I don’t use google stuff rn so…
Not even Google maps since I had an ad placed in my route so it clicked the ad while I was selecting which route to take. Bu bye
Me neither, but I guess the tracking will also take place when you just browse the internet and visit websites, that have Google Ad Tracking technologies implemented (which could be the majority of websites). Tracking and Ad-Blockers like uBlock might help a bit, though.
The specifics are complex—these are the algorithms that ingest all the data signals you give off when browsing the internet on any device, some based on who you are—device, IP and credential identifiers, but also the sites you visit and apps you use as a map to be followed and analyzed.
I’ve been using Noscript on firefox for a while. It basically blocks any JavaScript (and other stuff) unless you specifically allow it. It’s not something that I would recommend for a casual user, because it breaks lots of sites. By using it, I’ve discovered how much nonessential stuff is jammed into your browser. Most of it is analytics and tracking. One home improvement store has over 25 scripts when less than a quarter are needed for a functioning site.
Some of the biggest offenders: offenders:
- home improvement stores
- car dealerships
- some big box retailers
Also, a shoutout to decentraleyes, a plugin to use local copies of JavaScript code so that it’s not downloaded (and reported back to) Google.
Same here. I was a uMatrix user for a long time and I was astonished sometimes how bloated some sites were with scripts and tracking domains. Nowadays I mostly use Edge on my work machine which is somehow ad-free but all sites work.
Firefox with uBlock / uMatrix needed often too much fine tuning to make sites work properly.
Yeah. I know Ublock Origin can do this content blocking as well, but NoScript is just more convenient for me.
Use Organic Maps
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What’s scary is all of the ways they can track you even without your browser actively cooperating. For example, they can create an HTML5 canvas, render a bunch of shapes, and then probe individual pixels to get a read on your graphics card and drivers. The EFF has a very educational test you can subject your browser to in order to see how easy it is to fingerprint it based on these kinds of things.
Kind of surprised to see that Brave does much better in this test than Firefox with extensions (on Android)
Oh God, wait for the downvotes…
Seriously, this is the reason I started using Brave.
This test just keeps refreshing infinitely
What are realistic ways to protect ourselves?
Use alternative browsers (Safari, Firefox) and alternative platforms (iOS, GrapheneOS).
Do you think it can track me in duckduckgo on android?
If it is the Android that comes with the phone, it comes with Google Play and Google Services libraries installed. It is tracking you already. If you use Duckduckgo at least they will not know what you search for (and you will get better search than AI-ridden Google search…).
If you want an Android that doesn’t track you all the time, listens to you and those around you, etc etc, you need to use a vanilla android like https://lineageos.org as it comes, and not install the Google Services packages. This means that you may not be able to use some bank apps or popular apps such as Uber, etc that heavily depend on Google Services. Some chat apps may also have a delay in receiving messages.
Yes it sucks. It’s doable though. Welcome to the future. If we do nothing it will get even worse.
Edit: some governments are pushing for apps to not depend on Google propietary libraries. For example in the EU transit apps (city, trains ticket planners etc) are being migrated away from using Google Maps and into OpenStreetmaps, and those apps run nicely with a vanilla LineageOS. We need to keep this momentum.
Just checked on that site and my phone is too old. :/
:/ There’s old and cheap phones that are still supported. Support varies between models. I have a Oneplus 6 running the latest Android, 15, perfectly fine. It has 6 years. The camera is ok, but could be better.
Manufacturers and Google end support for Android phones within 2-3 years of their release (not 2 years since you buy it). Afterwards they don’t get security updates which is quite dangerous given that we do everything on the phones nowadays, and we will do even more.
Note that those old official, unsecure phones are allowed still to do banking and other things. Even if they aren’t secure. The manufacturers don’t care, they want you to buy a new phone every 2 years from them.
And the actually secure phones running LineageOS, with up-to-date Kernel and security patches, with latest Android, sometimes are not allowed to run banking apps or other things in the name of security. Google and manufacturers don’t care about security at all. They just want control.
Sorry, I meant that I checked the supported device listings and mine isn’t there. They have similar but newer models.
I also have a somewhat unique processor so even jailbreaking it is a bit crazy.
I would also have a look at the XDA forum. A very large percentage of devices that are not officially supported have unofficial ports (Lineage and others) that run 99% as well as the official ones.
e.g. my old Galaxy S8 was not official supported but one of the staff members of XDA made a port that runs like an absolute dream.
Check the unofficial builds on XDA. My bet is that it exists. The unofficial builds are rock solid if you’re wondering. I have a 10 year old smartphone that runs Lineage18 flawlessly on an unofficial ROM
And my phone is too new :(
Any degoogled AOSP rom will do fine. I use InfinityX (made by a well-known indian rom developer, Tejas Singh)
Some of my critical apps depend on android/iOS, guess I am screwed
No, if you have a degoogled android custom rom
I’ve had some internal struggles on this. Have used graphene for a long time and the last phone completely avoided using any G products (not even sandboxed) but still worry about the hardware, especially with the new AI chips. Can’t imagine that the ability to fingerprint using their hardware isn’t available.
So I vacillate between Fairphone/PinePhone with Linux or just anonymity through the masses with iOS. It sucks, the whole turn. Either get a fully functional smartphone and pick your poison or use a limited or dumb phone but know your smart TV/car/computer/etc will still be there for vulnerability.
Apple tracks their users even more
Where are you seeing that?
Use browsers like Cromite, Iridium, Waterfox, Betterfox, Firedragon, Tor, Vanadium. Disabke fingerprinting in hidden settings or in about:config. Don’t install too much extensions, if you can, none. That can be used to fingerprint you. If you don’t have the need, disable javascript and webassembly. Change your useragent to something very common
I thought they were already doing this… what’s new now?
I wouldn‘t know, but could be it says something about that in the attached hyperlink.
I ain’t clicking Forbes slop lol
Nice try tjo
Someone needs to answer this
Also in the EU?
I’m on grapheneOS using Ironfox (fork of Mull because it’s been killed off), I should be safe, right?
No. They are fingerprinting you when you use Google services, including Google ads on other sites.
IronFox enabled RFP. I’m guessing it is somewhat safe. Either that or Brave Browser but I understand if you prefer avoid using Eich’s software.
They killed off Mull? Bummer.
The whole DivestOS project was ended, together with its apps :(
Is Mull VPN included in that? I’m not familiar with DivestOS.
I just updated the app yesterday, hopefully that’s not the last one…
Edit: I meant “MullvadVPN”
You may be confusing it with Mullvad VPN, which is an entirely unrelated company, and yes, it is going just fine.
Ah OK, got it. I was under the impression that MullvadVPN and Mull Browser were made by the same people.
Mullvad also has their own browser with very instrusive ads about their vpn. Even if i used Mullvad VPN, i wouldn’'t use their browser
OK, so according to google, Mullvad Browser is a privacy-based browser, and “Mull Browser” is not a recognized term.
Do you have a link to where I can read more about “Mull Browser”?
This sounds like the WP Engine debate.
About that. I heard somewhere wordpress.com and wordpress.org are seperste entities, one for-profit and the other not, but Wikipedia doesn’t mention why they share the same name.
That’s great
privacy-enhancing technologies
Ahh yes, of course!
If you are worried about privacy, you shouldn’t use Google anyway. I write this from a deoogled android custom rom
