-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Anyone know anything bout this? Incrudimail
- From: "Don" <dsw32952@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 19:06:02 -0400
Spyware free, maybe. However that does not mean they do not track your use
of their product, including to whom you send mail, when the recipient opens
the email and even how many times the email is opened, who it is forwarded
to and when and how often they open it. And please note... the privacy
policy applies ONLY to users of Incrudimail that have agreed to the terms
before downloading. It does NOT apply to those that receive email
constructed with the product. So any information can be collected from them
and then used any way Incrudimail wants to use it without violating their
privacy policy.
They do this by using tracking beacons similar to those used by Yahoo (and
widely announced as something new by well intentioned people via chain
letters about every 6 months).
Incredimail also adds a very unwelcome amount of overhead to an email.
Depending on how much "stuff" (such as smilies, background colors/designs,
music and pictures/videos/graphics) the user packed into his email it could
add 250KB or more to a message that the poor guy on dial-up has to download.
Last, but not least.... Just because they (Incredimail) say that they do not
install any third party software on your computer, does not mean they do not
install software of their own making that can do anything that third party
software can do.
Incredimail just might be as honest, straight forward, upright and concerned
about your privacy as they proclaim to be, but in todays world, I am just
too cynical to believe it.
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Andrew Dulaney Jr." <rdulaneyjr@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 5:18 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Anyone know anything bout this? Incredimail
> UI don't know who keeps putting this information out but Incredimail has
> been checked out and approved by several
> companys to include, but not limited to Trust-e and Softpedia to be
> completely spyware free.
>
> Here is what they (Incredimail) really says about their privacy policy
>
> Privacy Summary
>
> "IncrediMail pledges to you that it will never spam you, force you to
> install 3rd party software on your system or harm your online privacy in
> any way. IncrediMail is not a spyware."
>
> IncrediMail takes your online privacy seriously and is committed to
> providing you with a safe and secure working environment. The IncrediMail
> team is certainly aware of the ever-growing unethical behavior in today's
> Internet world and is proud to not participate in any of the offensive
> business models so commonly used. IncrediMail pledges to you that it will
> never spam you, force you to install 3rd party software on your system or
> harm your online privacy in any way. IncrediMail is not a spyware.
>
> Even so, with the increasing amount of spam and spywares flooding the
> Internet it's difficult not to be skeptical. The following are the most
> common questions you are likely to ask yourself:
>
> Does IncrediMail collect any personal information?
>
> When you register with IncrediMail, you will be asked to submit certain
> information such as your country, age and gender. Only in cases where
> IncrediMail cannot identify your email account settings, you will be asked
> to type in information such as your display name, email address and
> incoming/outgoing server settings. IncrediMail does not collect personally
> identifiable or non-personally identifiable information other than what is
> indicated during the registration process.
>
> IncrediMail uses information such as IncrediMail content statistics in
> order to present users with the "Most Popular" lists in the IncrediMail
> Online Gallery. That way we can meet user preferences, and continuously
> enhance the IncrediMail product. This is the only kind of non-personally
> identifiable information used by IncrediMail.
>
> Is IncrediMail spyware?
>
> No, it is not. IncrediMail does not install any PC surveillance tools,
> capture keystrokes, log your communications, etc. Our business and revenue
> model has nothing to do with using your personal information in a harmful
> or deceitful manner. In fact, the IncrediMail team is adamantly against
> that kind of behavior and therefore, does not violate the privacy policy
> and agreement with our customers.
>
> Does IncrediMail install anything else other than IncrediMail products on
> users' computers?
>
> Absolutely not. The only software installed on any user's computer is
> IncrediMail and its supplementary program, the Letter Creator. IncrediMail
> does not install any third-party software.
>
> Will IncrediMail provide my personal information to third parties?
>
> Absolutely not. We are committed to making IncrediMail users feel safe and
> comfortable when sending/receiving email. Therefore, IncrediMail does not
> and will not provide user's personally identifiable information it has
> collected to any third party (including advertisers and direct marketers)
> without the user's permission. IncrediMail may on occasion share usage
> information for statistical purposes in aggregate anonymous
> (non-personally identifiable) form, with advertisers or other third
> parties.
>
> Will I receive spam from IncrediMail?
>
> No. When you register to IncrediMail you are asked if you would like to
> receive email updates and IncrediMail special offers. Only users that
> install IncrediMail with the indication that they would like to receive
> updates will receive the IncrediMail Newsletter and other special updates.
> In addition, each email from IncrediMail includes an "unsubscribe" option,
> thus allowing you to halt your subscription at any time. IncrediMail does
> not collect users' personal information and use it to send advertisements
> and other unsolicited mail.
>
> So, how does IncrediMail make money?
