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Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

arstechnica.com

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Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#41

Post by danjoredd »

GeekyBear wrote: post #36
jqpabc123 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No need to pay double or triple for hardware. There are lots of privacy focused alternatives that are Android based. Personally, I like e/OS: https://e.foundation/ You can buy a ready to use phone on their web site or you can install the OS on a compatible phone of your own. I have installed this on about 10 phones (all Motorola) for friends and family. Here is an example of one that I just put together as a Christma…

> the Google Play store doesn't work but that's no big loss It's the loss of an entire ecosystem worth of apps. If you want an inexpensive phone that will get five or six years of first party support with security updates after that, go with an iPhone SE. The original $399 version got six years of OS updates and just got another security update last month. That's $67 per year that got both an OS update and security u…

>It's the loss of an entire ecosystem worth of apps.

He literally just said that he used the Aurora store as an alternative. If you don't know what that is, it is basically an anonymous version of the Play Store. Highly recommended

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#42

Post by saiya-jin »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #13
nargas wrote: post #5

What can you expect from an ad company ? Not tracking you would mean hurting their own business.

The really crazy part --- it doesn't have to be this way. Google could easily switch to context sensitive ads but they don't because advertisers pay extra for "personalized". Personally, I doubt anyone can really justify the added expense. The entire process is opaque to make any comparison difficult if not impossible. Just because I bought pet supplies last week, does it really make sense for pets supply ads to foll…

It isn't so simple, because what makes google (and facebook in its own ecosystem) so valuable are all the data they gathered about you. If you make ads context-sensitive, google is not bringing anything better on the table than any startup in that domain could bring, maybe some minor cost optimization due to scale.

But they can sell customized ads stating that they will be very well targeted regardless of current content. Which seems to be what advertisers want much more, and reason why facebook never opened up their apis to google+ IIRC, your social graph and its use is basically the only worthy thing on whole facebook.

It of course brings all this tracking evil, why google stopped being morally OK company etc. But the money are there.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#43

Post by [deleted] »

toastal wrote: post #30
jqpabc123 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No need to pay double or triple for hardware. There are lots of privacy focused alternatives that are Android based. Personally, I like e/OS: https://e.foundation/ You can buy a ready to use phone on their web site or you can install the OS on a compatible phone of your own. I have installed this on about 10 phones (all Motorola) for friends and family. Here is an example of one that I just put together as a Christma…

Can any of these privacy-oriented forks support a device from within the last two years with a headphone jack?

[deleted]

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#44

Post by worksonmine »

shmapf wrote: post #23

I've been staunchly on the Android side of the Android / iOS question, but this carry-on with refusing to block tracking like Apple has done is really making me consider switching.

I'm considering one of the Linux phones, don't use many apps anyway. I know that's a hard sell for most but it's becoming a real option even for normal users.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#45

Post by jszymborski »

danjoredd wrote: post #39
jszymborski wrote: post #37

Nonsense like this makes me happy to be on GrapheneOS.

I recently switched to that myself. Tired of Google not respecting our private lives and wanting to know every single action we take. Wish it worked on more phones than just the Pixel line so more people could use it

Yah the device restriction is a bummer.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#46

Post by lostsoil »

jfghi wrote: post #40
danjoredd wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently switched to that myself. Tired of Google not respecting our private lives and wanting to know every single action we take. Wish it worked on more phones than just the Pixel line so more people could use it

Further, I’m amazed at the level of irrelevancy of their ads. I can’t think of a single purchase I’ve made or will make that corresponds to an ad I’ve seen on YouTube.

> I can’t think of a single purchase I’ve made or will make that corresponds to an ad I’ve seen on YouTube. I can tell you a secret about ads: they aren't supposed to work on your conscious brain. The aim to ensure that on your next grocery run you choose "prime water" over "gaterode" because you heard about this new brand which was recommended by your favourite youtuber or choose "budwiser" over other no-name brand beer because you saw a cool superbowl ad.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#47

Post by 0xfaded »

kube-system wrote: post #25
shmapf wrote: post #23

I've been staunchly on the Android side of the Android / iOS question, but this carry-on with refusing to block tracking like Apple has done is really making me consider switching.

Waiting for Google to protect your privacy is like waiting on a billboard company to improve the natural beauty of the roadside landscape.

I already have a second hand iphone for iMessage. Having a "sanctioned" device for baking apps and a device I control for everything else seems like the best hope for compromise these days.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#48

Post by dns_snek »

duringmath wrote: post #2

I don't know why the Ars Google guy is so hostile toward the company but good grief! Every other outlet "google releasing their version of Apple's ATT" Ars Technica guy "Google will watch you while you sleep"

Are you legitimately arguing in favour of corporate-sponsored fake news?

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#49

Post by nerdjon »

duringmath wrote: post #2

I don't know why the Ars Google guy is so hostile toward the company but good grief! Every other outlet "google releasing their version of Apple's ATT" Ars Technica guy "Google will watch you while you sleep"

As others have stated, it's not a version of Apple's ATT. Not even close.

Personally my biggest issue with this is its naming. I think it is a borderline deceiving name given what it is actually doing.

But they chose a good marketing term so other outlets would say exactly what you think Ars should be saying, but they are not falling for it and actually reporting what it is doing.

That name will trick users into thinking that Google is actually taking privacy seriously (they are not).

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#50

Post by izacus »

DHPersonal wrote: post #16
causi wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anti-Google is what gets the pageviews. Ars has been sliding toward clickbait for a long time now.

But Privacy Sandbox seems legitimately bad. How is pointing that out clickbait? It's okay to criticize a technology company, even — or perhaps especially — if it is the manufacturer of a device one uses.

You're missing the forest for the trees - it's the pattern we're commenting on. ArsTechnica (with Ron Amadeo as Android author) has a consistent history of hit pieces in this area that's easy to see - even when it comes to hardware reviews theirs standout as especially negative in comparison to everyone else.

Is Privacy Sandbox really a lie and bad? Who knows, ArsTechnica will be biased against it either way so you need a better source.

(Unless of course you deeply hate Google, then they'll be writing to soothe your soul and confirm your bias. Go ahead then.)

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