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Apple is withdrawing Safari's Do Not Track feature
The upcoming version of Apple's Safari browser will no longer come with "Do Not Track," but it's not because the tech giant doesn't care about your privacy anymore. As 9to5mac notes, Safari version 12.1's release notes come with a line that says it's removing "support for the expired Do Not Track standard to prevent potential use as a fingerprinting variable." It might not be obvious because of the implications of the feature's name, but Do Not Track actually just sends a voluntary signal -- a suggestion, if you will -- that websites don't have to follow.
Obama's legacy: The most tech-savvy president
When Barack Obama moved into the White House on January 20th, 2009, the federal government was in the digital dark ages. Even as late as 2011, he was complaining that the White House was 30 years behind. Among other things, Obama was the first president to carry a BlackBerry, and even so, it wasn't until 2016 that the leader of the free world was finally able to trade in his aging RIM device for a modern smartphone. And, as the president was quick to point out in an interview with Jimmy Fallon, the unnamed phone is so locked down, it's like one of those "play phones" you'd give to a 3-year-old. Despite these hurdles, Obama made it one of his priorities to modernize the federal government on everything from telecommunications policy to White House IT. He tackled infrastructure, STEM education, net neutrality and climate change in serious and substantive ways. Of course, the president's efforts weren't always a rousing success, and on issues involving privacy, spying and drone usage, he faces lingering criticism from both ends of the political spectrum. But, love him or hate him, for better or worse, when it comes to science and technology, Barack Obama has had a bigger impact than almost any president in history.
FCC hires a privacy guru to help lead its telecom investigations
If you want proof that the Federal Communications Commission is getting serious about privacy, you only need to look at its latest recruit. The agency has hired Jonathan Mayer, one of the masterminds behind Do Not Track browsing, as the chief technologist for its Enforcement Bureau. He'll help lead investigations into any shady behavior from telecoms and TV providers, particularly if they run afoul of your privacy or security.
EFF is building a stronger 'Do Not Track' browser setting
Despite "Do Not Track" being a standard option on Firefox, Chrome and Safari (but not Microsoft Edge), many unscrupulous advertisers are still secretly tracking the browsing habits of internet users. That's why the Electronic Frontier Foundation has teamed with Adblock, Medium, Mixpanel and DuckDuckGo to create a stronger standard.
Microsoft's new browser won't enable 'Do Not Track' by default
Microsoft admits that when it switched on "do not track" by default in Internet Explorer 10 back in 2012, it was "welcomed by many." However, the company now has to switch it off to comply with the latest industry standard. The newest World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) draft for the feature says it "MUST reflect the user's preference," meaning you have to turn it on to activate it, just like on Firefox or Chrome. Redmond explains that it has no choice but to change the default, else advertisers can argue that it doesn't have to honor any DNT signal from Microsoft's browser.
Healthcare.gov stops passing private details on to advertisers
A few days ago an Associated Press report revealed that the US Government's affordable care portal Healthcare.gov was passing detailed information on to third parties. Now the AP tests reveal those links have been scaled back. Previously, the Eelectronic Freedom Foundation discovered that the site was passing on details like age, pregnancy status, smoking status and more via the URL, which would bypass even protections like enabling Do Not Track in your browser. The data that embedded services like DoubleClick, ChartBeat, Google or Twitter received was apparently anonymous and supposedly barred from use for business interests, but it theoretically could be matched up with other information to identify and target users with ads. The Obama Administration responded to the initial complaints by saying the data was intended for use to improve the website itself, but so far hasn't commented on the changes. For concerned users, the EFF recommends using a tool like its Privacy Badger to block websites from sending your personal information on to third parties.
Latest Firefox browser puts web privacy one button away
You may be very privacy-conscious in this era of mass surveillance, but your web browser hasn't done much to keep up -- big updates like Do Not Track and private browsing windows arrived years ago. Mozilla isn't satisfied with this state of affairs, so it's releasing a new version of Firefox that puts privacy front-and-center. The centerpiece is a "forget" button that makes it easy to scrub cookies, history and other details; you won't have to jump through hoops to eliminate traces of where you've been, whether you're concerned about data theft or just want to hide an embarrassing web session. You can also switch to DuckDuckGo's anti-tracking search engine, and you'll find both a privacy tour (on the desktop) and a coaching add-on (on Android) that help you use relevant features.
What you need to know about online advertisers tracking you
Spend lots of time online? Then perhaps you've heard of targeted advertising, "Big Data" analysis and complaints of privacy violations by advertising companies. The ads above your Gmail inbox? Yeah, those. As it turns out, most people don't like being tracked by advertisers. Surprise! As such, a variety of tools exist to protect individuals. But what about a solution that anyone could use, that didn't require knowledge of cryptography or even a software install? That's where the Do Not Track initiative comes in. Do Not Track (DNT) is explained by its own name: Don't track what I do online, including what I buy, what I read, what I say and who I communicate with. But how should it work? Therein lies the controversy. Since the subject is still being debated, now's the perfect time to learn about it, voice your opinion and request more control over your data. If you want more control, that is.
