Online Privacy and Browsing Add-Ons

[OG buckshot jr]

As many of you who read any sort of news know, there's a lot of talk of online privacy (and the lack thereof) happening. From Google getting sued by British iPhone users who claim they're still being tracked by Google (through iPhone's native Safari browser) even though they've "opted out" of the idea, as an example.

In light of this, it's reminded me of an add-on for Chrome (I'm sure it's available for the other popular browsers like Firefox and IE as well, but I haven't verified that as I don't use anything but Safari and Chrome) that I use called "donottrackplus". It's not an official add-on from Google (of course, why would they want to stop making money?), but it works natively and boy does it ever work. In 10 minutes of browsing (I've re-installed my OS and all software tonight) to maybe 6 sites (most were Asus for drivers, TD for lols, Nvidia for drivers, and general googling for things like Chrome, Blackberry Desktop Manger etc.), I've blocked 33 ad-trackers. WOW.

Also, just for digestion (I think this is only for Ontario, but please correct me if my assumption is wrong), Mobile Phone numbers are going to begin to be 'listed'; that is, as your home phone number would be listed. This opens the floodgates for those pesky Indian Duct Cleaners to phone-rape your ass with their non-traceable VoiP call-centers. I'm fuckin PISSED over this. I'm calling Fido tomorrow to see what it costs, if I can at all, to have my numeber not listed.

Anyways - google donottrackplus (Do Not Track Plus): Shit's amazing! No more custom ads following you around.

 

[Gatherix]

Those kinds of plugins work great, but they only protect you from basic trackers, mostly for advertising purposes. It's still plenty easy for a website (or stalking individual) to track you. And by installing Chrome on your computer you've pretty much sacrificed any privacy you have in terms of internet browsing.

Regarding the phones, I don't know if any similar action is going to officially taken down here in the States, but public records and servers essentially already make your number publicly known for anyone looking for it. Only question is if it's made it's way into a large list for telemarketers to farm.

 

[OG buckshot jr]

Chrome no privacy? Explain! (I lack knowledge here).

No, up here, mobile phone numbers are very hard to come by unless you get lucky and it's posted somewhere by someone. They're not supposed to be publicly available. As for ad-farming, yes: that's my concern. From the sounds of things, it'll be a fucking phonebook. I'm angered because this is why us Canadians are paying up the ass - so we don't need a home-phone and so we have a private mobile phone available to us. Christ, for $90/month, you'd figure I wouldn't have my information put out there.

 

[47]

if i use firefox, should i still be getting "donottrackplus"?

 

[zackychuu]

I have AVG Do Not Track, probably works the same.
It asked me if I wanted to use it when I installed AVG when I first got the PC

 

[dead mike]

I use NoScript on firefox, I highly recommend everyone else does too. Add any ad looking websites to the untrusted list, and sites you like to the always allow list, after a day or two, you'll get the small learning curve and be a lot safer.

Also adblock plus, I'm actually shocked at the amount of ads that are blocked and how clean websites look compared to what they look like vs standard internet explorer.

 

[$alvador]

ScriptSafe for Chrome is my favorite script blocker so far because it will separate redirects even within the same domain and allow you to white/blacklist individual elements. It's also developed by a GTA local :)

NoScript, ScriptSafe, donottrackplus = same bag of tricks. If you allow JS from any domain chances are they will be "tracking" the communication from your IP address but usually the reason is just so the admins have clues if SHTF. If you disallow then most sites will not even display properly so you have to either a) trust the server or b) not trust the server.

It really boggles my fucking mind how people seem to expect unfettered access to Google and FB servers but get shocked and offended when their 'privacy is violated' by some data retention. This demonstrates total ignorance of how the TCP/IP protocol functions in the first place. Filing a lawsuit because Google retains some standard information about your phone when you do a search is literally akin to suing a brick n mortar shop owner for having the gall to record your face with a security camera when you enter the store. I should fucking sue the LCBO because they moved my favorite gin to a shelf closer to the entrance. That's targeted advertising bro, privacy violation!

So yeah... long-story short: only whitelist domains you trust (i.e. BLOCK FACEBOOK) and the odds of your data being mined will drop to nil.

 

[Killomatic]

Hmmm, interesting read Buckshot.
I've always found it sort of intrusive when I google a store name and it basically pinpoints anything close to my address (although it's handy).
Same odd feeling with the Ipod / Iphone stuff though. I really don't like the idea of anything, nevermind anyone, being able to track me when I've specified at every chance I can NOT to put my data in any form of cloud.......
It's scary to think how much these companies can dig up on us all.

Oh, and by the way....
I have a land line still, and FUCK do those duct cleaning mother fuckers piss me right off.
When I get a call from a number I don't know it's either them or home security.
(told them I already have a security system, it's 6 rednecks with shotguns on my porch)

 

[dead mike]

lols this page is being tracked by facebook, google, twitter, i put them under trusted

 

[$alvador]

google-analytics.com is the tracking domain and can always be blocked without affecting browsing, the other ones are for APIs and the search function. A lot of sites packed up the asshole with social media links are so sloppily-coded it's obvious that they are just looking to grind as much cash (ad money) as possible per visit

 

[Glocky]

Ghostery for FireFox does similar with opt-in/opt-out.
On top of all this stuff, disable / uninstall Java unless you actually need it for a specific trusted use. (Or leave it installed for one browser option only but uninstalled in your general everyday browser)

 

[zackychuu]

Glocky!
Fix dat CPU-Z sig :/

 

[Glocky]

Glocky!
Fix dat CPU-Z sig :/

What's wrong with it... it's small and accurate.

 

[Glocky]

What's wrong with it... it's small and accurate.

Maybe if you had been more specific... nonetheless... the community thinks it probably a false positive by Chrome, but it's a straight image now, hosted separately from valid.carnardpc.com

 

[zackychuu]

Maybe if you had been more specific... nonetheless... the community thinks it probably a false positive by Chrome, but it's a straight image now, hosted separately from valid.carnardpc.com

Sorry, I just assumed you were reading the other threads where we were having problems with other peoples CPU-Z sigs.