Tag

Tracking

All articles tagged with #tracking

Gemini Intelligence Rules Could Sideline Android Ad Tracking
technology11 days ago

Gemini Intelligence Rules Could Sideline Android Ad Tracking

An exhaustive catalog of ad-tech cookies shows hundreds of vendors collecting IPs, device IDs, location data, and user profiles with long-lasting cookies and frequent use of legitimate interest. The Gemini Intelligence requirements would largely block cookie-based tracking on Android devices, meaning most Android phones will miss out on targeted ads and tracking-based monetization, reshaping the mobile ad ecosystem and pushing advertisers toward alternative IDs or privacy-respecting methods.

Smart TVs Are Turning Into Data Traps for Ads
privacy24 days ago

Smart TVs Are Turning Into Data Traps for Ads

Smart TVs are increasingly becoming data-collection devices as a sprawling network of ad-tech vendors tracks viewers through cookies, device IDs, IPs, precise/non-precise location, and user profiles. The article catalogs hundreds of vendors with cookie lifetimes spanning from days to years, notes some vendors don’t use cookies or rely on other storage, and highlights pervasive cross-device tracking and potential privacy risks for households. Viewers may need to adjust privacy settings or limit ad tracking on their TVs to curb data collection.

Spotting Hidden AirTags: How to Detect and Stop Unwanted Tracking
technology1 month ago

Spotting Hidden AirTags: How to Detect and Stop Unwanted Tracking

AirTags can help you find belongings but may be used to track people without consent. To detect unwanted trackers, enable unknown-tracker alerts (AirTags use iOS 14.5+ alerts; other Bluetooth trackers use iOS 17.5+). Ensure Location Services, Find My iPhone, Bluetooth, and Notifications are on. When an alert appears, use Find My to locate the tag, play a sound, or Find Nearby; if you find an unknown AirTag, tap the notification for owner info and disable it by removing the battery. If you’re concerned about safety, follow a safety plan and contact local law enforcement or the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help.

Cookie Avalanche: Ad-Tech Trackers Spill Data Practices
technology1 month ago

Cookie Avalanche: Ad-Tech Trackers Spill Data Practices

The Register catalogs a massive roster of ad-tech vendors and their cookie usage, showing a wide patchwork of data collection and storage practices—from IP addresses, device IDs, and precise locations to user profiles and authentication-derived identifiers—often tied to long cookie lifespans (sometimes years) and various legal bases (consent or legitimate interest). A notable number rely on additional storage methods, and a few vendors claim not to use cookies, underscoring the sprawling, opaque ecosystem behind online tracking.

Audit Finds Major Tech Giants Persistently Track Users Despite Opt-Outs
technology1 month ago

Audit Finds Major Tech Giants Persistently Track Users Despite Opt-Outs

An independent audit finds that Google, Microsoft, Meta and a wide network of ad-tech vendors continue tracking users even after opt-outs. The report catalogs cookie and storage use across dozens of vendors, noting cookie durations ranging from days to years and data collected such as IP addresses, device identifiers, location data, browsing activity, user profiles, and consent choices. Some vendors do not use cookies and rely on alternative storage, while others justify processing via legitimate interest. Overall, opting out does not reliably stop pervasive cross-site tracking in the ad-tech ecosystem, underscoring ongoing privacy risks.

OS age gates collide with an ad-tech cookie avalanche
technology2 months ago

OS age gates collide with an ad-tech cookie avalanche

The Register reports that OS-level age verification attempts are tangled in a sprawling ad-tech ecosystem that relies on long-lived cookies and other storage to track users. The piece catalogs numerous vendors and their data practices—collecting IPs, device IDs, precise locations, and user profiles—with cookie lifetimes spanning months to years. Some vendors claim not to use cookies or rely on alternative storage, but the overall landscape shows pervasive data collection that undermines robust age checks and raises privacy concerns about how age gates are implemented and monitored.

The ad-tech cookie web: a comprehensive snapshot of rivals' tracking data
privacy3 months ago

The ad-tech cookie web: a comprehensive snapshot of rivals' tracking data

The Register compiles a sweeping inventory of third-party ad-tech vendors (TCF and others), detailing each vendor's cookie usage, durations, and data collection practices. The list shows cookie lifetimes ranging from days to multiple years, and data collected including IP addresses, device identifiers, location data, user profiles, and authentication-derived identifiers. It notes whether vendors use other storage, and whether they rely on legitimate interests or consent, with several vendors not using cookies or using alternative storage. The piece underscores how pervasive and varied online tracking is across the ad ecosystem.

