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Your phone is leveraged so much because it provides companies with deeper tracking capabilities. Most laptops and PCs only geo locate based on their connection

Your phone is leveraged so much because it provides companies with deeper tracking capabilities. Most laptops and PCs only geo locate based on their connection points, phones have accelerometers and more accurate location and ID info in them, so many app makers hobble browser-based app iterations to encourage mostly phone use. They also know users are engaged and focused on content more when they are on phones because browsing in multiple tabs is less possible than on desktop PCs. It's ridiculous that we are manipulated in this way, but fandom for certain devices and apps has created powerful companies that dictate how the Internet works, rather than a better world where companies work to provide value and function to consumers first. The customer is no longer right, whatever the company dictates is what is right now, unfortunately so for us.

freshhawk 4y ago
Don't forget your phone is much more deeply tied to your identity through your cell company contract and the OS account information is more likely to be closely tied to your identity. It's also much rarer for someone to have multiple phones and the need to detect that connection. So there are deeper tracking capabilities and it is easier to connect that tracking data with an official person in order to cross-reference.
s1artibartfast 4y ago
For reddit- sure, but why banks? Surely managing hundreds of thousands of my money is worth more than some geo data.
- Hackbraten 4y ago
  Banks are in the smartphone game for a few more reasons other than tracking: 1. They tend to trust a locked-down, reasonably secured environment more than a hackable, general-purpose operating system, especially for 2FA. 2. They’re under pressure from fintech, so they have to focus more on things customers want.
- winternett 4y ago
  They could be using it to verify your phone number is being spoofed overseas. If location data on your device indicates you are currently in Texas, but suddenly a charge is made originating in Malaysia, it would trigger an alert based on a geo-location mis-match... They can also use it against you to find out where you go when you are paying in just cash, or for other nosy reasons. That's why the overreach is bad. When you consider other companies in insurance, the IRS, THE ENTIRE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY, and even CVS tracking you through apps, the harmful secret data they could compile on us to better fleece and police us is potentially outrageous.
ryan29 4y ago
As soon as you connect a phone to your home WiFi or log into a single account that device is instantly associated with you and tracks you forever. Phone numbers are just a convenient way for big tech to share your identity amongst themselves. Use a VPN and try to create all of the accounts you'd need to participate in society. It's impossible. You'll be lucky if you can get an email address. I can't imagine being un-banked or unable to afford a phone. You can't participate in modern (western) society without a (non-VOIP) phone number. Also, there's no air gap on a phone. Devices will be correlated via location data, SSID scanning, etc.. Put two devices in the same house with wifi disabled and location data enabled and they'll be instantly linked as knowing each other.
- winternett 4y ago
  Agreed, I've noticed a lot of issues in using home wi-fi across social media. There is also some sort of cross platform tracking occurring between Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok for sure, because I've frequently been shown the same topics and trends across those sites. I'm beginning to think there is a UUID that is associated with my home IP, because when I go off it (roaming on mobile), my (off home IP) Internet experience is not consistent with PC back at home.
  - wizofaus 4y ago
    That your IP address is used as part of delivery customization isn't surprising (though why it would make sense for platforms you need to log into I'm not sure). As far as YouTube/TikTok/Twitter sharing tracking info - unlikely, I'd say just the fact that you are the same person using all 3 services which all picked up on your personal preferences from your initial usage of each site would be enough to explain being shown similar content. I could perhaps accept both Twitter and YouTube have access to some other centralised source of personalised data if you've provided the same email address or phone number to both, though I'd think there'd be regulations around that.
    - winternett 4y ago
      I've frequently noticed that when I watch a youtube video, it suddenly shows up somehow on my twitter feed, or a connection thereto... Often I'm recommended to follow the artist from the song I discovered. It happens so much for me that it can't be coincidence, Perhaps my browser is the connection, but I've worked in tech for a while now, and could def could believe that artists meet with big tech regularly to run integrated marketing campaigns across different brands of social media, especially on the Beyonce level.

freshhawk 4y ago

Don't forget your phone is much more deeply tied to your identity through your cell company contract and the OS account information is more likely to be closely tied to your identity. It's also much rarer for someone to have multiple phones and the need to detect that connection. So there are deeper tracking capabilities and it is easier to connect that tracking data with an official person in order to cross-reference.

s1artibartfast 4y ago

For reddit- sure, but why banks? Surely managing hundreds of thousands of my money is worth more than some geo data.

Hackbraten 4y ago
Banks are in the smartphone game for a few more reasons other than tracking: 1. They tend to trust a locked-down, reasonably secured environment more than a hackable, general-purpose operating system, especially for 2FA. 2. They’re under pressure from fintech, so they have to focus more on things customers want.
winternett 4y ago
They could be using it to verify your phone number is being spoofed overseas. If location data on your device indicates you are currently in Texas, but suddenly a charge is made originating in Malaysia, it would trigger an alert based on a geo-location mis-match... They can also use it against you to find out where you go when you are paying in just cash, or for other nosy reasons. That's why the overreach is bad. When you consider other companies in insurance, the IRS, THE ENTIRE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY, and even CVS tracking you through apps, the harmful secret data they could compile on us to better fleece and police us is potentially outrageous.

ryan29 4y ago

As soon as you connect a phone to your home WiFi or log into a single account that device is instantly associated with you and tracks you forever. Phone numbers are just a convenient way for big tech to share your identity amongst themselves. Use a VPN and try to create all of the accounts you'd need to participate in society. It's impossible. You'll be lucky if you can get an email address. I can't imagine being un-banked or unable to afford a phone. You can't participate in modern (western) society without a (non-VOIP) phone number. Also, there's no air gap on a phone. Devices will be correlated via location data, SSID scanning, etc.. Put two devices in the same house with wifi disabled and location data enabled and they'll be instantly linked as knowing each other.

winternett 4y ago
Agreed, I've noticed a lot of issues in using home wi-fi across social media. There is also some sort of cross platform tracking occurring between Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok for sure, because I've frequently been shown the same topics and trends across those sites. I'm beginning to think there is a UUID that is associated with my home IP, because when I go off it (roaming on mobile), my (off home IP) Internet experience is not consistent with PC back at home.
- wizofaus 4y ago
  That your IP address is used as part of delivery customization isn't surprising (though why it would make sense for platforms you need to log into I'm not sure). As far as YouTube/TikTok/Twitter sharing tracking info - unlikely, I'd say just the fact that you are the same person using all 3 services which all picked up on your personal preferences from your initial usage of each site would be enough to explain being shown similar content. I could perhaps accept both Twitter and YouTube have access to some other centralised source of personalised data if you've provided the same email address or phone number to both, though I'd think there'd be regulations around that.
  - winternett 4y ago
    I've frequently noticed that when I watch a youtube video, it suddenly shows up somehow on my twitter feed, or a connection thereto... Often I'm recommended to follow the artist from the song I discovered. It happens so much for me that it can't be coincidence, Perhaps my browser is the connection, but I've worked in tech for a while now, and could def could believe that artists meet with big tech regularly to run integrated marketing campaigns across different brands of social media, especially on the Beyonce level.