So I looked into it... then I unblocked it.
For those that don't know, I always surf with all cookie warnings turned on - mainly because I object to many - but not all - third party cookies on principle. Sure... show me advertising if you must - but I choose not to reveal my browsing habits to you.
So, what is s.ytimg.com?
$ whois ytimg.com Registrant: Google Inc. (DOM-1723647) 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View CA 94043 US Domain Name: ytimg.com Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com Registrar Homepage: http://www.markmonitor.com Administrative Contact: DNS Admin (NIC-14290822) Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View CA 94043 US dns-admin@google.com +1.6506234000 Fax- +1.6506188571 Technical Contact, Zone Contact: DNS Admin (NIC-14290820) Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View CA 94043 US dns-admin@google.com +1.6506234000 Fax- +1.6506188571 Created on..............: 2007-Dec-11. Expires on..............: 2008-Dec-11. Record last updated on..: 2007-Dec-11 14:40:32. Domain servers in listed order: DNS1.SJL.YOUTUBE.COM DNS2.SJL.YOUTUBE.COM
Oh! It's a you tube domain!
$ nslookup s.ytimg.com Non-authoritative answer: s.ytimg.com canonical name = static.cache.l.google.com. Name: static.cache.l.google.com Address: 74.125.4.21
Yep, it really is, it's even got a canonical name in Google. Hmm... the name implies a cache, and the ‘yt' in ‘ytimg.com' is probably for You Tube, and if so the ‘img' probably stands for image.
A You Tube image cache? So it would seem.
A quick google URL search turns up lots of image tags that include it, I also found a couple of discussions:
Given that these references within the ytimg domain are probably being generated on the fly, I suspect that the code behind them is probably doing something with the cookies (including the obvious tracking).
So I have decided to unblock the whole ytimg.com domain, although in my case I have set the domain to "Allow for Session" in Firefox.
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Comments
flash cookies
You Deleted Your Cookies? Think Again...
*Flash cookies are relatively unknown to web users, and they are not controlled through the cookie privacy controls in a browser. That means even if a user thinks they have cleared their computer of tracking objects, they most likely have not. Several services even use the surreptitious data storage to reinstate traditional cookies that a user deleted, which is called ‘re-spawning’ in homage to video games where zombies come back to life even after being “killed,” the report found. So even if a user gets rid of a website’s tracking cookie, that cookie’s unique ID will be assigned back to a new cookie again using the Flash data as the “backup.”
Zombies Ate Your Cookies
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/you-deleted-your-cookies-think-ag...
How to Remove Malware Made in Flash
For Windows:
* Better Privacy extension for Firefox -
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6623
* Ccleaner - http://www.ccleaner.com/
For Mac OSX
http://machacks.tv/2009/01/27/flushapp-flash-cookie-removal-tool-for-os-...,
pyetw~/Library/Preferences/[package name (ID)of your app] and ~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/FlashPlayer/macromedia.com/Support/flashplayer/sys
* GNU-Linux: ~/.macromedia
cheers,
pyetw
OMG F**KING ANNOYING EXCEPTION THINGY!!!
Okay, I have this problem on Fire Fox. Like i go to a website like Example; I go to Yahoo Login page. It says these things:
Secure Connection Failed
protect.login.yahoo.com uses an invalid security certificate.
The certificate is not trusted because the issuer certificate has expired.
The certificate expired on 7/24/2011 12:09 PM.
(Error code: sec_error_expired_issuer_certificate)
* This could be a problem with the server's configuration, or it could be someone trying to impersonate the server.
* If you have connected to this server successfully in the past, the error may be temporary, and you can try again later.
Or you can add an exception…
You should not add an exception if you are using an internet connection that you do not trust completely or if you are not used to seeing a warning for this server.
Iono why theres lots of spaces xD. well back on topic, it also says that thingy in like gmail login. Except it says the URL from google not yahoo.
ALSO, When i go to an exceptional page, it does not show pictures or add-ons only words I NEED F**KING HELP PLEASE!!
http://www.macromedia.com/sup
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/sett...
Go to the above Adobe site... to change YOUR GLOBAL settings. Most people don't know, because for some strange reason Adobe doesn't want to tell you that YOU can BLOCK access to YOUR camera & mic from YOUR flash player.
or
just always remember to wear clean underwear when web surfing.
