“Ultrasonic cross-device tracking” embeds inaudible tones in advertisements

Post by adolph » Fri, Nov 04, 2016, 12:57 PM UTC

mirimir wrote: post #16

cooper12 wrote: post #10

Sorry but I found this to be very disappointing scarebait from Ars, who I expected to have higher standards. It doesn't explain how common this is yet the title makes it sound like it's super prevalent. (not to mention we're already being tracked in other ways that are worth worrying about more) It does a horrible job at explaining what's actually going on and why advertisers might use this instead of alternatives, i…

The key goal is cross-device tracking. Your phone vs your notebook vs your TV vs whatever else around has audio and net uplink.

Post by sathackr » Fri, Nov 04, 2016, 1:01 PM UTC

coldcode wrote: post #30

I'm sorry this is completely bogus, if there was ultrasonic audio emanating from everyone's phones dogs would go nuts. We can't hear it but they sure can.

Post by bitlevel » Fri, Nov 04, 2016, 1:11 PM UTC

pasta wrote: post #3

ethbro wrote: post #2

I know it's Ars, but there has to be a better link with more detail than "here's a thing some people might be doing, somewhere."

Take a look at Chirp: http://www.chirp.io/ Edit: In Firefox it seems this website is constantly playing audio. I think it is using a WebSocket to do this. Since I don't hear a thing I'm not sure what is going on here.

Post by mgr86 » Fri, Nov 04, 2016, 1:16 PM UTC

sathackr wrote: post #33

coldcode wrote: post #30

I'm sorry this is completely bogus, if there was ultrasonic audio emanating from everyone's phones dogs would go nuts. We can't hear it but they sure can.

I disagree. I was recently in the transmitter room of a radio station and saw an interesting device. I asked the engineer what it was, he explained it was for ratings and worked exactly in the way the article describes. They transmit inaudible tones on the radio, and they are picked up by certain people with a device or the app installed. I don't recall all of the details but some googling will probably get you going…

Post by sathackr » Fri, Nov 04, 2016, 1:27 PM UTC

mgr86 wrote: post #37

sathackr wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. I was recently in the transmitter room of a radio station and saw an interesting device. I asked the engineer what it was, he explained it was for ratings and worked exactly in the way the article describes. They transmit inaudible tones on the radio, and they are picked up by certain people with a device or the app installed. I don't recall all of the details but some googling will probably get you going…

I wish I knew what those apps were. Or what signs I can look for. I generally don't have many "garbage" apps on my phone, but I've always suspected it with words with friends--Yes, my gf have been playing that game together since we started dating 5 years ago. Every so often an Ad will come on and the volume all of a sudden adjusts itself from mute to about 33%. Its distributing that an advertisement can have that po…