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Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

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Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#61

Never had Instagram. Never had WhatsApp. Had an old Facebook account opened under a fake name, using a throwaway email (haven't opened it in six months, maybe more). That company is cancer.

Same here.

In addition, to prevent shadow profiles, I've blocked them on NextDNS, setup NetGuard[0] and Firefox with uBlock Origin on Android.

[0]: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/releases

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#62
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes and no. FB's tracking pixel can be both first and third party: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/471978536642445?id=12... Getting rid of third-party support will mean FB doesn't get anonymous data from random website users - but if you are logged into FB or hit the page from a FB link, it would still be trackable as a first-party cookie.

My default for all browsing is to use Private Safari window and never stay logged in for longer than needed. Btw, there is hidden Safari setting in iOS, under Advanced at the bottom, “Privacy Preserved Ad Measurement” that was on, for some weird reason. And check and purge Website Data periodically. Oh, and use iCloud Private Relay. A must.

I'm in a similar setup for FF on my Mac, but I also have it clear everything on exit. I exit at least every couple of days just to clear things, and sometimes immediately after visiting certain sites just because it makes me feel better while wearing tin foil. It's annoying after every launch causes me to use all of the various 2FAs to log back in, but I just don't trust what all you evil devs have done to the internet.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#63
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't tracking pixels also work without cookies or Javascript though? If you have an ` ` on your website or app, the server that houses that URL gets a ton of info on you from the HTTP request header data. Less useful without the cookie but still something.

Yeah but if they can't associate that activity with a record reliably then it's just noise.

are we really not that identifiable with all of the fingerprinting techniques and what not? the majority of people do not use VPNs to cover their tracks, and most home ISPs don't rotate their IPs that frequently that my tin foil hat suggests that for the non-techie person attempting to foil the IDing, they're IDing them.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#64
post #39

Earlier today, this[1] was on the HN front page, a blog post on how Meta processes trillions of serverless functions. All that impressive tech exists for one single reason - massive surveillance at scale. [1] https://read.engineerscodex.com/p/meta-xfaas-serverless-func...

Surveillance isn't the reason. It's a means to a goal, which is to sell people stuff.

they can't sell them stuff if they haven't surveilled them to find out what they want. although, even after all of the surveilling, they still fail to deliver relevant ads way more often than they should.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#65

Never had Instagram. Never had WhatsApp. Had an old Facebook account opened under a fake name, using a throwaway email (haven't opened it in six months, maybe more). That company is cancer.

I don't have that luxury. If I delete WhatsApp, I will be ostracized. Instagram is easier to live without but some people and services can only be contacted there. Mercifully Facebook is dead.

I've made peace with the fact that at least WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption. I hope to god they don't enshittify it.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#66
post #43
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is “they sent facebook a list with my name on it, and facebook showed me their records showing I was on their list” compatible with the statement “this is NOT data being sent to FB”?!?

https://www.facebook.com/help/794535777607370#custom > Advertisers may get information from you (like your email address) when you interact with them outside of Facebook, like if you make a purchase in their store or create an account for a rewards program. They can create a hashed list with that information and upload it to Facebook. We can match users using the list to help the advertiser reach people who may be in…

Well, if a shoe company sends my email address to Facebook because I’m their customer and they want to advertise to me on platform, Facebook has learned new information about my purchasing behaviour.

I’m not sure what else Facebook does with that information. I wouldn’t be surprised if they use it and send me ads for shoes from other companies.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah but if they can't associate that activity with a record reliably then it's just noise.

are we really not that identifiable with all of the fingerprinting techniques and what not? the majority of people do not use VPNs to cover their tracks, and most home ISPs don't rotate their IPs that frequently that my tin foil hat suggests that for the non-techie person attempting to foil the IDing, they're IDing them.

Most browser "fingerprinting" methods have a pretty short half-life. The last assessment I read said something like half of the fingerprints were lost within 24 hours.

There are some companies that advertise device fingerprinting for moderation/anti-abuse services, but I have yet to see it in any martech stack. I assume they give lots of false positives and don't distinguish between different users/devices on the same network.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#68
post #66
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.facebook.com/help/794535777607370#custom > Advertisers may get information from you (like your email address) when you interact with them outside of Facebook, like if you make a purchase in their store or create an account for a rewards program. They can create a hashed list with that information and upload it to Facebook. We can match users using the list to help the advertiser reach people who may be in…

Well, if a shoe company sends my email address to Facebook because I’m their customer and they want to advertise to me on platform, Facebook has learned new information about my purchasing behaviour. I’m not sure what else Facebook does with that information. I wouldn’t be surprised if they use it and send me ads for shoes from other companies.

That's a two way street though - if FB started accepting random data anyone uploaded, they would end up with a lot of crap and inaccurate data.

When you use the custom audience tool they very explicitly don't let you upload any data unnecessary to find matches.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#69
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My default for all browsing is to use Private Safari window and never stay logged in for longer than needed. Btw, there is hidden Safari setting in iOS, under Advanced at the bottom, “Privacy Preserved Ad Measurement” that was on, for some weird reason. And check and purge Website Data periodically. Oh, and use iCloud Private Relay. A must.

I'm in a similar setup for FF on my Mac, but I also have it clear everything on exit. I exit at least every couple of days just to clear things, and sometimes immediately after visiting certain sites just because it makes me feel better while wearing tin foil. It's annoying after every launch causes me to use all of the various 2FAs to log back in, but I just don't trust what all you evil devs have done to the intern…

> annoying after every launch causes me to use all of the various 2FAs

In Mac, KeyChain passw manager can store TOTP secret too, so its just three clicks instead of one/two :)

Why not using Safari? There is Wipr, not uBO but good enough. And you will get Private Relay.

Re: Each Facebook user is monitored by thousands of companies

#70
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't tracking pixels also work without cookies or Javascript though? If you have an ` ` on your website or app, the server that houses that URL gets a ton of info on you from the HTTP request header data. Less useful without the cookie but still something.

Yeah but if they can't associate that activity with a record reliably then it's just noise.

Unique etags can help with this though
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