Jaspan is not a lone crusader. Today, there are scores of similar programs with names like AtGuard, Internet Junkbuster Proxy, InterQuick and WebMask. All are available–some for free–at their Web sites (use a search engine to locate these). Jaspan says his program ($19.95 at www.intermute.com) also prevents advertisers from collecting detailed information unbeknownst to users from “cookies,” which are bits of data that Web sites send to and store in your personal browser to identify you. Two major portals and one Web advertising software maker told NEWSWEEK that it’s technically impossible to collect data in the way Jaspan describes. He disputes their dismissal, of course, and adds, “interMute puts control back in the hands of users.”
