this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2023
173 points (94.4% liked)

Ask Lemmy

26933 readers
902 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Please don't post about US Politics. If you need to do this, try [email protected]


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either [email protected] or [email protected]. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email [email protected]. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Please understandnim asking this question from a genuine place. I dont want the quora answer, i want the tech savvy, security expert minds of my fellow lemmings. If thats ok?

What happens to this data? What can/do they do with it? and why are so many people concerned about google tracking them?

Do i as an average user need to be concerned?

If so, What sorts of things can i do to avoid being tracked? Preferably without too much comprimise.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (18 children)

I just don't use the internet, can't track me if I ain't on it!

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago (13 children)

If your friends have Facebook, and they share contacts on their phone, and they communicate with you Facebook has a shadow profile for your phone number. They still track you even without the app or an account.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Yes, that's why I have two phone numbers. One with an official work number that I give to friends and business partners - Its basically a requirement to have a public phone number if one runs a company where I live, so no hiding there anyways. And then I have a separate number I never give out, for data only.

Oh, you tried to call me but I didn't pick up? Sorry, I was busy/tired/generic excuse. But if you get on Element I'll give you my private account. Think of it as a backstage pass, you'll get in when nobody else does. You'll be special.

Kindergarten level psychology that works surprisingly well.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are they both attached to smartphones? Location data can be pulled essentially equating the two numbers. If both devices always are in the same spot it’s the same person etc

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Different tools for different threats. I'm not trying to hide from state-level actors and phone data is illegal to sell where I live.

And if I were, surely I wouldn't talk about it on an open forum. In such a hypothetical scenario I wouldn't even bring a cellphone, no matter if it's a smartphone or a plain ol' Nokia from the last millennium.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My point is they probably know both are you. I have two phones too, it just depends on what your goal is. If it’s not to be tracked by the Google, Microsoft, and Metas of the world you’re probably failing.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How can Google, Meta and Microsoft corrolate two phones where one is completely devoid of any Google Play blobs if they don't have access to location and triangulation data from the cell towers?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you somehow have made sure every app you use doesn’t have a meta tracker in it then maybe. Although then you get into the territory of being so unique by blocking everything that you become identifiable that way.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use custom operating system on my phone and router. I analyze packets, firewalls apps and block known tracking system on DNS level since I run my own In/Out VPN.

I have don't understand what you're talking about. Maybe I'm just not on your level.

Thank you for the interaction, but I don't think either of us will gain any more from this discussion.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

I'm aware of browser based tracking and have taken precautions to stop this. I fail to see how this is related to correlating two separate systems.

This continued conversation is wasting both ours time. I'm happy to discuss a different topic with you at another time, but posting links I evaluate to be completely irrelevant and perhaps even ignorant to the topic will only lead to conflict no matter who is right.

I wish you a good day.

load more comments (6 replies)
load more comments (10 replies)
load more comments (14 replies)