UIDH
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Verizon's customer-tracking 'supercookies' connect to AOL ads
In the last year it's become known that Verizon uses "supercookies" (aka UIDH or Relevant Mobile Advertising) to track what its mobile customers are doing, but now it's taking a step further by quietly linking that information to ads from AOL (the parent company of Engadget, which is also now owned by Verizon). According to ProPublica, the AOL ad network reaches across 40 percent of the internet, and by working with Verizon's UIDH (Unique Identifying Device Header) it can track in great detail what apps people on Verizon Wireless use and what websites they visit. Unfortunately, beyond just serving up targeted ads, the information is also unencrypted and could possibly be used by others to track you. The only good news? Verizon subscribers can opt out, which you can do by following this link or calling 1-866—211—0874.
Verizon's changes to mobile web traffic limit your privacy
Do you work hard to maintain privacy on your smartphone through tools like Do Not Track? If you're on Verizon, your efforts might not be doing much good. Researchers have discovered that the carrier has been modifying some of its cellular web traffic to insert a Unique Identifier Header (UIDH) that helps create profiles for targeted ads. You can opt out of the associated ad program to avoid the sales pitches, but that doesn't turn the headers off -- a less-than-scrupulous website could still build a unique profile of your activity, whether it's for simple advertising purposes or customizing phishing attacks.
