4 ms·

> anonymised" data is often extremely easy to de-anonymise If it's location data, yes. If it's your IDE usage stats (plugins, file types, whatever), not really

• woodson 1y ago
  Maybe it includes a list of fonts installed on your system, your screen resolution, etc. You don’t need much to get a “fingerprint” that is anonymous but can be correlated with those collected by other tools’ telemetry.
  • xp84 1y ago
    In theory yes? But if state actors, the ones with the sophistication to literally build a signature based on your fonts using your IDE, and then infiltrate a second application to do... whatever... if they want you that bad, they're eventually just going to get you, even if they have to just send someone to your house with a rusty wrench to retrieve all your passwords. Those guys can get the job done much more cheaply anyway.
    • blibble 1y ago
      so we shouldn't worry about de-anonymisation because the government could kick your door down? seems like a weak argument
    • woodson 1y ago
      Nowhere was I talking about state actors. Most fingerprinting is done for ad targeting, as far as I know.