to policyholders regardless of income or credit history. For more information about the personal property coverage offered by Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company, please visit http://www.imfco.net or call 800-248-7072.

Contact Information
Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Scott Sauls
800-248-7072
imfconet@gmail.com
www.imfco.net

 

Updated W2 form - IRS Phishing Scam

I almost fell for this new phishing scam, but the 3rd email used an email address the government would not know about.

 

Never trust any email attachments you get.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Internal Revenue Service [mailto:up2date@irs.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 9:44 AM
To:  Business Owner

Subject: Updated W2 form

Dear ,

 

Important changes within the IRS Employers W-2 forms.
Attached is a updated version of the W-2 form that needs to be completed by all US based employers.
Please update your records and make sure the W-2 form will updated before December 1 2009.
Whether you rely on a tax professional or handle your own taxes,
the IRS offers you convenient programs to make filing and payment easier.
Spend less time and worry on taxes and more time running your business.
Use e-file and the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) to your benefit.
 • For e-file, visit www.irs.gov for additional information.
 • For EFTPS, visit www.eftps.gov or call EFTPS Customer Service at 1-800-555-4477.

US attacks increase

We just got the following email message:
============================================
You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account.
Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets.

You need to visit the official FDIC website and perform the following steps to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage:

        . Visit FDIC website: http://www.fdic.gov.pouikis.eu/
        . Download and open your personal FDIC Insurance File to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
============================================

It's clear to me that the constant attacks of scams and phishing are increasing. I consider this an attack on our country and it could result in undermining our economy and way of life if something is not done soon. While I rarely fall for such things, I know there are many out there that have and will as time goes on. I'm not sure exactly how to fight such crime, but what we are doing now is clearly not working.

One option is for uses to opt-in to non-US email blocking, which would prevent much of this stuff from ever reaching us. Another option is for ISPs to append footer information to all emails that allow quick and easy reporting of junk and scams. More and more of this SPAM and phishing is generated on, or relayed by, servers and user's computers right here in our own country. Something serious need to be done!

(hris