2 ms·

What are these other forms that apps can use?

by raw_anon_1111 1y ago

kalleboo 1y ago
A combination of data about your browser/os/hardware/locale configuration https://amiunique.org https://amiunique.org
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- raw_anon_1111 1y ago
  You realize you just made my point for me that websites can track you more easily than apps… FWIW: the website completely errored out on my iPhone until I turned my ad blocker off in Safari.
  - kalleboo 1y ago
    Whoops, I misread your post, my bad. But I guess apps can run web views that have access to all the same fingerprinting as a standalone browser, minus any ad-blocking plugins (on iOS at least)
  - doctor_radium 1y ago
    With a browser, you have the ability to block cookies, block whole hosts/domains, alter DOM content, alter tracking URL's, and (often) disable low level features you don't like. With apps, not so much.
    - raw_anon_1111 1y ago
      And still waiting for examples of how apps can track you better. If the server wants to track you by your originating IP, all of the client side blocking will do nothing
      - LargoLasskhyfv 1y ago
        VPN, TOR...
        raw_anon_1111 1y ago
        And once you install a VPN on your phone it also keeps apps from revealing your IP address.
        ranger_danger 1y ago
        Some apps can/will detect that an OS-level VPN has been activated though, and refuse to work at all. Spectrum TV does this for example, as well as some banking and other types of apps.
        raw_anon_1111 1y ago
        Yes and sites can also fairly reliably detect when a user is coming from a well known IP address block belonging to a VPN or VPS provider. It’s a built in feature of I know at least AWS https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2020/03/aws-waf-adds-anonymous-ip-list-for-aws-managed-rules/ https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2020/03/aws-waf-a...
        ranger_danger 1y ago
        Assuming you are using a "well known IP address block belonging to a VPN or VPS provider", yes, but it is also possible to setup VPNs/proxies outside of well-known IP blocks.
      - ranger_danger 1y ago
        What is your definition of "track you" in this context? If it's to pinpoint a unique device accessing a website even through VPNs and/or other IP changes, there are an untold number of ways that apps can track you better than a website. Apps have access to many device-specific APIs in addition to all the web ones, and every additional bit of information used can be added to the mix to create an even more unique fingerprint of the specific device accessing a website. For example with phones, an app (even if it's mostly just a webview) may now also have access to your phone model, phone number, maybe your contacts or GPS location, and many other things.

What are these other forms that apps can use?

kalleboo 1y ago

A combination of data about your browser/os/hardware/locale configuration https://amiunique.org https://amiunique.org

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
raw_anon_1111 1y ago
You realize you just made my point for me that websites can track you more easily than apps… FWIW: the website completely errored out on my iPhone until I turned my ad blocker off in Safari.
- kalleboo 1y ago
  Whoops, I misread your post, my bad. But I guess apps can run web views that have access to all the same fingerprinting as a standalone browser, minus any ad-blocking plugins (on iOS at least)
- doctor_radium 1y ago
  With a browser, you have the ability to block cookies, block whole hosts/domains, alter DOM content, alter tracking URL's, and (often) disable low level features you don't like. With apps, not so much.
  - raw_anon_1111 1y ago
    And still waiting for examples of how apps can track you better. If the server wants to track you by your originating IP, all of the client side blocking will do nothing
    - LargoLasskhyfv 1y ago
      VPN, TOR...
      - raw_anon_1111 1y ago
        And once you install a VPN on your phone it also keeps apps from revealing your IP address.
        ranger_danger 1y ago
        Some apps can/will detect that an OS-level VPN has been activated though, and refuse to work at all. Spectrum TV does this for example, as well as some banking and other types of apps.
        raw_anon_1111 1y ago
        Yes and sites can also fairly reliably detect when a user is coming from a well known IP address block belonging to a VPN or VPS provider. It’s a built in feature of I know at least AWS https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2020/03/aws-waf-adds-anonymous-ip-list-for-aws-managed-rules/ https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2020/03/aws-waf-a...
        ranger_danger 1y ago
        Assuming you are using a "well known IP address block belonging to a VPN or VPS provider", yes, but it is also possible to setup VPNs/proxies outside of well-known IP blocks.
    - ranger_danger 1y ago
      What is your definition of "track you" in this context? If it's to pinpoint a unique device accessing a website even through VPNs and/or other IP changes, there are an untold number of ways that apps can track you better than a website. Apps have access to many device-specific APIs in addition to all the web ones, and every additional bit of information used can be added to the mix to create an even more unique fingerprint of the specific device accessing a website. For example with phones, an app (even if it's mostly just a webview) may now also have access to your phone model, phone number, maybe your contacts or GPS location, and many other things.