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Mozilla Privacy Firefox IT Technology

Firefox Will Give You a Fake Browsing History To Fool Advertisers (vice.com) 177

Security through obscurity is out, security through tomfoolery is in. From a report: That's the basic philosophy sold by Track THIS, "a new kind of incognito" browsing project, which opens up 100 tabs crafted to fit a specific character -- a hypebeast, a filthy rich person, a doomsday prepper, or an influencer. The idea is that your browsing history will be depersonalized and poisoned, so advertisers won't know how to target ads to you. It was developed as a collaboration between mschf (pronounced "mischief") internet studios and Mozilla's Firefox as a way of promoting Firefox Quantum, the newest Firefox browser. [...] Just a warning -- if you use Track THIS it may take several minutes for all 100 tabs to load. (I used Chrome as my browser.) But when as it gradually loads, it's like taking a first-person journey through someone else's consciousness.
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Firefox Will Give You a Fake Browsing History To Fool Advertisers

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  • by Anonymous Coward

    WTF is that?

    Can it simulate a loner who really only reads Slashdot and spends most of his internet-time on bugguide.net?

  • Maybe (Score:5, Insightful)

    by sexconker ( 1179573 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @03:12PM (#58830292)

    Maybe try NOT GIVING THEM USERS' BROWSING HISTORY AT ALL?

    Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.
    Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.
    Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      That's actually pretty tough thanks to tracking cookies, browser fingerprinting, etc. If you can't silence the signal, drown it out with noise.

    • Alternatively, let them advertise to you. It's not like an ad actually forces you to either look at it or buy whatever they're selling.

      Mind you, I use Adblock, so I don't see ads in general. And I'm quite happy that way. But since I've never felt the urge to buy something just because an ad appeared suggesting that I'd get laid more if I bought their product, I wouldn't be terribly upset if I were seeing ads....

      • Nope, who wants to see a page full full of obnoxious crap around what they're trying to read?

        • by beep54 ( 1844432 )

          Nope, who wants to see a page full full of obnoxious crap around what they're trying to read?

          Pretty much why I gave up on Yahoo Mail ages ago (eventually just got out of Yahoo altogether).

      • Mind you, I use Adblock, so I don't see ads in general.
        Most web sites recognize add blockers and make a big overlay on the site asking you to disable it.

        Ad blocking basically only works on youtube videos, skipping the add breaks.

        • Apparently your definition of "most" is "maybe 1 of every 50". Most of the sites that have those adblocker overlays are newspapers that read better by turning javascript off anyway, which bypasses that.

        • Most web sites recognize add blockers and make a big overlay on the site asking you to disable it.

          But by the time they've done that, you've seen enough of the article to be able to identify the sources' names and the topic more widely than the single ink that you've been served by Slashdot (few submitters include multiple sources ; some editors add non-paywalled versions of the same story). So you go to another site.

          More often, you find the sources in TFS, and search directly. Most Slashdot submitters link

      • AD Block is a fundamental feature ^^
      • by rgmoore ( 133276 )

        The problem is less with advertising and more with attempts to profile users. I really don't want people spying on my web browsing habits; that they do it to target me with advertising just makes it a bit worse.

      • Trouble is, even if you don't mind ads, if you don't run a good adblocker, AND you're one of the people, who, for whatEVER reason, still cling to Windows, ads are not your worst worry.. Nope, malware that is served along with those ads that you don't mind... Malware that has a nasty habit of screwing up royally the malware that is Windows 10... Those of us on Linux (or Mac) pretty much don't have to worry about the malware (either the served malware OR the MS provided malware).... Just sayin'

        • by Etcetera ( 14711 )

          That's ludicrous, and I'm coming from the 5-digit-UID M$ days of Slashdot.

          OS-level telemetry is basically a non-issue, because corporate users won't allow it, and whatever relatively small data is sent back can be almost entirely disabled.

          OTOH, Facebook and Alphabet can predict when I get sick or am about to get a divorce and can flag days I'm most likely to want a salad.

          Big Tech's Big Data profiling of us is orders of magnitude more an issue than either Apple or Microsoft's box telemetry.

