If you search from Netscape 6, you may want to avoid hitting the search button or My Sidebar feature. Use those to search, say, Google, and the info is still sent via a Netscape server. Why would AOL/Netscape want to know about your searches? It doesn't. But according to this Newsbytes story: "Derick Mains, a spokesman for Netscape, said the company developed the URL forwarding system in order to bill participating search sites for sending them traffic."
But Netscape must be aware that this kind of thing can arouse concerns about privacy. In 2000, it licensed NetZip's Download Demon and bundled it as Netscape Smart Download. This reported back on every file you downloaded anywhere on the net -- without telling you, of course. Real Networks used the same software as Real Download. See the very long-winded Steve Gibson expose for the gory details.