>
> IncrediMail relies on two platforms to make an income; 1) the sale of its
> software products and 2) advertisement via the Status Window in the
> application and on the Web site. To learn more about either one, click on
> the links below:
> Product offeringsAdvertisements
> TRUSTe Privacy Program
>
> IncrediMail Ltd. is a licensee of the TRUSTe Privacy Program. TRUSTe is an
> independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to enable
> individuals and organizations to establish trusting relationships based on
> respect for personal identity and information by promoting the use of fair
> information practices. This privacy statement covers the site
> www.IncrediMail.com. Because we want to demonstrate our commitment to our
> users' privacy, we have agreed to disclose our privacy practices and have
> them reviewed for compliance by TRUSTe. If users have questions or
> concerns regarding this statement, you should first click here. If you do
> not receive acknowledgment of your inquiry or it is not satisfactorily
> addressed, you should then contact TRUSTe through the TRUSTe Watchdog
> Dispute Resolution Process. TRUSTe will serve as a liaison with the Web
> site to resolve users' concerns. However, please understand the TRUSTe
> program covers only information that is collected through this Web
> site,
> and does not cover information that may be collected through software
> downloaded from the site.
>
> milady <kg6ocz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> I tried to do a look up in various places concerning legends... nothing. I
> don't use this but the person who posted this to a list is known not to
> research before posting....
> I know some people here use this so what's the ups and downs of it??
> ML
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> The information below is from Cloudeight InfoAve newsletter I received.
> This information is fact and I thought I would share with anyone that
> might
> have or might get Incredimail.
> I do not use it glad now that I find this out!!!
>
> Be careful!!!
>
>
>
>
>
> Sandra Asks About Incredimail
> I am thinking of downloading Incredimail and was wondering if you can tell
> me what you think about it? I am fairly new to computers so your advise
> would be very welcome. Keep up the good work as your information has
> helped
> me out lots of times. Thank you Sandra.
>
> Answer
> We don't believe any company making an email program has any right to
> track
> your email, including date, time, the number of times you use the email
> program, the "pictures you used" the time and date you send email, and
> then
> store this information on a server located in a foreign country. Unless
> you're familiar with the privacy and security laws of other countries
> you're
> taking the follow risks:
>
> 1. That the only data collected by Incredimail is what they say they
> collect:
> Since they openly admit they collect some information about the email you
> send, including the number of emails you send, time and date, etc. that
> means a data collection and transmission mechanism is installed.
> Theoretically, with such a link between your computer and their server
> they
> could collect any information you enter into you email program including
> the
> contents of your email message. We're not saying they will do this, we're
> saying when tracking mechanisms are installed the instrumentality for
> tracking is in place.
>
> 2. The data that is collected may be stored on servers located in the
> country in which Incredimail is based
> This means your data, while collected in the United States, Britain,
> Australia, or wherever you live is transmitted to and stored on servers
> located in Israel. Are you familiar with the privacy and security laws in
> Israel? Are they more strict or less strict than your country?
>
> Incredimail is located in Israel. If Israel is not where you live and
> you're
> not familiar with the security and privacy laws in the country where your
> information is most likely being stored, you should consider carefully
> whether you want to agree to the collection and storage of ANY information
> from you.
>
> We do not agree with some of their marketing techniques. For example, when
> you visit their main site, there is no indication that there is anything
> to
> pay for. They don't indicate that the "free" version of Incredimail is
> adware; they don't indicate that the free version of Incredimail inserts a
> rather ugly advertisement at the bottom of every email you send (but you
> don't see it, only your recipient does). They make claims on their site
> that
> are not substantiated in the "Full Privacy Policy" which contains several
> questionable clauses like the one below:
>
> "CONSENT TO PROCESSING
> Users, including without limitation, Users in the European Union, fully
> understand and unambiguously consent to the collection and processing of
> their personally identifiable and non-personally identifiable information,
> in the United States. "
>
> While this questionable clause appears in their "full privacy policy" it
> does not appear in the short "Summary Privacy Policy" and is contradictory
> to their claim that they do not collect any personally identifiable
> information. One wonders why they go to great lengths to bury this clause
> deep in their full privacy policy.
>
> See for yourself -
>
> Here's a link to their "Summary" Privacy Policy
>
> Here's a link to their "Full Privacy Policy"
>
> You will notice that the "summary" is approximately 777 words long and
> tells
> you what you want to hear. The "Full Privacy Policy" (the actual legal
> agreement you're bound to) is over twice as long. Remember you're legally
> bound to the long version and to the End User License Agreement (not
> posted
> on their Web site).
>
> We hope the information presented will help you make an informed decision
> as
> to whether or not you want to install this program. As noted above, there
> are security and privacy issues that are not fully explained, you're
> allowing a foreign company to track certain behaviors of yours, and you
> are
> trusting they will not violate their own promises.
>
>
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