      • It is not the advertising itself that bothers me, it is the pervasive tracking and profiling. Especially when you consider how they can infer things about you which you have not shared, like the famous case of Target knowing the girl was pregnant. I've seen demonstrations of how will see one of a dozen or so variants of an ad based on profile of the user. Not "this user is looking for a lawn mower" variation, more like, this user prefers this color, this user is more likely to respond to a female face, that
    • Oh it's one of those "private" users. We'll offer them a "special" price.

  • by koavf ( 1099649 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @03:16PM (#58830340) Homepage
    https://adnauseam.io/ [adnauseam.io]
    • by Luckyo ( 1726890 )

      I was about to post the same thing. Ad nauseam is a far older and far more more elegant solution to the problem of tracking and identifying the user. Why open hundreds of tabs full of garbage when you can just have an ad blocker that will literally click on every ad in the background, resulting in utterly nonsensical dataset for the tracker.

      I just wish they'd fix all the minor yet incredibly annoying bugs with that addon, as well as potential conflicts with most commonly used addons like ublock origin.

  • Word of the year, 2019!

    Applies in personal and political spheres!

    I suspect we'll see much more of it in the lead-up to the election in 2020.

  • by brxndxn ( 461473 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @03:21PM (#58830366)

    Because today's tech conglomerates know no bounds in trying to censor speech, control politics, and grab money no matter how morally bankrupt, this is the natural way for the user to combat that.. flood them with garbage.

    You want my contact list? How about 10,000,000 fake contacts to go with it. You want my emails? Here's an inbox full of garbage. This can be done with almost everything.. even Windows 10 telemetry. If you want to store data on me, it's my right to be able to generate tons more random data that can just take up space on your servers.

    The next step will be to have third party programs that seamlessly encrypt everything.. Want to use Microsoft OneDrive or DropBox? Why not have a program that encrypts everything you copy to it and decrypts it when you copy from it?

    It's sad that this is needed - but it IS needed.

    • >>...even Windows 10 telemetry.

      I'm listening...tell me how please.

    • Honestly, I think this is the way to fight not just browser tracking, but also lots of other things like spam email. There's an apocryphal story that after the Cold War ended, the CIA and KGB spooks got together for drinks. The CIA agents lamented how much easier things had been for the KGB. Since the U.S. was an open society, the KGB could just send agents in as tourists whenever they wished. Meanwhile the CIA had to work hard just to sneak agents into the Soviet Union. The KGB agents replied that tha
      • by brxndxn ( 461473 )

        I like this thought process. The idea of 'RAID' for multiple file-hosting sites mixed with encryption could be used to solve the problem with not trusting cloud services to keep your data private..

        I also think it could go further with sites like Facebook. Imagine if you could have everything on your Facebook profile look like complete garbage - from your name to the pictures and videos you upload.. and only friends who have a decryption key can see your real stuff.. Facebook would know who your friends are

    • Is the bigger worry not the creation of the new business unit of browsing verification? I'm not certain that Big Data will abandon that concept, not having fully scoped the method and cost of such verification.

  • by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @03:26PM (#58830408)

    Or a site that's been hacked to download shit or take advantage of FireFox.

    I can't imagine a more worse (though well intentioned) idea. You might as well download viruses yourself and save seven minutes.

  • Here is your coupon for GoatsRus.RU

  • by cmdr_klarg ( 629569 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @03:37PM (#58830472)

    I will continue to block ads and trackers as I have for a long time now. I don't want to spend minutes opening my browser.

  • by istartedi ( 132515 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @03:57PM (#58830582) Journal

    I know, I'll load 100 tabs. That'll show 'em.

  • by mark-t ( 151149 ) <markt AT nerdflat DOT com> on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @04:07PM (#58830634) Journal

    Serious question here... can someone please explain what the problem with targeted ads is?

    While I can appreciate that nobody, including myself, likes the intrusive feeling of ads when one is just after whatever content the ad is temporary blocking one from accessing, all other things being equal, I'd still rather see ads about things that are relevant to the things that interest me than ads for shit that I would not ever need or want. At the very least, I'm liable to find an ad for a product that I was actually interested in at the time less annoying than one that is entirely irrelevant to me in every way. Is that unusual, or something?

