These members, representing a cross section of the Internet population, give comScore explicit permission to confidentially monitor their online activities in return for valuable benefits such as server-based virus protection, sweepstakes prizes, and the opportunity to help shape the future of the Internet.

comScore technology also integrates offline data (such as supermarket purchasing or automotive registrations) and attitudinal data gathered through consumer surveys.

comScore technology is downloaded to any browser in a matter of seconds and unobtrusively captures and sends information regarding a participant’s Internet browsing and purchasing behavior to comScore's server network, without requiring any further action on the part of the individual. The technology allows comScore to capture the complete details of communication to and from each individual's computer – on a site-specific, individual-specific basis. This includes every site visited, page viewed, ad seen, promotion used, product or service bought, and price paid, while excluding sensitive personal information regarding an individual (such as account numbers, user ids, passwords, etc.).

comScore Technology Breakthroughs
comScore technology is a breakthrough in two fundamental ways:

First, in order to accurately measure customer purchasing and other transactions on the Internet, a sample in excess of two million people must be monitored. That's because the look-to-buy ratio for many commerce sites is two percent or less. This means that to capture just one buyer, 50 surfers must be monitored. Thus, panels that measure merely thousands of people simply are not large enough to get the job done. comScore meets the need, with a panel that currently numbers more than 2 million members and adds thousands of people per day.

Second, other measurement systems are limited to a view of URL or “clickstream” activity. This provides no information about the content on each Web page, including secure content, without which it is impossible to capture detailed transaction activity across all sites. comScore's proprietary technology captures not just clickstreams but all content, including secure content, in an elegantly simple manner that ensures the complete privacy protection of all participants.

These technology breakthroughs enable comScore to create “Private Networks” – also known as Custom Panels – for businesses seeking the most granular and actionable insight available into the needs of their customers. (For more information see comScore Private Networks).