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Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

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Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#221

Post by sayrer »

dilDDoS wrote: post #47

I generally don't see any appeal to in-app browsers in the first place. They often have extremely broken navigation controls (i.e. attempting to swipe back to a previous page usually just returns back to the app), block the ability to navigate to a specific URL, content blockers don't work, don't allow opening "smart links" that would typically open in another app if opened from a normal browser, etc. From what I'm g…

Well, I'm sure there are "growth hacker" types out there abusing the ability to observe browsing. But I think the real reason they don't bounce you to Safari, Chrome, etc is because users don't stay in the app if they do that.

I think all of the various bad things people talk about here must happen sometimes, but it's mostly just retention I'd guess.

Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#222

Post by hollowturtle »

I’m not surprised and it’s really annoying apps still use in-app browsers. I remember even Telegram had that at one point, with link opening only on in-app browser(at least on iOS). But what really annoys me is that most of the users, e.g. my girlfriend, have NO IDEA about the difference, it’s just a browsing window, no matter in-app, which engine, with which privacy feature. Perhaps os vendors should show more obvious UI, and UX wise, tell you you’re leaving a safe browsing experience?

Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#223

Post by ars »

smoldesu wrote: post #195
graham1776 wrote: post #152

I've meant to write a blog post about this, but here goes: In-app browsers allow users to view inappropriate content, often against the wishes of sensitive individuals. People especially at risk for this include addicts and children. Nearly every app, even "safe apps" including children-rated apps, allow access to an in app browser. Even when iOs has locked down all access to Safari, a parent has removed access to al…

Or maybe... just don't give your kids an iPhone? Seriously, using the internet/computers should be treated with the same level of caution as grown-up scissors or fillet knives; powerful tools, but they need training to avoid hurting yourself with them. If this is what you're worried about, why are you even giving them a small computer in the first place? Your kids will always be more cunning than your security policy…

You can't live in today's world without a phone.

All the mechanisms of the past that were geared for this no longer exist.

For example: Drive on the road, get to a toll, don't have a Transponder to pay the bill? No problem - just call a phone number. Uh, what if I don't have a cell? This literally never even occurred to them, there is no alternative way to pay the bill.

That's life today, and it applies to children as well. Want to go to some sports place that only caters to teens and above? Load this website on your phone and fill out an application. Don't have a phone? Borrow a friends phone.

Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#224

Post by celtain »

Fogest wrote: post #196
graham1776 wrote: post #152

I've meant to write a blog post about this, but here goes: In-app browsers allow users to view inappropriate content, often against the wishes of sensitive individuals. People especially at risk for this include addicts and children. Nearly every app, even "safe apps" including children-rated apps, allow access to an in app browser. Even when iOs has locked down all access to Safari, a parent has removed access to al…

I have a browser based game I play that makes use of many userscripts and browser extensions to further improve/enhance the game. However mobile users suffer from a problem of not having such extras. There is a very nice app someone made on Android and iOS that uses in-app browsers in order to be able to add a lot of custom things. There are many useful instances for the in-app browsers and I don't think they should…

Most of the usecases mentioned in this thread wouldn't suffer if the in-app browser had to be invoked with a whitelist of approved domains/urls. Perhaps apps could request permission to run an unrestricted in-app browser, and that could be used to facilitate parental controls.

As an aside, is giving parents the option to disable in-app browsers removing a capability or adding one?

Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#226

Post by sixothree »

kart23 wrote: post #103

surprised this is at the top of HN. isn’t it obvious that every app does this? tiktok, snapchat, even linkedin all open links in their built-in browser and can track what you’re doing. click open in safari if you’re doing anything more than visiting a single page.

Also why is the headline "Instagram _can_ track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser"?

Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#227

Post by polote »

graham1776 wrote: post #152

I've meant to write a blog post about this, but here goes: In-app browsers allow users to view inappropriate content, often against the wishes of sensitive individuals. People especially at risk for this include addicts and children. Nearly every app, even "safe apps" including children-rated apps, allow access to an in app browser. Even when iOs has locked down all access to Safari, a parent has removed access to al…

A feature doesn't become a problem because 1% have an issue with it (people who use parental control).

The internet is the internet if you want to restrict what people can see on the internet the only solution is to not have access to it at all

Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#228

Post by AtNightWeCode »

AtNightWeCode wrote: post #79

I believe this is not legal. It is a grey area for users to do things like this but for a browser to change the actual contents is illegal on most sites. Or at least, there is no general way for a browser to validate if it is legal or not.

HN should really get rid of the down votes... Please explain why you think it is legal for a proxy to inject custom scripts. I am sure our TOS states that this is not allowed. Also, I think it basically is a copyright infringement.

Re: Instagram can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser

#229

Post by RainaRelanah »

Fogest wrote: post #196
graham1776 wrote: post #152

I've meant to write a blog post about this, but here goes: In-app browsers allow users to view inappropriate content, often against the wishes of sensitive individuals. People especially at risk for this include addicts and children. Nearly every app, even "safe apps" including children-rated apps, allow access to an in app browser. Even when iOs has locked down all access to Safari, a parent has removed access to al…

I have a browser based game I play that makes use of many userscripts and browser extensions to further improve/enhance the game. However mobile users suffer from a problem of not having such extras. There is a very nice app someone made on Android and iOS that uses in-app browsers in order to be able to add a lot of custom things. There are many useful instances for the in-app browsers and I don't think they should…

Mind if I ask what game?

Kiwi on Android is a Chromium fork that re-enables extensions on mobile. Works well for userscripts/extensions, though often times those UIs don't scale well to mobile.

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