    If I'm in the market for X, why is it somehow wrong for companies to advertise X to me, especially when I am sometimes presented with options I may not have otherwise thought of? Why should it matter that I may not have explicitly announced I was interested in X? If an algorithm can manage to guess it, then isn't that so much the better for me, better for the advertiser, better for everyone?

    And if it guesses wrong, how is that any different than an untargeted ad?

    • by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @04:26PM (#58830748)

      Targeted ads aren't by themselves the problem. Having the information that creates the targeted ads is the problem. Just having that information can lead to issues or have negative consequences. The now famous case of Target knowing a girl was pregnant before her father because of the information they had on her:

      https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/#64bc24716668

      If companies know you're pregnant, what else can they know about you? How do we as consumers know what information companies have on us?

      • Targeted ads aren't by themselves the problem. Having the information that creates the targeted ads is the problem. Just having that information can lead to issues or have negative consequences. The now famous case of Target knowing a girl was pregnant before her father because of the information they had on her

        Okay, but where is the actual problem?

        If companies know you're pregnant, what else can they know about you? How do we as consumers know what information companies have on us?

        If all they're going to do with it is show me ads for stuff I'm actually interested in, why should I care? And if they're going to do something else with it... well, what else are they going to do? Give it to law enforcement in response to a search warrant or subpoena. I suppose that's a risk some people care about, but I don't.

        That said, I'm all for people being able to opt out of all of this, and instead to choose to pay money for the online services they use. I

        • EVERYbody seems to be missing the fact that these ad network servers are not only blasting out advertisements but MORE importantly they're also blasting out MALWARE, up the wazoo.. Those of us on Linux and Mac don't have to worry much about that, but those still on the malware magnet that is malware itself, otherwise known as Windows 10 should worry a LOT about it if they DON'T block ads....

          • Malware is a problem with ad networks, but it's not a problem with targeted ads. There's the same amount of malware whether the ads are targeted or not.

            Government access to the data is the most concerning. But for 99% of people it's not concerning on an individual level -- it's only for society as a whole that it has bad consequences.

        • Imagine that some company knows your search history and through machine learning they find out you will probably develop Huntington's disease. Now imagine that this analysis falls into hands of insurance companies in an unregulated market like USA. You are out of luck because you will probably be denied any insurance.

          Even worse, it doesn't matter if you actually have the gene mutations that would cause the disease. That correlation just has to be good enough for insurers to find it profitable to deny even h

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      It's not the targeted ads that concern most people. The system that's been built for targeted ads is a system for spying. That's what most people don't like. Easily used for other purposes now and down the track. Many decent people do not like being spied on. Some don't care. I don't know the numbers.

    • by Dorianny ( 1847922 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @04:45PM (#58830832) Journal
      Because your wife might find it strange that that all the devices in the home are showing targeted ads for jewelry and lingerie when her birthday is six months away
      • If that's the issue, the person in question DESERVES it's consequences
        • Comment removed based on user account deletion
        • If that's the issue, the person in question DESERVES it's consequences

          Not really. He might actually be shopping for her birthday present 6 months in advance, especially if it's expensive jewelry. It might have been someone else using the computer. The ads might not be targeted at all, but she assumes they are. He may have been helping someone else shop, and she's not supposed to know. Maybe he's not waiting until her birthday to buy her a gift. Maybe it's for himself. Maybe it's near his previous girlfriend's birthday, and the companies are still targeting because they

    • Serious question here... can someone please explain what the problem with targeted ads is?

      Why? Because ads that are targeted suffer from the same following set of disadvantages: Ads slow down page display. Ads introduce security vulnerabilities.
      Ads interrupt the display of real content by splitting up content or causing the content to spill to the next screen. Ads pull my attention away from the content that I really want to read.

      In addition, many targeted ads are historical. I see ads for things that I just bought. That's as frustrating as watching a streaming channel and seeing t

    • First, targeted ads don't come from a vacuum. They come from tracking everything you do online. Opposing them is opposing the main way that finances a surveillance state.

