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As per Wikipedia - In October 2020, following security disclosures by the Google Security Team, Privacy Badger changed its default behavior. While it would pre

by eps 4y ago

As per Wikipedia - In October 2020, following security disclosures by the Google Security Team, Privacy Badger changed its default behavior. While it would previously learn to block new trackers heuristically after installed, it now defaults to blocking only trackers it already knows from automated testing before release. While it can still be configured to learn heuristically, it is no longer the default option because it can be exploited by third-parties to fingerprint the user based on trackers it blocks. So it seems that it no longer actually "learns to block", not by default.

raverbashing 4y ago
It actually says that on their page (they call it "local learning")
DeathArrow 4y ago
>So it seems that it no longer actually "learns to block", not by default. It does learn, just not on your PC: By default, Privacy Badger receives periodic learning updates from Badger Sett, our Badger training project. This “remote learning” automatically discovers trackers present on thousands of the most popular sites on the Web. Privacy Badger no longer learns from your browsing by default, as “local learning” may make you more identifiable to websites. You may want to opt back in to local learning if you regularly browse less popular websites. To do so, visit your Badger’s options page and mark the checkbox for learning to block new trackers from your browsing.
- smichel17 4y ago
  I'm hoping someone with technical knowledge of how Privacy Badger works will read this / be able to answer: With local learning disabled, is there any need for using the Privacy Badger add-on specifically? Would it be possible to distribute the tracker lists which are generated by Badger Sett in a format compatible with uBlock Origin? edit: Found that Badger Sett generates a json blob: https://github.com/EFForg/badger-sett/blob/master/results.json https://github.com/EFForg/badger-sett/blob/master/results.js... I am not that familiar with uBlock Origin's filtering syntax, but from a quick look, it seems like the json could be translated at least to the 'dynamic filtering' rules (accessible only when you enable "I am an advanced user"). Perhaps I'll open an issue.
  - ghostwords 4y ago
    Hi, Privacy Badger dev here. Here are a couple of links to answers to start: - https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with-other-extensions%2c-including-other-adblockers https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with... - https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/discussions/2786#discussioncomment-1021999 https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/discussions/2786#dis...
- schoen 4y ago
  For those who never worked with Privacy Badger developers (or with badgers), see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sett https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sett
- jlokier 4y ago
  From https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/10/privacy-badger-changing-protect-you-better https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/10/privacy-badger-changin... > In the coming months, we will work on expanding the reach of Badger Sett beyond U.S.-centric websites to capture more trackers in our pre-trained lists. From the URL it looks like that was written in 2020, but it's in the text the extension links to today. Does the reach of Badger Sett by now extend to the websites visited by users outside the US, or should such users turn on local learning to be protected? I'm a happy user of Privacy Badger and didn't realise the behaviour had changed until today, when I clicked curiously on my badger icon! I've turned local learning back on and I'm looking forward to the feature below: > In the longer term, we will be looking into privacy-preserving community learning. Community learning would allow users to share the trackers their Badgers learn about locally to improve the tracker list for all Privacy Badger users.
dontbenebby 4y ago
I moved to just using uBlock + noscript + containers. EFF people don't know how to audit things. It's better to use as few extensions as possible + put services you paid for into a Firefkx container to segregate the browser rather than try these half measures. Also Firefox now builds in functionality similar to HTTPS everywhere: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/https-only-prefs https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/https-only-prefs Code needs to be reviewed to be safe, so minimize the code in your browser to reduce both fingerprintability and possible exploits.
nunez 4y ago
given this, how is this different from adguard or ublock?
- ghostwords 4y ago
  Hi, Privacy Badger dev here. - https://privacybadger.org/#How-is-Privacy-Badger-different-from-Disconnect%2c-Adblock-Plus%2c-Ghostery%2c-and-other-blocking-extensions https://privacybadger.org/#How-is-Privacy-Badger-different-f... - https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with-other-extensions%2c-including-other-adblockers https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with... By the way, I like both uBlock Origin and AdGuard!
  - timbit42 4y ago
    Do you run all three at the same time?
    - ghostwords 4y ago
      I use Privacy Badger alone because (A) it's good enough, and (B) I want direct experience of what needs to get better. I previously used uMatrix (which is now advanced mode uBlock Origin as I understand it). I use AdGuard on iOS.
deleted 4y ago
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by eps 4y ago

raverbashing 4y ago

It actually says that on their page (they call it "local learning")

