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I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

neilzone.co.uk

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Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#591

Post by boisterousness »

majorchord wrote: post #519
drnick1 wrote: post #496

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should always configure your browser to automatically wipe all data on exit. The Arkenfox user.js user profile does this and more to mitigate fingerprinting.

I am logged into way too many sites to do that unfortunately. I do use a password manager with a browser plugin to make it easier, but it's still a lot of manual work to re-login to all the sites I use on a normal basis, for both work and home, every time I restart my browser. Would be nice if there was some other solution, like maybe encrypting the browser profile and then requiring a pin/password/biometric/somethin…

There's a Cookie AutoDelete plugin [1] that cleans up cookies, cache, etc for a site after all of its tabs are closed. You can exclude sites that you want to stay logged in to.

[1] https://github.com/Cookie-AutoDelete/Cookie-AutoDelete

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#592

Post by boisterousness »

lossyalgo wrote: post #427
dwighttk wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your ad blocker probably has a setting for cookie blocking too

If not then install EFF Privacy Badger and Decentraleyes extensions.

Decentraleyes hasn't been updated since late 2024, so I switched to LocalCDN [1].

[1] https://www.localcdn.org/

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#593

Post by maverick74 »

Terr_ wrote: post #331
adventured wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an exaggeration. Young people on average have grown up with drastically greater understanding of what a file is than any other generation that has come before them. They grew up using Chromebooks or laptops in school, constantly interacting with the local file systems, uploading files to Instagram and TikTok from the file systems on their smartphones, browsing their phones for files constantly. They know what…

To disagree and recycle some past writing: > Yeah, I have a particular rant about this with respect to older generations believing "kids these days know computers." [...] they mistake confidence for competence, and the younger consumers are more confident poking around because they grew up with superior idiot-proofing. The better results are because they dare to fiddle until it works, not because they know what's wro…

Ah-ah!!!

You nailed it! Simple and short!

GREAT COMMENT!!!

I couldn't think of a better way to put it!

Well done!!!

Ahahah

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#594

Post by maverick74 »

fragmede wrote: post #106
adventured wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an exaggeration. Young people on average have grown up with drastically greater understanding of what a file is than any other generation that has come before them. They grew up using Chromebooks or laptops in school, constantly interacting with the local file systems, uploading files to Instagram and TikTok from the file systems on their smartphones, browsing their phones for files constantly. They know what…

That's also a stereotype. Gen Z (born 1997 to 2012) is roughly 2 billion people. Among them are the technorati, and the tech literate. The influencers and the influenced. It's fair to compare what was available to them growing up, vs yourself (I learned to program before there was Google), but it's hard to say things that are going to be universally true across that many humans that are interesting. Most of them will…

>(I learned to program before there was Google)

I learned to code on a Sinclair ZX Spectrum machine!

"Those were the days, next n" ( https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-d8UfQn3BEg&list=RD-d8UfQn3BEg... )

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#595

Post by whatevaa »

bArray wrote: post #6

I was sitting in a room the other day with a young adult, we were searching for additional algorithm learning materials. They searched in Google, and accept the cookies. They clicked on a website, and accepted those cookies too. They then started entering their email address to access another service. I was completely taken aback. I'm the sort of person that either rejects the cookies, or will use another site entire…

They will track you irregardless of your choice and then get fined 2% of their income from that tracking if caught. Most EU fines to big companies are still unpaid.

Either your trust website to not be shady, or not. That button click is not a formal agreement.

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#596

Post by paffdragon »

bArray wrote: post #6

I was sitting in a room the other day with a young adult, we were searching for additional algorithm learning materials. They searched in Google, and accept the cookies. They clicked on a website, and accepted those cookies too. They then started entering their email address to access another service. I was completely taken aback. I'm the sort of person that either rejects the cookies, or will use another site entire…

I often click accept, at least for site banners that get through ublock. But my browser blocks 3rd party cookies and then it clears all cookies on close (except for trusted sites). I also use private browsing for random sites where I dont bother rejecting cookies usually.

I really think this cookie consent concept should have been a browser functionality, so I can make my default choice for all sites and be done with it.

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#597

Post by microtonal »

drnick1 wrote: post #462
microtonal wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not just the web. Last time I installed Backdrops on my phone (a nice wallpaper app), you would literally approve hundreds of uses of your data when you press Consent . Even if you choose to manage choices, 200 'legitimate interest' options are enabled by default. Even when you are a paying Pro user. Data used includes location data . What makes it worse is that a substantial portion of users block web trackers throu…

> Last time I installed Backdrops on my phone (a nice wallpaper app), you would literally approve hundreds of uses of your data Why are you using that malware? Is a "nice wallpaper" worth the security risks? Really?

By that definition the majority of apps is malware. This was just one example, a lot of apps have an insane number of trackers. It was just to illustrate that even the simplest of apps do this.

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#598

Post by _heimdall »

kubb wrote: post #581
_heimdall wrote: post #570

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How so? Though not quite the EU anymore, the UK arrests people based only on speech in a social media post. Why should I expect they would be interested in building a truly private, zero knowledge age verification system? Maybe for a more direct example I could point to the discussions related to the EU wanting direct access to all private messages, pushing Signal to leave the EU if that were to pass?

I think they arrested (or just fined?) someone for calling to burn down a hotel with migrants. For you this is an oppressive dictatorship, but it doesn’t match reality. It also has no bearing on willingness to implement proof of age without additional disclosure. But yeah not EU, one country in Europe is unlike another, etc.

I don't know the specific case you're referring to, though that's far from the only fine or arrest in the UK related to social media posts.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/police-make-30-arr...

Re: I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services

#599

Post by paffdragon »

PyWoody wrote: post #8
bArray wrote: post #6

I was sitting in a room the other day with a young adult, we were searching for additional algorithm learning materials. They searched in Google, and accept the cookies. They clicked on a website, and accepted those cookies too. They then started entering their email address to access another service. I was completely taken aback. I'm the sort of person that either rejects the cookies, or will use another site entire…

I remember when it first became widely known that the government could see your library checkouts. People protested. It was a big deal in my tiny town. I don't even think it would be even a blip on the radar now. It really is depressing how much ground we've given.

We also used to run spyware and adware scanner and removal tools, but now the ad/spyware rebranded and became mainstream...
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