      Second, targeted ads allow for price discrimination. By knowing more about my customer, I can set a higher price if they are richer or in more desperate need. While this can, in theory, also lower prices. But, I will bet it's worse overall for me (and most people.)

      Third, it's easier to ignore ads that aren't targeted.

      Is that enough, be

    • by vux984 ( 928602 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @06:59PM (#58831592)

      "can someone please explain what the problem with targeted ads is"

      Where to begin?

      There are essentially 2 major problems.
      The first, is that in order to target you, they have to know who you are and they have to know what you like. To do that they invariably devise ways to track you, to link data obtained from different sources. This leads to tracking cookies, privacy invasive policies, and ultimately the potential for advertisers to know a vast quantity of information about you, that they ostensibly gathered to 'target ads' but which inevitably will be compromised or sold and repurposed.

      They seek ultimately to amass:

      your movements in the real world
      everything you look at online; how long you looked at it, how often...
      everything you purchase
      who you associate with, how often
      your age, sex, religious affiliation, political affiliation, income, relationship status, interests
      even your habits and rythms

      If you can't see how the existence of that profile on you represents a threat to you or someone you know in the wrong hands. From a stalker, ex-girlfriend, criminal, or a future government... then you lack any imagination or awareness of history.

      The second major problem with targeted ads is that it works; it works way better than untargeted ads, (and those work too). If they didn't there wouldn't be huge megacorporations making a lot of money doing it.

      Think about that for a second. Who does the ad serve. You naively regurgitated their sales pitch: "If I'm in the market for X, why is it somehow wrong for companies to advertise X to me..."

      That's only a tiny fraction of what they do. If you go onto good and search for 'raspberry pi' having a bunch of raspberry pi vendors show you an ad in the result, as well as raspberry pi competitors hawking their alternatives... that's generally fine and inoffensive. Few object to that.

      However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Targeted ads don't satisfy your demand for a product, they CREATE demand where it didn't exist. They not only target you ads for products you don't need or particularly want, they know how to target them to get your attention; to create interest, to persuade you to want them. If you are black they'll show you black people using it, if you are white they'll show you white people... they'll tailor it to prey on your fears, because they know what they are; they'll tailor it to prey on your aspirations because they know what they are. They'll set the deal price based on what they know you earn, and can afford, if your in debt they'll highlight financing options, if you follow celebX or yuotuberY they'll highlight their endorsement etc etc etc.

      This isn't in service to you and your needs and desires, this isn't about helping you find the product you need. This is about extracting as much money from your wallet as they can using state of the art psychology coupled with detailed information about you to help them know just what buttons to push to get you. They're hackers; and you are the target.

      You are a damned fool if you think inviting them into your life is harmless, and thrice damned if you think they're actually providing you a service ithat is in your interest.

      • by mark-t ( 151149 )
        If I don't need it or particularly want it, then it is indiscernible from an untargeted ad.
        • by vux984 ( 928602 )

          "If I don't need it or particularly want it, then it is indiscernible from an untargeted ad."

          Don't be absurd.

          An untargeted ad is random product, random messaging, sure it occasionally might hit its mark.

          Now a targeted ad, for a product you don't need or want...

          Imagine you have a good friend, who knows you well. And sometimes he stumbles onto a product or service he knows you'd like he tells you about it. Often you follow through on his recommendations because he does know you well, and his recommendations a

          • mod parent up: "friend" with ulterior motive

          • by mark-t ( 151149 )
            If some random person who has an ulterior motive happens to also know the kind of stuff I'd ordinarily like to buy and always offers to sell it to me, how is that a particularly bad thing for me? Remember, if these ads are being targeted, then this is supposed to be stuff I would ordinarily *LIKE* to buy, not random crap that I don't need or want. If it's something I don't want or feel like I have an immediate use for, then how is that any different than a completely untargeted ad? And if it's something I
            • by vux984 ( 928602 )

              "If some random person who has an ulterior motive happens to also know the kind of stuff I'd ordinarily like to buy and always offers to sell it to me, how is that a particularly bad thing for me?"