The EFF wants your help testing a browser add-on that blocks spying ads
Like many privacy advocates, the Electronic Frontier Foundation isn't a big fan of advertisers and sites following you around the web. So, it's doing something about this nosy behavior -- it's launching a browser add-on, Privacy Badger, that lets Chrome and Firefox users limit site tracking. The tool automatically stops sites' attempts to shadow your surfing activity and lets you selectively grant permission when you're not worried. To get on the Badger's good side, a web host has to honor Do Not Track requests -- a not-so-subtle dig at Facebook, Google, Yahoo and others that so far insist on tracking visitors.
Yahoo gives up on Do Not Track, thinks privacy should be 'personalized'
The Do Not Track initiative sounds like a great idea in theory -- you as a user can basically tell the websites you visit that you don't want your behavior monitored or shared with third parties. Alas, major players like Google and Facebook have said they ignore those sort of requests from users, and now Yahoo is giving up on Do Not Track too. What does that mean for you? Well, the resurgent web company is once again watching what you do... unless you specifically tell it otherwise. You as an individual can still manage your Yahoo privacy settings for things like targeted ads that appear based on your search habits, but you can no longer opt-out of everything en masse. Yahoo points out in a blog post that it was "the first major tech company to implement Do Not Track," but its stance on DNT hasn't always seemed like the most forward-thinking. Let's flash back to 2012 -- when Microsoft made Do Not Track the default behavior for Internet Explorer 10, Yahoo basically decided to ignore it, claiming that the move sullied its users' experiences because they didn't enable it themselves. In a move that'll shock absolutely no one, Yahoo is playing the user card again. The privacy team made it a point to present the brighter side of its decision, affirming their strong belief that "the best web is a personalized one." We wonder about that.
Twitter's new targeted advertising hooks up with your browsing history
After testing it out for six months, Twitter's now rolled out changes that will tie its ads with information picked up from web browser cookies. Advertisers will be able to share browser-related details with Twitter, which can then match it to a specific user. Such information could include where they're browsing from, as well as the sites they visit, aiming to offer "highly relevant" ads, according to the social network's official blog. Twitter is quick to mention that if you want to opt out of its highly-targeted ads, you just need to uncheck the promoted content box within your privacy settings. It also reiterates its support of Do Not Track, and says that it will not receive any cookie IDs if you already have DNT enabled in your browser.
Google's AdID, an anonymous identifier for advertising, could replace the aging cookie
You know the drill: accept the cookie, delete the cookie, empty the cookie bin, and so on. Mostly, it's an exercise used when attempting to get your mum's PC to run a wee bit faster, but if you think about it, the cookie is one of the most archaic pieces of the world wide web that's still in use today. Naturally, Google is swooping in in a bid to change the status quo, according to a new report from USA Today. Essentially, the search giant is building an "anonymous identifier for advertising, or AdID, that would replace third-party cookies as the way advertisers track people's internet browsing activity for marketing purposes." Perhaps astoundingly, it sounds as if the project could benefit both consumers (by shielding true identities) and advertisers at the same time. Of course, pundits are concerned about the global leader in online advertising controlling the technology that tracks movements on the web, but to us, it sounds as if end users will get far more power over who sees what when compared to today's cookies.
Pinterest introduces enhanced tracking, offers opt-out option
From the NSA to Mozilla, it seems like everyone wants to track your online activity (because you're so interesting, of course). Pinterest is the latest to jump on that bandwagon, but the company is keen to assure users that it's completely down with Do Not Track. In a blog post introducing its most recent update, Pinterest spelled out what its latest addition -- the "Edit Home Feed" option -- means for its users' privacy. Basically, you can now tailor your feed to provide you with content related to what you've been pinning. Additionally, Pinterest can track your activity on other sites (so long as they feature a "Pin It" button) to suggest boards based on your interests, though users can easily opt out under their account settings. With public concern over online tracking at an all time high (Thanks, PRISM!), Pinterest evidently didn't want to get caught on the wrong side of the divide.
