“Meta devised an ingenious system (“localhost tracking”) that bypassed Android’s sandbox protections to identify you while browsing on your mobile phone — even if you used a VPN, the browser’s incognito mode, and refused or deleted cookies in every session.”

  • mctoasterson@reddthat.com
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    11 days ago

    Its reliant on running a normie phone and OS, and running the native FB, instagram, or other apps in the Meta constellation. These apps create persistent services that internally backchannel sensitive browser data back to them via internal ports. All browser traffic on devices running these apps should be considered compromised.

    The solution is to run Graphene or other de-googled OS and avoid Meta apps like the plague.

    • Bob Robertson IX @discuss.tchncs.de
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      11 days ago

      The solution is to have stronger privacy laws.

      If everyone followed your solution then Graphene will become the normie os and Facebook will start targeting it. Choosing an esoteric system for yourself is a good way for a free people to protect their privacy, but it won’t scale.

      When we write our new constitution we need to include privacy as a right.

      • the_abecedarian@piefed.socialOP
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        11 days ago

        grapheneOS isn’t security through obscurity, they make efforts to harden the phone’s privacy. You’re right that, if it was mainstream, Meta would target it directly though.

        The solution is to remove the profit motive from acquiring, selling, and monetizing our data. Laws alone don’t stop big corps from doing things.

      • unhrpetby@sh.itjust.works
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        11 days ago

        The solution is to have stronger privacy laws.

        Many people have the power to make certain privacy attacks impossible right now. I consider making that change better for those people than adding a law which can’t stop the behavior, but just adds a negative incentive.

        I wouldn’t wait around for the law to prosecute MITM attacks, I would use end to end encryption.

        Choosing an esoteric system for yourself is a good way for a free people to protect their privacy, but it won’t scale.

        If this is referencing using a barely-used system as a privacy or security protection, then I would regard that as bad protection.

        Everyone using GrapheneOS would be a net security upgrade. All the protections in place wouldn’t just fade away now that Facebook wants to spy on that OS. They’re still in place; Facebook’s job is still harder than it otherwise would be.

        • n0face@lemmy.wtf
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          11 days ago

          The problem is that GrapheneOS is only available for Pixel devices.

          I really wish they would support other manufacturers, because I don’t really trust Google to make decent hardware (and to be frank, I don’t trust them with anything at all).

          • Little8Lost@lemmy.world
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            11 days ago

            I use e/os which is at least de-googled & based on Lineage
            Its not exactly Graphene but it works on 8+ old devices of various manifacturers

            • n0face@lemmy.wtf
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              11 days ago

              I am very keen to get a Fairphone with e/os next time I switch devices.

              Does it work well with Android Auto? I can’t drive much without a map and my music playlist.

              • Little8Lost@lemmy.world
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                8 days ago

                did not test that but here is a page how to “google” the “de-googled” os for supporting that
                https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/android-auto

                because of that lineage could be a better option

                About Fairphone: there is an alternative (Shiftphone) that is more expensive but with the main plus points of having a higher storage option and the mainboard is replaceable, they also have somewhere a cheap (~200€) phone that should work if you really just need a phone
                (i mention that as an option, because having choice is always better even if it ends up being the first thing that gets choosen)

    • Grapho@lemmy.ml
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      11 days ago

      The solution is public execution of at least a few tech CEOs. Then you’ll see how quick the invisible hand of the market seems to stop demanding profit maximization via spyware.

    • Kbobabob@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      The solution is to run Graphene or other de-googled OS and avoid Meta apps like the plague.

      FTFY

      Doesn’t matter what OS you use.

  • TerHu@lemm.ee
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    11 days ago

    im wondering, does using uBlock help in any way? can they block metas pixel and thereby protect you?

  • MimicJar@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    You’re not affected if (and only if)

    You always used the Brave browser or the DuckDuckGo search engine on mobile

    I found that odd, but reading the more technical write up (linked in the article) it seems Brave blocks localhost communication.

    The Chrome proposal references a single use case. I’ve never seen a website that sets up my local devices, but is this a new thing?

    Why did localhost not get blocked earlier? This seems like a huge hole browsers have ignored for years.


    Also the DuckDuckGo exception doesn’t make sense to me. Does DuckDuckGo have Facebook trackers on it to begin with? Whatever site DuckDuckGo sends you to, if they have the trackers, you’ll get tracked.

      • MimicJar@lemmy.world
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        10 days ago

        I completely forgot that existed! Double checking the technical article they do correctly label it as a browser in their testing matrix/grid.

        I just got confused by the clear “Brave browser” call out. When I hear DuckDuckGo I definitely don’t think browser.

        Good catch!

    • Euphoma@lemmy.ml
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      10 days ago

      On pc jetbrains toolbox uses localhost to login via browser for some reason, which was blocked by one of my extensions

    • interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml
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      10 days ago

      Because if they were to block it, it would break lots of things, like when they broke file:// and users have no way to turn it back on except enable dev mode or debug mode, let alone having some easy way to toggle it on a per domain or per container basis…

  • milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee
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    10 days ago

    I can’t see from this article whether “could cost” means there are lawsuits ongoing/pending, or just the author has speculated what the fine could be if there were a lawsuit?

  • Net_Runner :~$@lemmy.zip
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    9 days ago

    Despite the fact that this article explains the same thing like 5 times in a row as if I’m an idiot … uh, damn, Meta. Let me make sure I don’t have your apps on my phone.

    • Jimmycakes@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      Google tracks you based on the pixel size your chrome browser is amongst other things. They all have ways to know exactly who you are. You are not safe. Run!!