              Ads do not simply show you things, whereupon you freely choose to buy them or not buy them. That is NOT what the ad industry is based on.

              Ads are hacking on the human mind; psychologists looking to play tricks on your conscious rational mind, while simultaneously appealing to your subconsious lizard brain.

              Y

              • by mark-t ( 151149 )

                Ads are hacking on the human mind; psychologists looking to play tricks on your conscious rational mind, while simultaneously appealing to your subconsious lizard brain.

                Which might work on people who buy things on impulse.

                But I do not buy random shit.

                Yes, it's true that if they hadn't shown me an ad for something I felt could use at the time but didn't happen to otherwise know about, I'd not have bought the product in the first place, but at the end of the day, it is still a product that I can actually

                • by vux984 ( 928602 )

                  "Which might work on people who buy things on impulse. But I do not buy random shit."

                  a) Now you are moving the goal-posts. "What's wrong with targeted ads, as long as I personally am not affected by them" is a far cry from "serious question, what's wrong with targeted ads". Do you care about the impact of targeted ads on society at large, or just on you personally?

                  b) How do you know you don't buy random shit? Where's the control version of you that isn't exposed to ads? How much less random shit does he ha

                  • by mark-t ( 151149 )

                    a) Now you are moving the goal-posts. "What's wrong with targeted ads, as long as I personally am not affected by them" is a far cry from "serious question, what's wrong with targeted ads".

                    Do you care about the impact of targeted ads on society at large, or just on you personally?

                    That's an entirely fair comment, given the context what I had said, but you misinterpreted what I was actually trying to drive at. While I can admit to understanding how there can a demographic of people that might be adversely

                    • by vux984 ( 928602 )

                      "At the end of the day, however, if the ad is actually being targeted accurately, it is still something that the person actually can make use of or wants."

                      Sure and if a small child watches toy commercials then he wants those toys. If you buy him those toys, he'll use them. But if he didn't see the ads he'd be just as happy playing make believe with the hand-me down hot-wheels. He doesn't need something new. He doesn't want something new until he was told he wanted something new.

                      You think you are more advanc

                    • by mark-t ( 151149 )

                      Most people (again, MOST PEOPLE not some small demographic) spend too much on junk they don't really need or want and regret not having more money for retirement and for things they REALLY want.

                      Maybe I'm a douchebag for believing this, but I think that is each person's own problem.

                      What is the benefit to society to allow multi-billion corps to build detailed profiles on people for the sole purpose of trying to influence and exploit them into buying shit without their permission?

                      It's not really without thei

                    • by vux984 ( 928602 )

                      "It's not really without their permission"

                      The creating and storing the profile is without your permission. I don't agree that corporations have an inherent right to attempt to track everything I do, everywhere I go, everyone I speak to, everything I buy.

                      "when targeted ads are working correctly, it does serves *me* better by not advertising shit to me that I don't really need."

                      Ads for shit you have no interest in, with messaging that fails to push your buttons, and fails to implant itself are the best ads to

                    • by mark-t ( 151149 )

                      And in the absence of any coordinated regulatory solutions; the individual's best option is to disable targeting where he can, and block ads entirely as much as possible.

                      Of course, and I absolutely endorse any individual's freedom to do so.

                      But again, at the end of the day, properly targeted ads are for things that the person who is receiving them will probably actually need or want. If they spend their money on that product, they *are* gaining the benefit of that. If they do not have the wherewithal to

                    • by vux984 ( 928602 )

                      " unless they endorse that it should somehow be acceptable for adults to be immature."

                      Pretty much all humans, including mature adults, can be influenced or persuaded. It's not "immaturity" to be human.

                      "But again, at the end of the day, properly targeted ads are for things that the person who is receiving them will probably actually need or want"

                      At best you are mostly being offered stuff you are vaguely receptive to; and then persuaded by pushing on exactly the right buttons that you are really interested in

                    • by mark-t ( 151149 )

                      Pretty much all humans, including mature adults, can be influenced or persuaded. It's not "immaturity" to be human.

