There has been a lot of press about this new feature. It's been all over web - some positive comments, some negative (and, of course, usual "it's just a Microsoft plot" type postings and articles.)

Personally, I like new privacy tab as it eliminates need for third party cookie handling products (if you are using Internet Explorer, of course). I found controls very simple and straightforward, and within a short time cookies have ceased to be a concern.

This is part first significant implementation of a new internet standard called P3P (Platform for Privacy Preferences). P3P is intended to give surfers more complete control of how their privacy is handled whenever they surf. In theory, at least, P3P should automate privacy, eliminating need for surfers to read complex privacy notices every time they visit a site and want to enter some information.

The controls actually control much more than you might think. There is quite a bit of technology behind those simple radio buttons. You see, webmasters are being asked to supply a special XML document which defines how their site handles cookies and other privacy matters. Browsers which understand P3P (Internet Explorer for one) read this document and compare it to settings you entered on "privacy" tab. This allows browser to automatically handle your privacy needs for sites which fulfill your privacy needs.

This became an issue because, quite frankly, many companies (both on and off web) horribly abuse privacy of their customers. It's very common for a company to record your name and other personal data, then resell it dozens or even hundreds of times. Information is very valuable, and information which is gathered from internet is even more so.

http://www.internet-tips.net/Email/SPAM.htm

Email harvesters - Since we manage several dozen websites, my wife and I have had to take extreme precautions to ensure that our email addresses do not get picked up by email harvesters. These are software robots that scan websites for email addresses, which are then added to those "bizillion contacts" CD collections. Putting your email address on your web site used to be normal, now it's become suicidal.

Pop-up Windows - These include pop-ups and all of clever derivations like pop-unders. In years past, a pop-up was sign of a free site (such as Tripod or GeoCities) or some tacky spammy site. Now everyone seems to be doing it. I'll put up with one pop-up once and only once from a site. But if they want me to return or purchase something, they had better not put up another.

Anti-Microsoft ranting - I know that Microsoft has it's faults (more than their share of them) and I know company often is it's own worst enemy, but is it possible to write about company (positive or negative) without producing a slew of rantings? It used to be entertaining, now it's just more of same.

Web Bugs - These are little 1x1 pixel graphics designed to help marketing companies track performance of their advertising campaigns. More insidiously, web bugs can be used to track people's movement throughout web. Life would be better without them, especially in HTML email messages.

Advertising for that "tiny little wireless camera that goes anywhere" - This has to be one of most annoying advertisements on web. Can't we just ban it forever?

Webmasters that are more worried about getting listed by search engines than creating quality sites - I understand that search engines are necessary for survival of a web site. But adding countless link farms, keywords and other things is getting ridiculous. Removing content or links or webrings just to get listed is even worse. I believe we webmasters should just create good sites.

Sites that try to prevent deep linking - The web is all about linking. While it is indeed bandwidth theft to link to an object such as an image, movie or audio clip, linking to any HTML (or ASP, PHP or similar) page is not only fine but must be encouraged. You will hear similar arguments against fair use. As you no doubt already know, fair use laws (part of copyright) allow you to quote or make minor usage of copy written works without permission or notification. The uninformed will often argue that any copying is bad - however, fair use is not only good but essential in a free world (how else could you write a movie review, for example, or a term paper).