Seismic Signals Map Space Debris Path in Real Time
science3 months ago

Seismic Signals Map Space Debris Path in Real Time

Researchers show that existing earthquake seismometers can detect shock waves from reentering space debris, enabling near real-time tracking of its path and potential landing sites; using 127 seismometers across southern California to map China's Shenzhou-15 module's descent (Mach 25–30) they estimated speed, altitude, and breakup points—information that can complement radar predictions and speed debris recovery to reduce hazards.

Nudity-focused apps slip past store checks via a sprawling ad-tech network
technology3 months ago

Nudity-focused apps slip past store checks via a sprawling ad-tech network

The Register reports that Nudify-style apps evade Google Play and Apple App Store moderation by routing content and monetization through a vast web of advertising and tracking vendors. The piece catalogs numerous ad-tech providers and their data practices—collecting IPs, device IDs, precise location, user profiles, and more—highlighting how this ecosystem can enable illicit content to slip through reviews while raising significant privacy concerns for users.

AirTag 2: Longer Reach, Louder Sound, New Chime
gadgets4 months ago

AirTag 2: Longer Reach, Louder Sound, New Chime

Apple unveils a second-gen AirTag with a next‑gen Ultra Wideband chip that delivers up to 50% farther locating range, a 50% louder speaker (heard up to 2x farther) and a distinctive new chime. Precision Finding gains compatibility with Apple Watch Series 9/Ultra 2, while the exterior and CR2032 battery remain the same. Apple also expands Share Item Location with airlines (now 50+ carriers) to aid luggage recovery. It’s priced at $29 for one or $99 for a four-pack and is available to order today.

AirTag 2 Expands Precision Finding to Apple Watch, Adds Louder Speaker
technology4 months ago

AirTag 2 Expands Precision Finding to Apple Watch, Adds Louder Speaker

Apple unveils the AirTag 2, a second‑generation tracker with a second‑gen UWB chip for 1.5× longer Precision Finding range and support on Apple Watch Series 9/Ultra 2; it has a louder speaker, improved Bluetooth, redesigned internals, and a heavier 11.8 g body. The back text is now all caps and lists IP67, NFC, and Find My; it remains for tracking objects (not pets) and uses a CR2032 battery. Reset requires four battery removals with up to 12 seconds for the final tone. Requires iOS 26.2.1. Priced at $29 (four-pack $99) with free engraving; orders ship starting Jan 28.

Seismic Signals Could Help Track Reentering Space Debris
space4 months ago

Seismic Signals Could Help Track Reentering Space Debris

Scientists from Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London propose using seismometers to detect sonic booms produced by reentering space junk, turning ground sensors into a rapid tracking tool that could complement radar, optical, and satellite methods. In a trial involving China’s Shenzhou-15 reentry, seismic data reconstructed the debris’ sky path and diverged from Space Force radar predictions by about 40 kilometers, highlighting potential for faster location and recovery of toxic residues—though the approach requires more validation since small debris may not generate detectable signals and distinguishing signals from other sources remains a challenge.

GhostPoster Malware Hits 17 Browser Extensions Across Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
technology4 months ago

GhostPoster Malware Hits 17 Browser Extensions Across Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Researchers warn of the GhostPoster campaign, which distributed 17 malicious browser extensions across Chrome, Firefox, and Edge to monitor activity and hijack affiliate traffic. The extensions load a remote payload via a logo-based loader, and together they have thousands to hundreds of thousands of installs (over 840k in total). Although these extensions can no longer be installed in major browsers, anyone who still has them should delete them immediately, as they can inject scripts, strip HTTP headers, bypass CAPTCHA, and enable click fraud; the campaign appears to have started as early as 2020.

Motorola's Moto Tag 2 and Moto Watch Enhance Tracking and Fitness Features
technology4 months ago

Motorola's Moto Tag 2 and Moto Watch Enhance Tracking and Fitness Features

Motorola announced the Moto Tag 2, an improved Android tracker with longer battery life (over 500 days), upgraded Bluetooth 6.0 support for better tracking, IP68 water and dust resistance, and a similar form factor to the original. It features enhanced tracking capabilities via Ultra-Wideband and channel-sounding technology, with a release expected in the coming months.