WoT sells your browser history

[Geert]

Maybe it's time to no longer promote Web of Trust here at Gizmo's:
http://www.ghacks.net/2016/11/01/browsing-history-sold/

[MidnightCowboy]

This applies to multiple extensions (according to the media report) and not just WOT. Gizmo's Freeware remains confident that the WOT add-on is a valuable tool in the fight against online malware and malicious websites. As with any add-on or program however, users are free to use it or not.

Personally I have no issues with whoever might have knowledge of my browsing history because I have nothing illegal to hide from and never respond to advertising, most of which I block anyway.

[Geert]

This applies to multiple extensions (according to the media report) and not just WOT

I know. But it makes me doubting about the 'T' in WoT.
Moreover, since their core business is judging whether others can be trusted or not.

... users are free to use it or not.

Of course.

Personally I have no issues with whoever might have knowledge of my browsing history because I have nothing illegal to hide from

Arguing that you don't care about privacy because you have nothing to hide, is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say. (E. Snowden)

[Geert]

Btw, do you know that every (trying to) post on this forum leads to a database error?
Although the post is saved well.

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by Geert

Btw, do you know that every (trying to) post on this forum leads to a database error?
Although the post is saved well.

Thanks and yes, this has already been flagged to the techs. Please bear with us while we look into the cause and get it fixed.

[MaikL]

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

As with any add-on or program however, users are free to use it or not.

That's the case whether it's recommended here or not. I tend to agree with Geert. Web of Distrust might be a better name.

[deya]

The WOT extension/add-on has now been pulled from Firefox, Chrome and Opera. Looks like a bit of a disaster for WOT at the moment. I'm still using it. No point uninstalling it, if what's being reported is true they've already got what they wanted anyway.

Shame if it is true ... and have to agree with Geert, the 'T' in Web of Trust does seem a bit laughable right now.

[Remah]

The bigger security issue for me is that WOT has built into it the ability to run any javascript script including remote scripts:
https://gist.github.com/Rob--W/bda5f...0c6665bbed2e1b
Originally reported at Mozilla https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1314332

They could do almost anything in my web browser.

Now people will see it as a good time to join the band wagon and dump WOT. I've got no plans to do so because I expect that they will very quickly modify their dubious behaviours.

[Geert]

I expect that they will very quickly modify their dubious behaviours

Do you hope it? Or do you really expect it?

Anyway, if they have to tell me whether I can trust other web sites or not...

[deya]

I'm not planning on removing WOT either. Wait and see what they say in the coming days. They have issued a statement on their forum, a few days ago;

https://www.mywot.com/en/forum/70476...pdate-from-wot

... whether that's enough for now I'm not sure. I think a more detailed explanation is required from them. It's something they need to do.

In the meantime I'll carry on using WOT because I still believe, even though there are instances of it being abused, that the ratings do help steer you clear of many dodgy sites. I'm hoping that there's a good explanation for what's being reported though, because it would be a shame to not be able to use it in the future.

I think if we're all honest about it, we know that whatever we do to protect our privacy it's almost impossible to stop some of these organisations from getting their hands on our browsing history/data via extensions, operating systems, apps etc.

It's the way of the world today, unfortunately.