4 ms·

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 feature

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 10mo 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 10mo ago
  VPN, TOR...
  - raw_anon_1111 10mo ago
    And once you install a VPN on your phone it also keeps apps from revealing your IP address.
    - ranger_danger 10mo 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 10mo 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 10mo 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 10mo 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.
  - raw_anon_1111 10mo ago
    A website Can easily deduce your phone model based on the browser agent attribute which tells the operating system and the screen resolution with a fair degree of certainty, an app can’t get your phone number, it can get your GPS with your permission. But so can a web page with your permission. There is a standard JavaScript API for it. Contacts are also gated by permissions. And there is a Contact Picker API for browsers https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Contact_Picker_API https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Contact_Pic...
    - ranger_danger 10mo ago
      > an app can’t get your phone number Apps can absolutely get your phone number: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2480288/programmatically-obtain-the-phone-number-of-the-android-phone https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2480288/programmatically...

raw_anon_1111 10mo 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 10mo ago
VPN, TOR...
- raw_anon_1111 10mo ago
  And once you install a VPN on your phone it also keeps apps from revealing your IP address.
  - ranger_danger 10mo 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 10mo 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 10mo 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 10mo 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.
- raw_anon_1111 10mo ago
  A website Can easily deduce your phone model based on the browser agent attribute which tells the operating system and the screen resolution with a fair degree of certainty, an app can’t get your phone number, it can get your GPS with your permission. But so can a web page with your permission. There is a standard JavaScript API for it. Contacts are also gated by permissions. And there is a Contact Picker API for browsers https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Contact_Picker_API https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Contact_Pic...
  - ranger_danger 10mo ago
    > an app can’t get your phone number Apps can absolutely get your phone number: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2480288/programmatically-obtain-the-phone-number-of-the-android-phone https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2480288/programmatically...