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+--- Thread: Online privacy: Browser Fingerprinting and Ultrasonic Tracking (/showthread.php?tid=210827)
Online privacy: Browser Fingerprinting and Ultrasonic Tracking - Winston - 11-20-2017
When I was looking at the TunnelBear (ad) Blocker, the info on it discussed
Browser Fingerprinting
When you go to a web site, a variety of info on your system is available, like OS, browser and version, Flash installed or not, etc. This can provide an identifying "fingerprint" which can allow your browsing to be tracked, even without cookies. "Private" web browsing doesn't stop this info from being available, as I understand it.
This site can give you an idea of your device's unique "fingerprint"
https://amiunique.org/fp
Supposedly it can also check for ultrasonic tracking, but I didn't see that option.
Ultrasonic Tracking
Apparently hundreds of Android apps can listen while in the background for ultrasonic sounds sent out by other devices, such as a web page on a computer, or even a TV show. This allows those tracking to link use of the devices to the same user (or at least same location). So even a computer which is otherwise isolated could conceivably be linked to a given user.
https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2017/05/03/ultrasonic-tracking/
I couldn't find anything on iPhone apps doing this, but there are iPhone apps which ask for permission to access the microphone which have no reason to do so.
And then there are all the other "connected devices". Chinese made surveillance cameras with poor security come to mind. Do any of these have microphones? (I'd bet some do.) And what of all these constantly on devices that listen for voice, like the Amazon Echo and upcoming Apple HomePod? IIRC Samsung got in trouble a couple of years ago for its televisions listening to conversations. Or even "Hey Siri" on an iPhone . . .
And ultrasonic signals can be used to transmit data of pretty much any type:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/beware-of-ads-that-use-inaudible-sound-to-link-your-phone-tv-tablet-and-pc/
And you thought all you had to worry about was the FBI pointing a laser sound reader at your windows . . .
miley-signs003:
Re: Online privacy: Browser Fingerprinting and Ultrasonic Tracking - freeradical - 11-20-2017
Cell phones are electronic leashes.
Re: Online privacy: Browser Fingerprinting and Ultrasonic Tracking - testcase - 11-20-2017
Scary stuff.
Re: Online privacy: Browser Fingerprinting and Ultrasonic Tracking - kj - 11-23-2017
I thought it was Vizio tv's that were tracking people, fwiw, but I bet they all do (if they are connected to the internet).
Re: Online privacy: Browser Fingerprinting and Ultrasonic Tracking - Winston - 11-23-2017
"Your Samsung TV is eavesdropping on your private conversations"
http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/09/technology/security/samsung-smart-tv-privacy/index.html
Although it really wasn't any worse than what Amazon Echo and other devices do now.
Re: Online privacy: Browser Fingerprinting and Ultrasonic Tracking - kj - 11-23-2017
Ah, I was thinking of this
"How to make sure your Vizio smart TV isn't spying on you"
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/disable-vizio-smart-tv-spying/
Yeah, that's a little different, but neither is good.