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That's already the case with the appstore. If you value privacy, don't install apps, use their website instead (ironically a free and open platform as well, the

That's already the case with the appstore. If you value privacy, don't install apps, use their website instead (ironically a free and open platform as well, there are lessons to be learned here)

scarface74 5y ago
It’s a lot easier to track your usage across websites than it is across apps.
- realusername 5y ago
  No it's not, phones have unique identifiers, easier hardware access, poor cross-apps sandboxing capabilities, they also have no private mode, don't support adblocking & tracking blocking... There's a reason everybody nags you to install their apps on every website.
  - DHPersonal 5y ago
    One big reason for Apple devices is app notifications.
  - scarface74 5y ago
    - you can’t access the unique identifier on iPhones as an app developer. Apple blocked that years ago. - if you have found away to get around iOS’s sandboxing, you could collect a bug bounty - ad blocking doesn’t work well or at all for first party ads like FB, Reddit and Twitter use.
    - realusername 5y ago
      > - you can’t access the unique identifier on iPhones as an app developer. Apple blocked that years ago. There's an advertising id built-in into the device... Just the thought of that on a browser would make everybody scream. > - if you have found away to get around iOS’s ssndboxing, you could collect a bug bounty https://developers.facebook.com/docs/marketing-api/conversions-api/ https://developers.facebook.com/docs/marketing-api/conversio... > - ad blocking doesn’t work well or at all for first party ads like FB, Reddit and Twitter use. For now, only Facebook is resisting on it's own website with some obfuscation but I have no doubt that new browser apis will close that gap. For Facebook tracking on external websites it does work though, something I can't say exists at the moment in the mobile world.
      - scarface74 5y ago
        Settings -> Privacy -> Personalized Ads - disable As far as FB cross app tracking, there is another article on HN where FB attributed $10B worth of revenue loss to Apple’s new opt in tracking prompt. It’s not about obstructing, a “native ad” looks just like any other post and is integrated into the feed. It would take some serious AI to block that.
        realusername 5y ago
        I'm not saying Apple does not take any steps towards fighting this, I'm just saying they are currently very far to the level of privacy of a browser. > It’s not about obstructing, a “native ad” looks just like any other post and is integrated into the feed. They have to disclose sponsor posts by law (at least in the EU). Right now they are using tricks of random divs to hide that to adblockers. When the browsers will add a contains-visible-text:() selector (or similar name), it will be game over.
        scarface74 5y ago
        Then how else is app usage tracked across apps that can’t be done in the browser?

That's already the case with the appstore. If you value privacy, don't install apps, use their website instead (ironically a free and open platform as well, there are lessons to be learned here)

scarface74 5y ago

It’s a lot easier to track your usage across websites than it is across apps.

realusername 5y ago
No it's not, phones have unique identifiers, easier hardware access, poor cross-apps sandboxing capabilities, they also have no private mode, don't support adblocking & tracking blocking... There's a reason everybody nags you to install their apps on every website.
- DHPersonal 5y ago
  One big reason for Apple devices is app notifications.
- scarface74 5y ago
  - you can’t access the unique identifier on iPhones as an app developer. Apple blocked that years ago. - if you have found away to get around iOS’s sandboxing, you could collect a bug bounty - ad blocking doesn’t work well or at all for first party ads like FB, Reddit and Twitter use.
  - realusername 5y ago
    > - you can’t access the unique identifier on iPhones as an app developer. Apple blocked that years ago. There's an advertising id built-in into the device... Just the thought of that on a browser would make everybody scream. > - if you have found away to get around iOS’s ssndboxing, you could collect a bug bounty https://developers.facebook.com/docs/marketing-api/conversions-api/ https://developers.facebook.com/docs/marketing-api/conversio... > - ad blocking doesn’t work well or at all for first party ads like FB, Reddit and Twitter use. For now, only Facebook is resisting on it's own website with some obfuscation but I have no doubt that new browser apis will close that gap. For Facebook tracking on external websites it does work though, something I can't say exists at the moment in the mobile world.
    - scarface74 5y ago
      Settings -> Privacy -> Personalized Ads - disable As far as FB cross app tracking, there is another article on HN where FB attributed $10B worth of revenue loss to Apple’s new opt in tracking prompt. It’s not about obstructing, a “native ad” looks just like any other post and is integrated into the feed. It would take some serious AI to block that.
      - realusername 5y ago
        I'm not saying Apple does not take any steps towards fighting this, I'm just saying they are currently very far to the level of privacy of a browser. > It’s not about obstructing, a “native ad” looks just like any other post and is integrated into the feed. They have to disclose sponsor posts by law (at least in the EU). Right now they are using tricks of random divs to hide that to adblockers. When the browsers will add a contains-visible-text:() selector (or similar name), it will be game over.
        scarface74 5y ago
        Then how else is app usage tracked across apps that can’t be done in the browser?