Tag

Tracking

All articles tagged with #tracking

technology1 day ago•6 min saved

Monitors Turn to Ads, Pushing Privacy Boundaries

Ads and tracking once confined to smart TVs are spreading to computer monitors, with LG’s Monitor App Installer pushing ads onto connected PCs (a move Microsoft forced LG to reverse). The piece notes that smart monitors run OSes and can use ACR to track activity, meaning data could be shared with advertisers under current privacy policies from LG, Samsung, and Acer. It calls for clearer privacy disclosures, easier setup-based privacy controls, and maintaining dumb, non‑advertising monitors to prevent a privacy‑nightmare trajectory.

via Ars Technica|

#ads #lg #monitors

technology7 days ago•9 min saved

Hide Your Wi‑Fi: Stop Your Router from Being Mapped by Big Databases

The article explains how smartphones quietly broadcast your router’s BSSID to Wi‑Fi Positioning System databases used by Apple and Google for fast location fixes, exposing your exact location and making you trackable. It advises opting out by adding _nomap to your SSID (or changing the name entirely), updating passwords, and then reconnecting all devices. It also guides how to access router settings (usually via the gateway 192.168.1.1) to modify the SSID and credentials.

via pcmag.com|

#privacy #ssid #technology

technology29 days ago•9 min saved

Private Browsing Isn’t Invisible: What ISPs, Sites, and Ads Can See

Private browsing doesn’t hide your activity from ISPs, websites, or advertisers. Your ISP can see the sites you visit, when you’re online, data usage, and approximate location; websites can identify your IP, device, browser, and pages viewed; analytics and ad scripts can build profiles and show related ads. A VPN encrypts traffic and masks your IP from sites and ISPs but isn’t a perfect shield against all tracking. To improve privacy, adjust browser settings, deny unnecessary permissions, use a privacy-focused browser/search engine, keep software updated, and consider a VPN across devices. You can reduce what others learn about you, but you can’t disappear completely.

via Fox News|

#isp #privacy #private-browsing

technology3 months ago•68 min saved

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.

via Android Authority|

#advertising #android #cookies

privacy3 months ago•26 min saved

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.

via Slate|

#adtech #cookies #privacy

technology4 months ago•5 min saved

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.

via CNET|

#airtag #apple #find-my

technology4 months ago•26 min saved

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.

via theregister.com|

#adtech #consent #cookies

technology4 months ago•33 min saved

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.

via 404 Media|

#advertising #cookies #data-collection

technology5 months ago•25 min saved

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.

via theregister.com|

#adtech #age-verification #cookies

privacy6 months ago•25 min saved

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.

via theregister.com|

#adtech #cookies #data-collection

science6 months ago•7 min saved

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.

via SciTechDaily|

#reentry #science #seismology

technology7 months ago•25 min saved

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.

via theregister.com|

#adtech #app-store-moderation #nudity

gadgets7 months ago•15 min saved

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.

via Gizmodo|

#airtag #apple #gadgets

technology7 months ago•8 min saved

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.

via MacRumors|

#airtag #apple #find-my

technology7 months ago•9 min saved

AirTag 2 boosts findability with bigger range and louder speaker

Apple unveils an updated AirTag featuring a second‑generation Ultra Wideband chip that extends Precision Finding range by up to 50%, plus a 50% louder speaker. No major new features beyond improved accuracy and range; pricing remains $29 for one or $99 for a pack of four, with orders open now and in‑store availability later this week.

via Ars Technica|

#airtag #apple #find-my