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Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

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Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#321

Post by ris58h »

data-ottawa wrote: post #268
bjackman wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Chrome at work and Firefox on personal devices (including my Android phone). As a heavy user of both browsers, as far as I can see there is really no downside to Firefox. In fact, even though presumably there are way more engineers working on Chrome than on Firefox, I guess most of Chrome's engineering effort goes towards benefitting advertisers, not users. While Chrome seems entirely stagnant since I adopted i…

Chrome Mobile is the largest reason I would not recommend an Android (specifically Pixel) device to friends or family. I bought one, and I found myself actively avoiding browsing the web on it. Even after installing Firefox you can’t get rid of the Google Chrome web search bar on the home screen, and in-app web views are Chrome, so you’re never really free from Chrome. I do understand the why of ads, and I’m okay wit…

Firefox has a homescreen widget with a search bar. My web view browser is also Firefox. My phone isn't Pixel though.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#322

Post by datavirtue »

jsnell wrote: post #308
cm277 wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's MUCH worse, because if this catches on in any significant way, it makes Google the main (eventually only?) provider of demographic data for audiences/tracking. Google already owns the browser market and almost owns the advertising market, but if you want to try to play outside with your own SEO/direct marketing strategy you may be able to make it work. But in a world where cookies/independent tracking is dead an…

But the only provider isn't "Google". The browser will provide this data equally to any site asking for it, i.e. all the ad networks that the site is using. Not just to Google. If anything, it is leveling the playing field. All ad networks will get the same interest data, rather than the ones with a higher reach 3rd party cookie having more information.

Wow, you are spinning this as a universal good? "Leveling the playing field." Ridiculous. Nothing to see here folks, move on, Google is protecting you.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#323

Post by ChicagoDave »

I stopped using Chrome two years ago. I deleted the Facebook app. I have blockers on my desktop and iPhone. I’m aware everyone’s PI info is already compromised, but I’m not adding fuel.

There are excellent alternatives to Chrome. I encourage everyone to adopt one.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#324

Post by DistractionRect »

data-ottawa wrote: post #268
bjackman wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Chrome at work and Firefox on personal devices (including my Android phone). As a heavy user of both browsers, as far as I can see there is really no downside to Firefox. In fact, even though presumably there are way more engineers working on Chrome than on Firefox, I guess most of Chrome's engineering effort goes towards benefitting advertisers, not users. While Chrome seems entirely stagnant since I adopted i…

Chrome Mobile is the largest reason I would not recommend an Android (specifically Pixel) device to friends or family. I bought one, and I found myself actively avoiding browsing the web on it. Even after installing Firefox you can’t get rid of the Google Chrome web search bar on the home screen, and in-app web views are Chrome, so you’re never really free from Chrome. I do understand the why of ads, and I’m okay wit…

Pixel 4a user here:

I haven't played with the default launcher, but you can absolutely get rid of it with other launchers (as many sibling comments noted).

As for the chrome//android web view, you can disable the chrome app and 99% of apps that use android web view have an escape hatch option to just open it in your default browser, so that's also a non issue.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#325

Post by dspillett »

mulmen wrote: post #103
dspillett wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> fuck off Hell yes. Those benefits don't require us being stalked around our entire online lives: the online store already knows when I bought a toothbrush¹. Unless they are trying to argue that telling every retailer on the planet when I last bought a toothbrush, or other healthcare products, is a good idea?! Same for the birthday card if I bought one online. This example is even worse: potentially not just trackin…

> I might have a PI follow that writer for a bit, so I can helpfully send reminders, to illustrate how badly ill-conceived this take is… That’s not a healthy fantasy. The “following” part is especially creepy. There’s a contact the author link on the site. If you care to contact her it’s just a couple clicks away. No reason to hire a stalker. Why are you so angry at the author and not at the people who actually made…

That'll teach me¹ the folly of badly using irony and hyperbole on the Internet!

You have simultaneously completely missed and directly stated the point I was trying to make. Yes the following part is creepy, and that is exactly what the author is extolling the benefits of in an online context.

