Resumen
The article focuses on the privacy practices of web browser extensions. Do today's commercial free-of-charge software downloads show appropriate respect for the privacy of the computer user? One believes the answer to this question is no. The research group at the University of Denver Privacy Center addressed the question by investigating Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser extensions. These downloadable pieces of software improve IE by giving it the ability to automatically fill out Web forms, perform price comparisons while shopping online and liven up the interface with thematic images and sounds. A recent summary of browser extension products is available in. Browser extensions are usually free of charge-in exchange for clickstream and profile information about the user and access to the user's display for advertising. The spectrum of information practices among products is broad. While some require hill user address information and formal registration, others only request a zip code or age range at download time. Some products create a complete record of every Web site the user visits, while other products avoid performing any actions that could leave an audit trail hinting at the user's Internet activities and personal interests. INSET: Recommendations to Software Designers and Entrepreneurs.