                      No, what I am suggesting may be immature is when a person lacks a sense of fiscal responsibility that one's money might be better spent on other things than a new shiny that they might happen to otherwise want.

                      At best you are mostly being offered stuff you are vaguely receptive to; and then persuaded by pushing on exactly the right buttons that you are really interested in it. So sure, you need

                    • by vux984 ( 928602 )

                      " Suggesting otherwise is just trying to shift the burden of accountability instead of assuming responsibility for one's own choices and actions."

                      In other words, "we're really damned good at making you do what we want, and its your fault if we succeed." That's sociopathic really.

                      I agree with you about personal responsiblity but you need to give people better tools to defend themselves.

                      " Even if a majority of people are like this, that is not a justification."

                      Most people can be addicted to nicotine; its ult

                    • by mark-t ( 151149 )

                      In other words, "we're really damned good at making you do what we want, and its your fault if we succeed." That's sociopathic really.

                      No, they are just really good at appealing to a person's desires... the companies do not ever really make a person do anything. If a person surrenders to their own desires just because somebody else made the option look attractive when they actually had the information at their disposal beforehand to realize that it wouldn't really be in their best long term interests, the

      • However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Targeted ads don't satisfy your demand for a product, they CREATE demand where it didn't exist. They not only target you ads for products you don't need or particularly want, they know how to target them to get your attention; to create interest, to persuade you to want them. If you are black they'll show you black people using it, if you are white they'll show you white people... they'll tailor it to prey on your fears, because they know what they are; they'll tailor it to prey on your aspirations because they know what they are. They'll set the deal price based on what they know you earn, and can afford, if your in debt they'll highlight financing options, if you follow celebX or yuotuberY they'll highlight their endorsement etc etc etc.

        This isn't in service to you and your needs and desires, this isn't about helping you find the product you need. This is about extracting as much money from your wallet as they can using state of the art psychology coupled with detailed information about you to help them know just what buttons to push to get you. They're hackers; and you are the target.

        You are a damned fool if you think inviting them into your life is harmless, and thrice damned if you think they're actually providing you a service ithat is in your interest.

        You are just talking about products to buy. Take this another step further. What if the "advertiser" is a political party, and the "product" is your vote? What if it's not someone trying to get you to buy something, but is someone trying to get that dark corner of your information they don't have? "Take this 3 minute survey and win a new !"

        It's not about advertising. It's about willingly giving up all of the information about you. It's about offering yourself up to be manipulated. Sure, it might be

    • by Livius ( 318358 )

      1) It just feels creepy. That's a valid a reason as any other.

      2) It's irritating that they're such bad quality. Yes, they're targeted, but they're badly targeted, with at best a very child-like understanding what my actual priorities might be, or they're transparently inventing incredibly narrow targets with no real-world basis, or they're drawing on assumptions that I find just plain insulting.

      3) False positives can be harmful. Perhaps they're sharing bad information with others. How would you like you

    • by G00F ( 241765 )

      its not the targeted adds, but the profile.

      Think of implications of this invisible profile available to anyone who's willing to pay. And how correct is it? will it be as correct as credit reports?

      the implications of it correct or not go deep. This isn't about searching for diapers and being shown adds relevant for young parents.

      And it isn't just ones internet experience, but getting a job, college, credit, or even being on some government watch list.

    • The problem is that profiling is not about showing you targeted adds anymore. We're way past that - see Cambridge Analytica for example. Databrokers have profiles for sale with thousands of scores about you. They try to ascertain/predict things like your gulability, psychological profile, attempts to have children, tendency to 'job hop', health risks, and so much more. These are sold to insurers, governments, employers (often embedded in things like HR software), etc.

      So the problem is that public debate doe

    • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Well I think the main... "HEY YOU, BUY REDGUM IT IS GREAT" ... reason is that sometimes you ... "REDGUM IS DA BEST. WE KNOW YOU LOVE REDGUM BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS BUY CINNAMGUM, AND REDGUM IS BETTER" ... can't really concentr "REDRUM REDRUM RedGUM!" ... concentrate when all that stuff is popped up. But I think you mean why is targeted bad, in which "HEY, DID YOU NOT BUY REDGUM YET, DUDE YOU NEED REDGUM" ... you keep seeing the same motherfucking ads over and over. It is a sanity thing.

