A new study from Surfshark reveals that many top mobile web browsers don't just track where you go online, they track exactly where you are in the real world.
  • hansolo@lemmy.todayEnglish
    2 hours

    That’s like “catching” a bird flying.

    IT’S WHAT THEY DO. They don’t know anything else!

  • earthworm@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    17 hours
    • A new Surfshark study found that over 50% of the top 15 mobile browsers collect user location data.
    • Microsoft Edge, Aloha, Yandex, and Phoenix collect precise location data, with Edge and Aloha openly sharing it with third parties.
    • Privacy-focused browsers like Tor, Brave, and DuckDuckGo do not collect app-level location data, proving that continuous tracking isn’t technically necessary.

    proving that continuous tracking isn’t technically necessary

      • jumponboard@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12 hours

        That was OP, not the original post by rene

        Four popular mobile browsers collect only your approximate location: Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox.

        privacy-branded browsers like DuckDuckGo, Brave, Tor, and Ecosia, alongside Samsung Internet, UC Browser, and Mi Browser

    • DataCrime@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      14 hours

      Right? Their “study” seems to have been reading the Google App Store and disclosures 😂

      • GoatSynagogue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12 hours

        It’s also completely wrong about the apps on iOS which have system level controls for approx and precise location.

        • DataCrime@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          3 hours

          “The developer states…” honestly I barely trust apple anymore. I miss the days of human app reviews and a curated App Store. Gay Grandpa has sold us out, Jobs was an abusive narcissistic sociopath but I still miss him.

  • GoatSynagogue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12 hours

    On iOS Edge, and all other apps, have a precise location setting alongside the location settings, so is this only talking about Android?

    You can choose to use approximate or precise location right in the settings:

    If you have never selected it doesn’t even get your approximate location.

    • OriginalUsername7@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9 hours

      The article talks about safari as well, so this doesn’t seem to be solely an android problem.

      From memory, Android has a similar location precision setting, but I switched to iOS 2 years ago so I’m a bit hazy on that.

      Reading the article, it sounds like the issue is more about how your data is used if you give your browser access to your precise location. Even if that access is allowed, not all browsers are sharing it. Edge and Aloha seem to be the only two which say they share your precise location.