Maybe for you² or I the collection of personal & habit data poses little risk when³ it leaks out. My life is too boring and on the beaten track to have much juicy to hide! But there are people for whom the collection and subsequent leaking of data about their habits could be significantly harmful. I do not trust that this system is safe from un-de-personalisation. And from a more selfish & mercenary PoV, if Google are going to use my device to serve their business plan⁴, they aren't doing it for free.

--

[1] no, it won't, if I was going to learn the lesson I would have done so on one of several past occasions…

[2] I presume

[3] not if, when

[4] by blocking third party cookies in their browser and replacing with a system they control, they would gain an advantage over other ad-tech businesses

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#326

Post by AnimalMuppet »

mulmen wrote: post #306
AnimalMuppet wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that the point is to make the author understand exactly why it's creepy, so that next time they write something like this, they actually see the problem. I'm not advocating this approach. But it's not entirely off base.

It’s way off base because it’s unacceptable in civilized society to pay stalkers to harass people to make a point. Do you seriously think it is ok to hire a PI to follow someone to “make a point”? I find that horrifying. Further this is a pro-privacy article. The author seems to have a good grasp of the situation and has communicated it well to a general audience. It even concludes with how to turn the feature off an…

> > I'm not advocating this approach.

But I do understand the temptation.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#327

Post by wolverine876 »

inetknght wrote: post #253
wolverine876 wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They raised the issue, which I hardly every see raised, that disabling the feature may not disable data collection. The gave compelling examples of both sides, rather than dismissing one or being inflammatory - the dental hygine example was great, a little personal. They clearly and efficiently spelled out the different modes. They brought up Firefox and the much more obscure Brave, and even more privacy-oriented bro…

> the dental hygine example was great, a little personal. It can be better solved with a calendar notification. No privacy violated and you can add your own information to your notification: you liked this toothbrush, your dentist recommended that toothbrush, you didn't like this store, blah blah. Is there value in that? Sure. Does that mean that value must be extracted by a business? No.

I wouldn't use it myself, but I couldn't say what is 'better' for other people. Some will prefer Chrome helping them. Lots of people do things that I don't.

Regardless, that's a debate to have with Chrome devs. It's already in the browser and the article is reporting on the browser.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#328

Post by ris58h »

jklinger410 wrote: post #218
bjackman wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Chrome at work and Firefox on personal devices (including my Android phone). As a heavy user of both browsers, as far as I can see there is really no downside to Firefox. In fact, even though presumably there are way more engineers working on Chrome than on Firefox, I guess most of Chrome's engineering effort goes towards benefitting advertisers, not users. While Chrome seems entirely stagnant since I adopted i…

> as far as I can see there is really no downside to Firefox. Profiles suck. Performance (specifically around video) has been ass for years. Many useful Chrome extensions don't have FF versions. Just off the top of my head.

Blame extension devs not Firefox. I agree on the video performance though.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#329

Post by wolverine876 »

marcus0x62 wrote: post #273
wolverine876 wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that passes for a comment. Google didn't write a press release that raises questions - insightful ones that I hardly ever see in other coverage - about their privacy practices and recommends competitors such as Firefox and Brave.

Give me a break. It is delusional to believe that corporations do not regularly float press releases to journalists, which then get recycled into articles, which sometimes include a tiny bit of original research.

Why would I give a break to someone who doesn't give me one?

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#330

Post by iudqnolq »

nathansherburn wrote: post #181
tasn wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Firefox on both Android and desktop. It's much better in many ways, and I love it. I do get compatibility issues sometimes, but I'm unsure whether it's because of all of the add-ons I use, or websites being buggy with Firefox.

I suspect it's your add-ons. I've been using Firefox mobile for years and I don't think I've ever had a site that worked better in Chrome. Caveats: Sometimes launching apps from the browser only works in Chrome and some demos of bleeding edge experimental Chrome features obviously don't work in Firefox.

Here's an example that just got me: the Tesco mobile prepaid login has a hidden recapcha field that isn't filled in on Firefox mobile. It's rare, but happens enough I increasingly try and use chrome for multi step things that will be annoying or problems if they fail near the end, like government forms.
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