Being Penalized for using Web Beacons

While the use of web bugs is controversial, how does Google/Yahoo/etc ...

[apacheMan]

We would like to use OpenX to be our ad server/analysis, but are weary of their software because it uses something called web beacons (or web bugs), which are essentially 1x1 pixel images that are placed in div's that have their visibility property set to 'hidden'.

Now to me, this screams potential SE penalization, because 1 pixel images and div's with content using a property of 'hidden' are straight from the day 1 blackhat cookbook of 1999. Now their documentation says that it needs to use web beacons or the entire software may not function correctly.

Could anyone here with an understanding of what web beacons are tell me if there is anything to worry about by using these web beacons? We would have advertising on nearly every page of a 1,000 page website that currently does very well in the serp's... so we are very troubled by the fact that we would be placing multiple of these web beacons on every page, with fears that google or yahoo would see these wierd things as spammy or suspect.

I look forward to any opinions or guidance concerning my concerns on this topic. Thanks for your help.

[caveman]

Hey apacheMan.

Spam has to do with intent. Web beacons are simple tracking devices used by many sites including some of the search companies themselves, to track clicks and user behavior. Their presence per se is harmless.

"Hidden" as a property name may not be what I'd have chosen, but again, if it applies to tracking gif's and is not being used in some devious way, I would not worry about it.