4 ms·

Someone sets up a server that accepts connections to it and then someone sends a connection request to it. My disappointment is not with websites. It is with b

Someone sets up a server that accepts connections to it and then someone sends a connection request to it. My disappointment is not with websites. It is with browsers. They have continuously prioritized dark pattern support. They have consistently removed user control. I mean it's not the websites that default to recording every keystroke, default to tracker persistence, default to phoning home with daily telemetry, etc. When I first started using HN, I ran four very different browser engines. Now there's no real choice.

nemothekid 5mo ago
None of the information on the website I would argue is a dark pattern. The remote server knows my IP address? Yes that's how the web works. The server knows my window's resolution? Well I think thats very useful information for the application to have for layouting. You know what other application is recording my keystrokes right now? HackerNews. "recording keystrokes" is also known as "typing in a text box"
- brudgers 5mo ago
  HN does not record your key strokes until and unless you click the reply link…and then only if recording your final edited comment counts as recording your keystrokes. On the other hand, your browser might be recording each of your keystrokes just because it can and if your browser does, those keystrokes are not going to HN.
  - nemothekid 5mo ago
    It's trivial for HN to record your keystrokes. Any application that can read your keys can record your keystrokes - its fundamental to how software works. You wouldn't be able to write a game if you couldn't. The distinction you are trying to make a is a distinction without a difference. If you don't want sites to "record your keystrokes", then don't use a computer. Trying to paint this as nefarious is a losing battle and completely undermines any awareness you are trying to bring about.
- fragmede 5mo ago
  There's a difference between HN getting the final text when you hit "reply" and a site using JavaScript to time how long it takes you to hit each individual key press and how many times you hit backspace or moved your mouse to switch to a different tab to look something up or if you made up some facts in the comment or if you used an extension like grammarly or anything else.
  - nemothekid 5mo ago
    >site using JavaScript to time how long it takes you to hit each individual key press and how many times you hit backspace You mean like a video game? Are video games now nefarious applications tracking you? Your browser is not "leaking" anything to websites. It's hard to understand what you are even complaining about. If you don't want grammarly to record your keystrokes, then don't install grammarly. It's like ordering a beer and then complaining about alcohol.
cortesoft 5mo ago
Why isn't there choice anymore? Aren't all the major browsers open source?

nemothekid 5mo ago

None of the information on the website I would argue is a dark pattern. The remote server knows my IP address? Yes that's how the web works. The server knows my window's resolution? Well I think thats very useful information for the application to have for layouting. You know what other application is recording my keystrokes right now? HackerNews. "recording keystrokes" is also known as "typing in a text box"

brudgers 5mo ago
HN does not record your key strokes until and unless you click the reply link…and then only if recording your final edited comment counts as recording your keystrokes. On the other hand, your browser might be recording each of your keystrokes just because it can and if your browser does, those keystrokes are not going to HN.
- nemothekid 5mo ago
  It's trivial for HN to record your keystrokes. Any application that can read your keys can record your keystrokes - its fundamental to how software works. You wouldn't be able to write a game if you couldn't. The distinction you are trying to make a is a distinction without a difference. If you don't want sites to "record your keystrokes", then don't use a computer. Trying to paint this as nefarious is a losing battle and completely undermines any awareness you are trying to bring about.
fragmede 5mo ago
There's a difference between HN getting the final text when you hit "reply" and a site using JavaScript to time how long it takes you to hit each individual key press and how many times you hit backspace or moved your mouse to switch to a different tab to look something up or if you made up some facts in the comment or if you used an extension like grammarly or anything else.
- nemothekid 5mo ago
  >site using JavaScript to time how long it takes you to hit each individual key press and how many times you hit backspace You mean like a video game? Are video games now nefarious applications tracking you? Your browser is not "leaking" anything to websites. It's hard to understand what you are even complaining about. If you don't want grammarly to record your keystrokes, then don't install grammarly. It's like ordering a beer and then complaining about alcohol.

cortesoft 5mo ago

Why isn't there choice anymore? Aren't all the major browsers open source?