Automatic tracking cookie detection

1. A computer implemented method comprising steps of:

using a computer processor configured to execute the method steps for detecting tracking cookies, the steps comprising:

receiving a first third-party cookie in response to a first request for a third-party object within a primary web page;

receiving a second third-party cookie in response to a second request for the third-party object, wherein the first request and the second request are transmitted from a single entity, the first request and the second request configured to appear to a server hosting the third party object as requests from different entities;

examining the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie;

determining whether the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include a user identifier;

responsive to determining that the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include at least one user identifier, comparing the user identifiers to determine if they are different from each other; and

responsive to the user identifiers being different, determining that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user identifiers in the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie are user addresses.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies further comprises:

determining that the first or the second third-party cookie is associated with a third party object embedded within a plurality of primary domains.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to determining that the first and the second third-party cookies do not each include at least one user identifier, determining that the first or the second third-party cookie is not a tracking cookie.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to determining that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies, adding the first or the second third-party cookie to a list of known tracking cookies.

6. A computer-readable storage medium storing an executable computer program product for detecting tracking cookies, the computer program product comprising:

program code for receiving a first third-party cookie in response to a first request for a third party object within a primary web page;

program code for receiving a second third-party cookie in response to a second request for the third party object, wherein the first request and the second request are transmitted from a single entity, the first request and the second request configured to appear to a server hosting the third party object as requests from different entities;

program code for examining the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie;

program code for determining whether the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include a user identifier;

program code for comparing the user identifiers to determine if they are different from each other responsive to determining that the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include at least one user identifier; and

program code for determining that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies responsive to the user identifiers being different.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising:

program code for identifying a time stamp within each of the first and the second third-party cookies; and

program code for ignoring the time stamp when determining whether the first and the second third-party cookies each include at least one user identifier.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 wherein the user identifiers in the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie are user addresses.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 wherein the program code for determining that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies further comprises:

program code for determining that the first or the second third-party cookie is associated with a third party object embedded within a plurality of primary domains.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising:

program code for determining that the first or the second third-party cookie is not a tracking cookie, responsive to determining that the first and the second third-party cookies do not each include at least one user identifier.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising:

program code for adding the first or the second third-party cookie to a list of known tracking cookies, responsive to determining that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies.

12. A computer system for accurately detecting tracking cookies, the computer system comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium storing executable software portions comprising:

a software portion configured to receive a first third-party cookie in response to a first request for a third-party object within a primary web page;

a software portion configured to receive a second third-party cookie in response to a second request for the third-party object, wherein the first request and the second request are transmitted from a single entity, the first request and the second request configured to appear to a server hosting the third party object as requests from different entities;

a software portion configured to examine the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie;

a software portion configured to determine whether the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include a user identifier;

a software portion configured to compare the user identifiers to determine if they are different from each other responsive to determining that the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include at least one user identifier;

a software portion configured to determine that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies responsive to the user identifiers being different; and

a processor configured to execute the software portions stored by the computer-readable storage medium.

13. The computer system of claim 12 further comprising:

a software portion configured to identify a time stamp within each of the first and the second third-party cookies; and

a software portion configured to ignore the time stamp when determining whether the first and the second third-party cookies each include at least one user identifier.

14. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the user identifiers in the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie are user addresses.

15. The computer system of claim 12 further comprising:

a software portion configured to determine that the first or the second third-party cookie is not a tracking cookie, responsive to determining that the first and the second third-party cookies do not each include at least one user identifier.

16. A computer system for accurately detecting tracking cookies, the computer system comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium storing executable software means comprising:

reception means for receiving a first third-party cookie in response to a first request for a third-party object within a primary web page, and receiving a second third-party cookie in response to a second request for the third-party object, wherein the first request and the second request are transmitted from a single entity, the first request and the second request configured to appear to a server hosting the third party object as requests from different entities;

examination means for examining the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie;

determination means for determining whether the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include a user identifier, and for determining whether or not the first third-party cookie or the second third-party cookie is a tracking cookie;

comparison means for comparing the user identifiers to determine if they are different from each other responsive to determining that the first third-party cookie and the second third-party cookie each include at least one user identifier;

second determination means for determining that the first and the second third-party cookies are tracking cookies responsive to the user identifiers being different; and

a processor configured to execute the software means stored by the computer-readable storage medium.