DeathArrow 4y ago

>So it seems that it no longer actually "learns to block", not by default. It does learn, just not on your PC: By default, Privacy Badger receives periodic learning updates from Badger Sett, our Badger training project. This “remote learning” automatically discovers trackers present on thousands of the most popular sites on the Web. Privacy Badger no longer learns from your browsing by default, as “local learning” may make you more identifiable to websites. You may want to opt back in to local learning if you regularly browse less popular websites. To do so, visit your Badger’s options page and mark the checkbox for learning to block new trackers from your browsing.

smichel17 4y ago
I'm hoping someone with technical knowledge of how Privacy Badger works will read this / be able to answer: With local learning disabled, is there any need for using the Privacy Badger add-on specifically? Would it be possible to distribute the tracker lists which are generated by Badger Sett in a format compatible with uBlock Origin? edit: Found that Badger Sett generates a json blob: https://github.com/EFForg/badger-sett/blob/master/results.json https://github.com/EFForg/badger-sett/blob/master/results.js... I am not that familiar with uBlock Origin's filtering syntax, but from a quick look, it seems like the json could be translated at least to the 'dynamic filtering' rules (accessible only when you enable "I am an advanced user"). Perhaps I'll open an issue.
- ghostwords 4y ago
  Hi, Privacy Badger dev here. Here are a couple of links to answers to start: - https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with-other-extensions%2c-including-other-adblockers https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with... - https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/discussions/2786#discussioncomment-1021999 https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/discussions/2786#dis...
schoen 4y ago
For those who never worked with Privacy Badger developers (or with badgers), see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sett https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sett
jlokier 4y ago
From https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/10/privacy-badger-changing-protect-you-better https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/10/privacy-badger-changin... > In the coming months, we will work on expanding the reach of Badger Sett beyond U.S.-centric websites to capture more trackers in our pre-trained lists. From the URL it looks like that was written in 2020, but it's in the text the extension links to today. Does the reach of Badger Sett by now extend to the websites visited by users outside the US, or should such users turn on local learning to be protected? I'm a happy user of Privacy Badger and didn't realise the behaviour had changed until today, when I clicked curiously on my badger icon! I've turned local learning back on and I'm looking forward to the feature below: > In the longer term, we will be looking into privacy-preserving community learning. Community learning would allow users to share the trackers their Badgers learn about locally to improve the tracker list for all Privacy Badger users.

dontbenebby 4y ago

I moved to just using uBlock + noscript + containers. EFF people don't know how to audit things. It's better to use as few extensions as possible + put services you paid for into a Firefkx container to segregate the browser rather than try these half measures. Also Firefox now builds in functionality similar to HTTPS everywhere: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/https-only-prefs https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/https-only-prefs Code needs to be reviewed to be safe, so minimize the code in your browser to reduce both fingerprintability and possible exploits.

nunez 4y ago

given this, how is this different from adguard or ublock?

ghostwords 4y ago
Hi, Privacy Badger dev here. - https://privacybadger.org/#How-is-Privacy-Badger-different-from-Disconnect%2c-Adblock-Plus%2c-Ghostery%2c-and-other-blocking-extensions https://privacybadger.org/#How-is-Privacy-Badger-different-f... - https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with-other-extensions%2c-including-other-adblockers https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with... By the way, I like both uBlock Origin and AdGuard!
- timbit42 4y ago
  Do you run all three at the same time?
  - ghostwords 4y ago
    I use Privacy Badger alone because (A) it's good enough, and (B) I want direct experience of what needs to get better. I previously used uMatrix (which is now advanced mode uBlock Origin as I understand it). I use AdGuard on iOS.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]