cross-posted from: https://social.fossware.space/post/123876
In the few short hours since I started using #Threads, #DuckDuckGo has already blocked over 200 data tracking attempts. These include things like “headphone status” and “screen density.”
Trackers, trackers and ol’ Zucc’s roboface galore.
Hi there, and thanks for trying Threads!
While this may look alarming, it’s nothing to be concerned about. Sometimes “privacy” focused browsers and apps can be a little overzealous.
We are taking our mandate to be a responsible member of the fediverse seriously, and part of that is building trust. We have no intention of abusing your data, nor the trust you place in us.
Thanks for helping us blaze this trail together!
I mean… many of those are reasonable? I don’t see how checking the available device memory, screen resolution, screen rotation, etc are bad.
I mean… many of those are reasonable? I don’t see how checking the available device memory, screen resolution, screen rotation, etc are bad since the app could use them to improve the experience. Lower RAM = don’t preload as many posts, lower screen resolution = load smaller images, etc. all of which need to send flags to the server (a smaller number of posts to load, the max dimensions of images to return, etc)
This is obviously not the case when your client could just directly request things within it’s resource limits.
Seriously, why would you give Meta the benefit of the doubt? These are just more datapoints to profile and analyze users.
These are just more datapoints to profile and analyze users.
I’m just being realistic. Seeing it in DuckDuckGo just means the app has requested that data - they don’t actually know exactly how it’s used. Just seeing that the data is loaded by the app doesn’t mean anything. So far, nobody has actually been able to prove that any of this data is used for profiling users. Analyzing network traffic isn’t too difficult so there’d likely be proof by now if it was actually happening (like Wireshark captures).
Profiling happens on the server end, but the unique identification can happen either on the server end or the client end or both.
And it’s Meta. Their entire organisation is dedicated to manipulation, data collection, etc. - hell, they might do the profiling inside the app and only send results. What’s “realistic” is expecting them to spy on you, not giving an organisation like them any benefit of the doubt!
There is, how do you think Cambridge Analytica did it. They’ve literally already been sued over this, it’s been confirmed they are collecting and using this data against users.
Damn, just straight up stealing other people’s content. Very cool
Original post: https://writing.exchange/@kreig/110664764474921792
Original poster: https://writing.exchange/@kreig
Jfc man, thanks for the hot tip on the ddg tracker protection! I’ve been using ddg for a while now on the phone and have out some effort into curating apps so most of what I have is private/secure/open source, but I still have a bunch of things like the Netflix app that I know are sketchy. I’ve just gone through every app I have and confirmed things like Jerboa, VLC, antenna pod, etc are all free of trackers. The real fun surorises though were my bank app and my state government services app, which are each on about 45 tracking attempts across 36 categories. The services one even uses two seperste tracker companies. That’s super fun!
Fuck I’m glad I have this ddg add on now :D
Damn duckduckgo app protection is great! I’d never heard about it, installed and turned on now. Good call-out, thank you.
I encourage others to look this up too!
I got it running yesterday after seeing this thread. No noticeable difference to me, very noticeable difference to the online leech companies. I’m a happy camper