You really shouldn't have a webcam or mic hooked up to your computer when you aren't using it anyway. Two bit hackers have had Trojans going around for years that can gain access to your mic & webcam and watch/hear your every move secretly. Now as for big brother... did you know that a MIC is really just a SPEAKER wired in reverse? Go ahead... plug your HEADPHONES into your MIC jack and see what happens... WOW you can TALK into them just like a MR. Microphone HUGH! So I guess that somebody on the other end of my computer speakers, tv, radio, etc. has the ability to hear every word that I am saying hugh? Maybe if I just just stop thinking about it, it will go away...
Who Wants a Flash Cookie?
I loved your commentary. Isn't "Future Shop" wonderful? - - - Used to be "drop out, tune in and turn on" - Now it's "plug in, turn on and drop dead". Input is equal to output...
Like Chance the gardener says, "I like to watch..."
pyetw
Typical google
Watch yourselves people. This is happening by the big boys now!! Normally at a certain time (primetime) to see whats grabbing you. Say thankyou to Eric schmidt A.K.A mr google/youtube/apple/sun/adobe & CO.
no videos on Firefox
I have some embbeded videos from youtube.com and some times they stop working on Firefox (on IE its ok)
My browser acts like the page is oppening and indicates on FF footer "transf data from s.ytimg.com"
I only have checked this malfunction last nights around 4h oclock a.m. (GMT)
I am running joomla on my website and I have FF 3.0.6
YourTube videos not playing
ever since this s.ytimg thing started happening on my computer and also my husbands computer we can't play any YouTube videos. I also tried to upload a video and after a whole day (I was out) it was still 'uploading' a 34MB video. We're using Firefox on a PC. Any suggestions?
I think what might be
I think what might be happening here is that your cookie settings for the ytimg domains (there are more than just 's') may be set incorrectly.
To fix this in Firefox you need to check your cookie exceptions: Go into the preferences, then the 'Privacy' tab, then click on the "Exceptions..." button.
Next you should scroll through the list looking for domains that end in 'ytimg.com', and for each one remove it by clicking on the "Remove Site" button. Unfortunately these domains can be peppered throughout the list (because it is sorted alphabetically rather than hierarchically) and you also can't search in the exceptions window (in the same way that you can in "Show Cookies...") so you will have to go through the list carefully.
Once you have removed all the exceptions for ytimg domains, enter "ytimg.com" in the 'address of web site' text area and click on the "Allow for Session" button. Close the Exceptions dialogue, close the Preferences dialogue, and then restart Firefox.
Let me know how you get on.
same
getting the same thing..the page doesnt even load for me no more and when it does the vid doesnt play at all
but for some reason it works fine up til 3pm my time (gmt+1)..thats when it screws up...
any tips on y?
s.ytimg.com
Hello!
I was watching a youtube video titled "History Channel - secret societies - part 3"
when a small window popped up asking if s.ytimg.com could access my camera and microphone. SLIGHT PROBLEM i dont have a camera or microphone on my pc!!. So whats going on please.
Thanks
Made me smie
Most people prefer to pretend the Big Brother thing is nonsense. Time will tell of course, by which time it'll be pointless to change sides. Lol.
Gavin, I actually have a
Gavin,
I actually have a separate post on this, but in short it is a feature of Flash. It possible to disable the behaviour, see the following for more information:
http://www.keiths-place.com/blogs/keith/2008/stop-youtube-sytimgcom-vide...
flash player on youtube
this just happened today...why is internet explorer not allowing me to see videos on youtube and gives this message:
"Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player."
when i go to download Adobe's Flash Player on ie, i get a runaround and am unable to get it.
on mozilla, everything is fine but i like ie quality of sound, much better than mozilla and more user friendly (in my opinion).
sly accessssss / shhhhhh
very interesting to see I'm not the only person who has noticed this.
If on youtube right click on
If on youtube right click on the time bar for video and you will see an area where you can allow or block s.ytimg.com from accessing your camera/mic
Interesting information
Interesting information there. I was on youtube and it suddenly tried to access my camera/microphone. Kind of creepy.
YouTube (s.ytimg.com) Video Camera Access
For those interested, I have a separate article on the attempted camera and microphone access that can happen on YouTube (and other Flash based sites).
See 'Stop YouTube (s.ytimg.com) Video Camera Spying' for more information.
Camera/microphone access?
A website that managed to attempt to access your camera/microphone!? You have got my attention.
Do you have any details?
it is adobe Flash player
it is adobe Flash player settings that allow camera and mic access. Right click the video display and select advanced, choose camera settings and you will see the choices.