Stanford's Cookie Clearinghouse adds another layer of security to web browsers
People are becoming more vigilant when it comes to online privacy, so Stanford University's new initiative couldn't have come at a better time. The project, called Cookie Clearinghouse, will curate catalogues of websites whose cookies browsers should or shouldn't allow. As designed, it works along with a Safari-like patch Mozilla is testing for Firefox that allows cookies from sites you've visited but blocks third-party cookies from sites you haven't. Theoretically, that'll prevent advertisers or other entities from tracking you around the web, but the method isn't foolproof -- having a centralized list will prevent your browser from saving the cookies of an ad or a spam website you've accidentally clicked on. To establish which sites are kosher and which aren't, the folks at Stanford are slated to meet up with an advisory board. It will be comprised of privacy researchers, law pundits, small business experts, as well as reps from Mozilla and Opera. Unlike Do Not Track -- another Stanford initiative from which this one later evolved -- advertisers don't have to opt in for inclusion on either list. It's just up to developers (other than Mozilla) to integrate this more thorough solution into their browsers' privacy options. [Image credit: Brian Richardson]
Firefox updates Android and desktop betas with treats for privacy, font snobs
The Firefox folks have been talking up the latest additions to the browser's beta streams for Android and desktop users. If you've signed up for the former, then you'll soon see open-source fonts Charis and Open Sans replacing the default lettering in the OS, for a more "visually appealing and clear reading experience" -- as well as some HTML5 compatibility tweaks. On the desktop side, users will find more granular "do not track" options as well as letting you now re-open tab thumbnails that you'd previously closed. As for us? We're still waiting for the G-Fox version of the beta, where we navigate the internet through the power of cuddling.
FTC issues mobile privacy guidelines, values clarity and Do Not Track
The FTC has made online privacy one of its bigger missions as of late, going so far as to develop a full privacy framework that it hopes others will follow. Its counsel is extending to the mobile world with a new report full of recommendations for privacy inside apps, ads and mobile operating systems. Some of the advice includes decidedly common sense measures, such as asking for privacy permissions at a relevant moment or requiring clear disclosures as to what info leaves the device. Other tips require more exertion: the FTC would like to see dedicated privacy dashboards inside of apps, privacy policies that are visible directly from app stores and a simple Do Not Track option baked into both mobile browsers as well as ads. The suggestions aren't binding, and they're only partly useful when we've already seen features like Do Not Track find their way into newer platforms like iOS 6 and Windows Phone 8. Still, the report is potentially a worthwhile read for developers -- especially those that want to stay on the FTC's good side.
Mozilla looks back at 2012, finds many of us choosing Do Not Track
It's been a time of reflection for search engine teams, so why not for web browsers? Mozilla has taken its own trip back through 2012 and found that a surprising number of us have embraced Do Not Track. About 8 percent of desktop users, and 19 percent of Android users, have adopted the feature as of the end of year -- that's a clear sign of interest in keeping web habits private, Mozilla claims. While we don't have similar statistics for other browsers to add context, the company still sees a lot of sunshine with the rapid development of Firefox OS and recent additions like its Social API. If Mozilla's introspection proves intriguing, many more details await at the source.
Google Chrome 23 in finished form brings Do Not Track, graphics boosts for Windows users
As cutting-edge as Google can be, its Chrome browser has trailed in supporting Do Not Track by default; all its major challengers already have the option to cut off tracking cookies. At least that's where Google's fast-track development process comes in handy. Following a short beta, the stable release of Chrome 23 includes the DNT protocol to both safeguard privacy and prevent a few eerily well-targeted ads. The update is more fine-grained still with a quick drop-down menu to selectively turn off access to cameras, location and other sensitive details on a site-by-site basis. Even those who live their life in public get something: Windows users at last have graphics hardware acceleration for video, giving a lift to battery life on laptops and smoothing playback for those on borderline-acceptable PCs. More details are available at the source link, so get to clicking if you're not a fan of small text files shadowing your web visits.
Editorial: We, the digitally naked
The iPhone 5. It is taller, and has incremental improvements under the hood, and is shiny. (I'm staying away. Typing on glass is wrong.) Of more import, the smartphone you carry is more than a communication device; it is potentially a government surveillance enabler. To whatever extent that is the case (depending on whose public pronouncements you believe), latent digital snooping was reinforced on the same day as the iPhone event. Two days after that, Google announced its intention to build a "Do Not Track" option into the Chrome browser, giving users some shielding from a different type of rampant surveillance -- the type that creepily delivers knowingly targeted ads. The two issues differ in seriousness, but are related as privacy concerns. As our mobile and desktop devices get sexier, we become increasingly naked.
Google plays privacy catch-up, adds Do Not Track option to Chrome
Google's had one foot in the web privacy door for a while, offering Chrome users the Keep My Opt-Outs extension in its browser's Web Store since 2011. Still, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari already offer a Do Not Track option directly in their browser settings. Mountain View is now working to close that gap by bringing that same privacy configuration to Chrome. Do Not Track will let users opt out of tracking cookies and targeted advertising (from ad networks that comply with the standard, that is), and is currently live on Chrome's developer channel. The option will reportedly be baked into the stable version of the browser by the end of the year.
