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Google's widespread tracking across the web

simpleanalytics.com

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Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#11

Post by FabHK »

yegg wrote: post #2

This title is highly misleading, implying that Google tracks DuckDuckGo searches directly, which isn’t true. It also reinforces a conspiracy theory that we’re owned by Google, which also of course isn’t true. Kindly please change it to be more accurate about Google analytics and other Google trackers on websites you may visit. We’ve been sounding the alarm about Google analytics, tag manager, and other Google tracker…

I don't think the title implies that Google is tracking DuckDuckGo searches directly, just that using DuckDuckGo instead of Google often doesn't prevent Google from tracking you. The article also makes clear that using DuckDuckGo is an improvement, just not enough.

Furthermore, I don't see any intimation in the article that Google owns DuckDuckGo.

All in all, it seems you and the article are on the same page.

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#13

Post by 2716057 »

edoceo wrote: post #6
randomtoast wrote: post #4

Let's face reality: as soon as you browse the internet, you will be tracked and identified. Here are just a few data points used for fingerprinting: IP address, User-Agent string, Referrer URL, Requested URL, Language, Locale, Screen resolution, Time zone, System time, Installed fonts, Installed plugins, Cookie data, Browser fingerprint, Canvas fingerprint, WebGL fingerprint, AudioContext fingerprint, Mouse movements…

How is the MAC collected?

Depending on your network configuration I could imagine abuse of EDNS(0). This is used for example by NextDNS to identify which device (MAC) on your local network sent the request in order to apply specific filters and log the request. A not-so-friendly DNS could sell such information.

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#14

Post by nottorp »

FabHK wrote: post #11
yegg wrote: post #2

This title is highly misleading, implying that Google tracks DuckDuckGo searches directly, which isn’t true. It also reinforces a conspiracy theory that we’re owned by Google, which also of course isn’t true. Kindly please change it to be more accurate about Google analytics and other Google trackers on websites you may visit. We’ve been sounding the alarm about Google analytics, tag manager, and other Google tracker…

I don't think the title implies that Google is tracking DuckDuckGo searches directly, just that using DuckDuckGo instead of Google often doesn't prevent Google from tracking you. The article also makes clear that using DuckDuckGo is an improvement, just not enough. Furthermore, I don't see any intimation in the article that Google owns DuckDuckGo. All in all, it seems you and the article are on the same page.

The way i read it, it implies that DuckDuckGo should protect you from tracking on the sites it points to and it's not doing a good job.

They could have done a marketing blog post about the evils of Google Analytics without dragging DDG into this...

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#15

Post by blackoil »

yegg wrote: post #2

This title is highly misleading, implying that Google tracks DuckDuckGo searches directly, which isn’t true. It also reinforces a conspiracy theory that we’re owned by Google, which also of course isn’t true. Kindly please change it to be more accurate about Google analytics and other Google trackers on websites you may visit. We’ve been sounding the alarm about Google analytics, tag manager, and other Google tracker…

Yeah. This is simple fear mongering to sell its own analytics product.

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#16

Post by fn-mote »

randomtoast wrote: post #4

Let's face reality: as soon as you browse the internet, you will be tracked and identified. Here are just a few data points used for fingerprinting: IP address, User-Agent string, Referrer URL, Requested URL, Language, Locale, Screen resolution, Time zone, System time, Installed fonts, Installed plugins, Cookie data, Browser fingerprint, Canvas fingerprint, WebGL fingerprint, AudioContext fingerprint, Mouse movements…

To me just posting this long list is spreading FUD.

It mixes voluntary user actions, like submitting forms and “query parameters”, with things like “WebGL fingerprint” which we agree is evil sneaky fingerprinting.

I agree tracking is a serious problem, but this list isn’t contributing to any discussion.

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#17

Post by basquiyacht »

yegg wrote: post #2

This title is highly misleading, implying that Google tracks DuckDuckGo searches directly, which isn’t true. It also reinforces a conspiracy theory that we’re owned by Google, which also of course isn’t true. Kindly please change it to be more accurate about Google analytics and other Google trackers on websites you may visit. We’ve been sounding the alarm about Google analytics, tag manager, and other Google tracker…

Edit: I can see that it reads like that. Thats not the point. DDG are not the bad guys. Google is.

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#18

Post by johnisgood »

fn-mote wrote: post #16
randomtoast wrote: post #4

Let's face reality: as soon as you browse the internet, you will be tracked and identified. Here are just a few data points used for fingerprinting: IP address, User-Agent string, Referrer URL, Requested URL, Language, Locale, Screen resolution, Time zone, System time, Installed fonts, Installed plugins, Cookie data, Browser fingerprint, Canvas fingerprint, WebGL fingerprint, AudioContext fingerprint, Mouse movements…

To me just posting this long list is spreading FUD. It mixes voluntary user actions, like submitting forms and “query parameters”, with things like “WebGL fingerprint” which we agree is evil sneaky fingerprinting. I agree tracking is a serious problem, but this list isn’t contributing to any discussion.

What I would like is effective solutions against most fingerprinting.

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#19

Post by johnisgood »

2716057 wrote: post #13
edoceo wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is the MAC collected?

Depending on your network configuration I could imagine abuse of EDNS(0). This is used for example by NextDNS to identify which device (MAC) on your local network sent the request in order to apply specific filters and log the request. A not-so-friendly DNS could sell such information.

I use dnscrypt with a supposedly secure configuration, is that not enough to counteract this?

Re: Google's widespread tracking across the web

#20

Post by omeid2 »

fn-mote wrote: post #16
randomtoast wrote: post #4

Let's face reality: as soon as you browse the internet, you will be tracked and identified. Here are just a few data points used for fingerprinting: IP address, User-Agent string, Referrer URL, Requested URL, Language, Locale, Screen resolution, Time zone, System time, Installed fonts, Installed plugins, Cookie data, Browser fingerprint, Canvas fingerprint, WebGL fingerprint, AudioContext fingerprint, Mouse movements…

To me just posting this long list is spreading FUD. It mixes voluntary user actions, like submitting forms and “query parameters”, with things like “WebGL fingerprint” which we agree is evil sneaky fingerprinting. I agree tracking is a serious problem, but this list isn’t contributing to any discussion.

Query parameters are hardly voluntary, just about every linked acquired via "share" button on various platform includes tracking query parameters, including google search results. Combined with the fact that query parameters are has legitimate uses, the distinction complexity becomes indistinguishable from "legitimate WebGL usage" vs "WebGL fingerprint".

It is scary where we are, but you can't solve it by dismissing it as FUD.

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