Google Chrome Increases Digital Fingerprinting
Google Increases Reach of Their Data Collection Tentacles
As you know my #1 privacy violator I like to pick on is Google Chrome. It is a disease. Its worse than sugar, just as additive, and everybody still consumes large unhealthy quantities of it. Friends don’t let friends use Google Chrome.
I refuse to install it on ANY device I own. It is a data leech. Now under the disguise of a new privacy feature Google Chrome and their partners gather more of your private data then ever.
What is worst they can determine if it is you just by your browsing habits without even logging into the website, phone, smart tv, etc.
Its has now gone beyond your private data but your private digital habits. Its called Digital Fingerprinting.
They track you because the data brokerage industry is already worth around US$390 billion, and could grow to as much as US$672 billion by 2032 according to vpnMentor. There is BIG money in stealing your digital habits.
Google, after a double whammy of being caught tracking online activity during private browser sessions and bringing back tracking cookies, Google is trying to do the right thing by adding a new feature so you can turn off all tracking cookies in one click. Is Google not just the greatest!
But ...
Google is now pressuring its users to login into Google Chrome for the best online experience. As more non-Google websites add "Sign Up / Sign In" with Google, this gives Google the ability to digital fingerprint your activity across the Internet. Pair that with your phone's location information and buying habits and they can start to guess "it's you" when visiting an online service even if you are not logged in.
What is fingerprinting?
Fingerprinting collects information about a person's device, location, and browser details and puts it together to create a profile of that person. Even stats about your screen size, device type, web browser version, time zone, IP address, and language settings are harvested.
Unlike cookies, which are small files stored on your computer by websites to remember you, these stats can be gathered without any consent from you. Let’s say that again … no consent required.
This fingerprinting is gathered by Google and their partners to determine your profile so they can push ads and sell your surfing habits to data brokers, surveillance companies, and law enforcement as described in the picture above.
So when big tech claims they have added new privacy controls you need to look at it a little deeper to determine their true objective as we all know they are just finding new ways to learn as much about you and sell it to the highest bidder.
So Remember
Use cash. Anything you don't have to pay with by your credit card, don't. The points from the credit card is in exchange for your soul.
If you use your credit card, don't use your phone's tap feature as you as are feeding two data brokers instead of one.
Have private conversations in person when you can.
Don't sign into free websites if not required as you are giving them your digital fingerprint for free.
Use a VPN.
Until next time, spend more time offline in the real world.
Thanks, Will.