      They are ads, they are try

    • Serious question here... can someone please explain what the problem with targeted ads is?

      "Targeted ads" is more the cover story Google, et al claim they're using the data for so your reaction will be "what's the big deal?". But even just targeted ads can be a problem.

      There's the previously mentioned "Target incident" where a girl received a targeted catalog for pregnant women, tipping her dad off to the fact that she was pregnant. While the news media spun the story as a "Targeted ads are so good, they knew before her dad". But the reality is the girl likely knew she was pregnant, and had sh

      • by mark-t ( 151149 )

        It would be quite trivial for most to determine if you're likely to vote Democrat, Republican, or not at all based on your browsing history.

        Putting aside that I don't happen to be American, I would be neither a die hard Republican nor Democrat voter in a US election. For myself, it depends on who is running in a particular election, and what that particular candidate's platforms vs their competition. In my own country, I've voted for the long shot (who has never won, but sometimes would still at least get

        • Cool. A lot of very real and very significant problems which affect a lot of people don't affect you. Congratulations, I guess. Assuming your conscience sees no obligation to oppose any exploitation that doesn't directly affect you, I'd think at the very least we could ask that you not whine about hearing those affected complain and pretending the problems don't exist.

    • Your question was answered by numerous people and they pointed out almost everything...

      I would like to let you know why it is a problem for me. Maybe that might help you figure out if you are bothered by targeted advertising or not.

      In order to target you, they need to know something about you. My problem with that is that they frequently misidentify my notions for looking for something.

      It is rather like discussing something with a Trump hater/supporter. If you discuss reality with them, they assume you are

  • But as I use ad blockers wherever possible and have trained myself to ignore at least 95% of all ads since childhood (to this very day I will NOT by Tide products because of their incredibly annoying ads from the '60's) so can't say I need this. I DO like the idea tho.
  • Image a "fake" history where it says you have visited pederasty websites...

    In the US just that is "proof" you committed a crime, the Green Mile, then, BYE BYE!

  • This is a nifty idea, especially if they make it such that I don't really need to open those tabs...

  • Cookie stuffing dont work anymore or what?
  • There is no other online fight that I embrace so wholeheartedly on one side as the fight against advertisement. So any news about new developments on my side warms my heart better than a full blown 400g hot cup of Ceylon tea with milk

    The fight is endless war of sword and shield, but I will cheer it on one side until I die.

  • Oh great, no wonder I get ads for Teletubby panties and used horse toothbrushes.

  • ... opens up 100 tabs crafted to fit a specific character -- a hypebeast, a filthy rich person, a doomsday prepper, or an influencer.

    ... a regular person who doesn't want to be tracked (or use 100 tabs to signal that). Can I get that character?

  • by BLToday ( 1777712 ) on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @06:36PM (#58831476)

    Manager: Why are you getting ads for Brazzers? You know our policy.
    Nuclear Plant Safety Inspector: Yes, I know. We're a strictly Pornhub only shop.

  • I was hoping they would figure out a way to fake the cookies of the tracking sites so they would start getting bogus data. Bogus data is much more harmful than no data at all.
  • a hypebeast, a filthy rich person, a doomsday prepper, or an influencer

    But I'm a filthy rich hyperbeast doomsday prepper with a following of thousands, you insensitive clod

  • Is it better to have relevant advertising or not? It would be amusing to get the advertising meant for millionaire Playboy's I guess but I'm still being bombarded with ads but this time they are completely irrelevant!
  • I already have 200 tabs open...

    But then again, this could be a chance to explore all kinds of lives!

    Lesseee.... Who do I want to be today??? (pick one)
    - Washed up movie star (Residual income not like it used to be? promote YOUR next body/clothing/exercise improvement devices now!)
    - gay/porn lube salesman (I, uh... don't want to touch this one)
    - incarcerated homeless person (wait, they get ads? Sadly, yes. Yes, they do. One can't have too many pairs of socks, tubes of toothpaste or deoderant)
    - owner of a t

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