My browser, the spy: How extensions slurped up browsing histories from 4M users

Discussion in 'privacy problems' started by guest, Jul 19, 2019.

  1. guest

    guest Guest

    My browser, the spy: How extensions slurped up browsing histories from 4M users
    Have your tax returns, Nest videos, and medical info been made public?
    July 18, 2019

    https://arstechnica.com/information...a-from-apple-tesla-blue-origin-and-4m-people/
    Report: DataSpii: The catastrophic data leak via browser extensions (SUMMARY) / Full Report
     
  2. guest

    guest Guest

    More on DataSpii: How extensions hide their data grabs—and how they’re discovered
    July 18, 2019
    https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/07/dataspii-technical-deep-dive/
     
  3. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    Wow this is pretty creepy.
    Edit: I'm less than 1/2 way through the documentation but it's well worth the long read.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
  4. rseiler

    rseiler Registered Member

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    Which naturally brings to mind: has anyone around here or elsewhere ever put together a vetted list of top extensions?
     
  5. summerheat

    summerheat Registered Member

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    The recommended extensions on AMO.
     
  6. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    But it's not anything new though. I have always known that installing extensions is a huge risk, that's why I would rather see browsers makers integrating certain features. I also wonder if there is a way for them to limit extension rights, without crippling them.
     
  7. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    That's right, it's not new, but as the comment below says - it's dirty. The implications of this thing run far and wide, compromising massive amounts and wide ranging personal imformation like health records, business secrets, ssn, and so on. It's especially the insidious nature of those 8 (known) extensions and the extremely devious way they've been coded to hide/ delay/ morph etc making detection extremely difficult.
    When the heat comes on, these scammers tried to single out Sam Jadali - " but you're the only one"
    Not many people put their life on hold for months and spent 30K nailing this stuff down.
     
  8. guest

    guest Guest

    Still available via Google Analytics: Data slurped from 4 million browsers
    Customers allowed to hold on to existing data as long as they keep accounts open
    July 24, 2019

    https://arstechnica.com/information...rowsers-still-available-via-google-analytics/
     
  9. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    The Netherlands
    Yes exactly, but what I meant is that ALL extensions are capable of doing this stuff, and we have browser developers (Mozilla, Google, M$) to blame.
     
  10. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    For sure when you get a partnership (browsers devs and extension devs) there's going to be two possible culprits. Yes there's always the worry that extensions have the capability to leak stuff, so I agree and I do see the dilemma with that, so much so, I'm taking a fresh look at weeding out more of mine. The pure nature of these 8 extensions though, just can't be considered on the same level as, say, uBO and other extensions that are well known and well respected.
     
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