Your Responsibities - The Red Pill Version

We will not repeat the basics about antivirus/anti-malware suites and browser setup here. You can visit the normal Your Responsibilities page for that. Here we want to address the newest tool available for the user in their fight against online tracking and data gathering - Tracking Protection Lists.

Credit goes to alternate browser manufacturers who led the way in creating ways for users to block tracking. Microsoft offered their version of tracking protection beginning with version 9 of Internet Explorer. We are currently running IE10, so our description will be based on that browser.

Tracking Protection relies on a list of known websites and programs which have been associated with data gathering and tracking firms/activities. After you set up Tracking Protection, all requests from the listed websites and calls from listed programs will go unanswered. You will, effectively, disappear from their radar screens. Sound good? Let's set it up.

(1) In the upper right corner of your browser window you will see a gear symbol (the "Tools" menu). Click on that then scroll down the menu until you see "Safety" - click that. The third selection from the top of the sub-menu is "Tracking Protection..." - click that. A new window will open up which is titled "View and manage your Internet Explorer add-ons". The list below left is titled "Add-on Types" and includes the selection "Tracking Protection" - click that. The panel at right will say "Your Personalized List" and "Disabled".

(2)We need to obtain at least one list for your browser to use, so look down the window until you see "Get a Tracking Protection List online..." - click that. Microsoft hosts examples of lists for your convenience. A new window called "Internet Explorer Gallery" will open. You will be presented with some background information about these lists and offered several selections. Look for "Abine Standard". Click the "Add" button next to it. Scroll down until you see "EasyPrivacy". Click the "Add" button next to it. Now close this window.

(3)You are back at the "View and manage your Internet Expolrer add-ons" window. Right click on the word "Disabled" next to "Your Personalized List" and select "Enable". Now go to the bottom right of this window and click the "Close" button. You can close your current IE session and start a new one to be certain that IE is now filtering out the objectionable requests. You should also know that the selected lists will be automatically/periodically updated as new threats are identified.

Why did you not hear about this feature earlier? You can imagine that the companies who gathered data and peddled advertising were not too thrilled by being shut out by their former facilitator...so the feature was shipped "turned off" as a way of placating them. Now you know. Score one for the little guy.


In Summary
  1. Our Mall divides up the world of retail e-commerce into understandable categories (as reinforce bny our Mall map). Each category has been researched and reviewed to find a list of the major merchants, manufacturers and/or retailer in that category or a list of places we hope you also will find interesting. There is no shortage of places to see and more are added with every update.
  2. We eliminate tracking methods from the .urls we keep so you can visit each destination via a clean link.
  3. Our website shows you in advance all the places we have been and what you can expect in our published product.
  4. We do not associate with merchants or advertisers so our selections are unbiased (aside from our collective tastes). We do not sell placement or any other type of advertising.
  5. We do not track you in any way. Feel free to right click on any of our web pages and select "View Source" to see our coding.
  6. Our published PDF creates a vault where our “clean” links cannot be corrupted.
  7. The downloaded PDF can reside on your computer, tablet or in the cloud for access by your choice of digital device. If your device can read a PDF and can also access the internet, it can work with our Mall. The size of the PDF makes sharing easy...although we ask that you support us by purchasing a copy.
  8. We educate you in ways to minimize your exposure to snooping marketers and data harvesters.
  9. We offer you tools which can assist you in cleaning up your own hard drive.

In the end we feel we have accomplished our original goal - a fun, safe Mall - while avoiding the objectionable. We hope you enjoy your time here.

You feel the red pill wearing off. Back to the Mall Offices.