Chrome notes your topics of interest based on the sites you browse and how often you visit them. Sites can also store info with Chrome about your interests. As you keep browsing, Chrome may be asked to share stored info about ad topics or site-suggested ads to help give you a more personalised ad experience
You can opt out of these features in your Chrome settings at any time < it may be ON as default after Chrome update
These new features will roll out gradually on computers and Android devices
Edit ad privacy settings
On your device, open Chrome.
At the top right, tap More and then Settings.
Tap Privacy and security and then Ad privacy.
Select the ad feature you’d like to turn on or off(toggle them ALL OFF)for android and desktop
it's the privacy sandbox that isn't about privacy 😆
Privacy Sandbox is still all about advertisement. While it is true that it is changing tracking on the Internet, if enabled in Chrome and used by sites, its main purpose is tracking and use for advertising, and not to improve user privacy while online.
more here
@ecksmc
Just don't use Chrome. Use a browser that actually respects your privacy.
@voltronic @ecksmc That's not really an option. Even DuckDuckGo isn't as private as they want you to believe because they have to get their search data from somewhere. They chose Microsoft and Microsoft required certain compromises to do it including not talking about their deal.
Chrome represents a middle ground which might be the best we can reasonably expect.
startpage uses google search BUT unlike duckduckgo
"When you search, your query is automatically stripped of unnecessary metadata including your IP address and other identifying information. We send the anonymized search query to Google and return the search results to you. We don’t log your searches"
it's anonymous
DuckDuckGo stores your search keywords and searches phrases to optimize their results or keep track of trends and uses microsoft ad network to show up advertisements on the search results page. None of the ads are based on your personal search activity- Startpage relies on Google’s Ad network to display any advertisements related to what you search for - both let you switch that off though - Startpage is based out of Netherlands & DuckDuckGo is US-based - US Vrs EU law
@ecksmc @voltronic I like Opera on my mobile phone. I'm not that focused on privacy.
@danielbsmith i was a fan of opera years ago till a chinese company bought it
big backlash when that happened >> "Most people know Opera is owned by a Chinese consortium since 2016 and quite possibly embeds spyware"
@danielbsmith
Chrome is not an acceptable middle ground for me. It's among the worst for respecting your privacy and security.
Opera isn't much better. See here:
@danielbsmith
Also, you can say you're "not that focused on privacy" but still have your personal data compromised while using an app that is known to not respect it. You should care about this. Everyone should.
There are good alternatives out there that do a much better job, and will make you much safer. My recommendations are Brave or LibreWolf for desktop, and Cromite for mobile.
@voltronic @ecksmc I think I've made myself unclear. Privacy is important to me but it's not my top priority. I turn off all of the things in the settings. I use an ad blocker. And that's good enough for me. If I had a government job or other exposure I'd be doing more. 👍
@voltronic @ecksmc I should also mention that my school district has gone Google so I can't really get away from it in practical terms. When I retire in approximately 10 years, I'll revisit this.
@danielbsmith yeah, those of us who are really concerned about data privacy but teaching are in a bind. @voltronic @ecksmc
@ecksmc @voltronic Oh. I didn't know that. But has any ever been found? I assume there are security experts watching it.
not sure about spyware being found
Does Opera Sell Your Data? Is it Safe to Use?
After going through all the reports and articles, it is evident that the privacy concerns related to the Opera browser are completely valid
https://browsertouse.com/blog/23760/does-opera-sell-your-data-is-it-safe-to-use/
@danielbsmith @voltronic
startpage is better * leave NO trace
https://www.startpage.com/
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/startpage-%E2%80%94-private-searc/fgmjlmbojbkmdpofahffgcpkhkngfpef
i like chrome lol
on my Chromebook
it's not as bad if you enable a few flags, for ChromeOS, and install extensions you can tweak your privacy
Android however with no extensions and can't enable the same flags as ChromeOS i mainly use firefox focus
i have a few PWAs set up using chrome on Android though