notkshitij/Betterfox
1
0
Fork 0
mirror of https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox.git synced 2026-06-12 15:40:48 +05:30
Code Issues Releases Wiki Activity

Updated Ghostery (markdown)

yokoffing
2020-08-09 13:10:32 -04:00
parent f0aa73b1fa
commit 83b1b111f1
1 changed files with 20 additions and 25 deletions
Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files
Ghostery.md
+20 -25
@@ -23,29 +23,27 @@ Ghostery helps you browse smarter by giving you control over ads and tracking te
* [1.3 Limitations of conventional blockers.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#limitations-of-conventional-content-blockers) * [1.3 Limitations of conventional blockers.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#limitations-of-conventional-content-blockers)
* [1.4 Do I still need Privacy Badger?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#do-i-still-need-privacy-badger) * [1.4 Do I still need Privacy Badger?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#do-i-still-need-privacy-badger)
### Privacy ### Privacy and Data Anonymization
* [2.1 Does Ghostery collect and sell my data?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#does-ghostery-collect-and-sell-my-data) * [2.1 Does Ghostery collect and sell my data?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#does-ghostery-collect-and-sell-my-data)
* [2.2 I've heard that Ghostery couldn't be trusted.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#but-ive-heard-that-ghostery-couldnt-be-trusted) * [2.2 I've heard that Ghostery couldn't be trusted.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#but-ive-heard-that-ghostery-couldnt-be-trusted)
* [2.3 What is the Human Web?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#what-is-the-human-web)
### Human Web * [2.4 Is my data truly anonymous?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#is-my-data-truly-anonymous)
* [3.1 What is the Human Web?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#what-is-the-human-web) * [2.5 Is the Human Web opt-in or opt-out?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#is-the-human-web-opt-in-or-opt-out)
* [3.2 Is my data truly anonymous?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#is-my-data-truly-anonymous) * [2.6 I'm not comfortable with anonymous data being collected.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#im-not-really-comfortable-with-the-supposedly-anonymous-data-being-collected-from-user)
* [3.3 Is the Human Web opt-in or opt-out?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#is-the-human-web-opt-in-or-opt-out)
* [3.4 I'm not comfortable with anonymous data being collected.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#im-not-really-comfortable-with-the-supposedly-anonymous-data-being-collected-from-user)
### Rewards Program ### Rewards Program
* [4.1 What is Ghostery Rewards?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#what-is-ghostery-rewards) * [3.1 What is Ghostery Rewards?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#what-is-ghostery-rewards)
* [4.2 How does it work?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#how-does-it-work) * [3.2 How does it work?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#how-does-it-work)
* [4.3 How is my data kept private in this process?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#how-is-my-data-kept-private-in-this-process) * [3.3 How is my data kept private in this process?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#how-is-my-data-kept-private-in-this-process)
* [4.4 How is this program different from advertisements?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#how-is-this-program-different-from-advertisements) * [3.4 How is this program different from advertisements?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#how-is-this-program-different-from-advertisements)
* [4.5 I'd rather just pay you for your software, and then we can have mutual trust.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#id-rather-just-pay-you-for-your-software-and-then-we-can-have-mutual-trust) * [3.5 I'd rather just pay you for your software, and then we can have mutual trust.](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#id-rather-just-pay-you-for-your-software-and-then-we-can-have-mutual-trust)
* [4.6 If I turn off Rewards, is any data retained or collected?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#so-if-one-opts-out-of-the-rewards-system-no-data-is-collected-or-stored-neither-locally-or-anywhere-else-or-is-this-data-still-collected-in-case-user-would-have-a-change-of-mind-and-turn-rewards-back-on) * [3.6 If I turn off Rewards, is any data retained or collected?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#so-if-one-opts-out-of-the-rewards-system-no-data-is-collected-or-stored-neither-locally-or-anywhere-else-or-is-this-data-still-collected-in-case-user-would-have-a-change-of-mind-and-turn-rewards-back-on)
### Partners and Owners ### Partners and Owners
* [5.1 Who is Cliqz?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#who-is-cliqz) * [4.1 Who is Cliqz?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#who-is-cliqz)
* [5.2 Cliqz experiment with Mozilla](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#cliqz-experiment-with-mozilla) * [4.2 Cliqz experiment with Mozilla](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#cliqz-experiment-with-mozilla)
* [5.3 I heard Cliqz has shut down. Does that mean Ghostery has too?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#i-heard-cliqz-has-shut-down-does-that-mean-ghostery-has-too) * [4.3 I heard Cliqz has shut down. Does that mean Ghostery has too?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#i-heard-cliqz-has-shut-down-does-that-mean-ghostery-has-too)
* [5.4 Who is Hubert Burda Media?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#hubert-burda-media-has-a-majority-share-in-the-company-and-old-german-media-companies-have-a-history-of-getting-internet-related-things-wrong---should-we-not-be-worried-about-their-influence-on-the-company) * [4.4 Who is Hubert Burda Media?](https://github.com/yokoffing/Better-Fox/wiki/Ghostery#hubert-burda-media-has-a-majority-share-in-the-company-and-old-german-media-companies-have-a-history-of-getting-internet-related-things-wrong---should-we-not-be-worried-about-their-influence-on-the-company)
*** ***
@@ -100,12 +98,12 @@ Another big difference is that Privacy Badger will block requests, but **Ghoster
Also, a heuristic approach like Privacy Badger is limited by just having local knowledge. In many cases it will not know if data sent is unique to a user (this can only be tested by opening another browser and checking if a different value would be sent). Thus some kind of collaboration is required between users to determine what data is safe, and what is not—and this is the method Ghostery's anti-tracking uses. Also, a heuristic approach like Privacy Badger is limited by just having local knowledge. In many cases it will not know if data sent is unique to a user (this can only be tested by opening another browser and checking if a different value would be sent). Thus some kind of collaboration is required between users to determine what data is safe, and what is not—and this is the method Ghostery's anti-tracking uses.
We do identify potential user-identifiers (i.e. any value which would allow to identify a user uniquely over time) if only one user is sending such data. The assessment is done as a quorum, where only data that a lot of users are sending is considered safe, since it could not be used as a way to link records by a third-party, hence track. To do this only with local information is impossible; and while it can offer a good degree of protection, the collaborative effort implemented as part of Ghostery is much stronger. Ghostery does identify potential user-identifiers (i.e. any value which would allow to identify a user uniquely over time) if only one user is sending such data. The assessment is done as a quorum, where only data that a lot of users are sending is considered safe, since it could not be used as a way to link records by a third-party, hence track. To do this only with local information is impossible; and while it can offer a good degree of protection, the collaborative effort implemented as part of Ghostery is much stronger.
[![Screenshot-2020-08-08-at-12-31-10-PM.jpg](https://i.postimg.cc/63gGv9rp/Screenshot-2020-08-08-at-12-31-10-PM.jpg)](https://postimg.cc/Q9gtLZY2) [![Screenshot-2020-08-08-at-12-31-10-PM.jpg](https://i.postimg.cc/63gGv9rp/Screenshot-2020-08-08-at-12-31-10-PM.jpg)](https://postimg.cc/Q9gtLZY2)
<br>https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdncliqz/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/08101643/cliqz_whitepaper_tracking1.pdf <br>https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdncliqz/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/08101643/cliqz_whitepaper_tracking1.pdf
Also, all messages are anonymized and no record linkage can be done on the server side (we have no way to know if two messages come from the same users). We wrote extensively how this is possible in our two blog posts about Human Web and our anonymization network layer. Of course, this means that there is no unique identifier attached to messages. Also, all messages are anonymized and no record linkage can be done on the server side (i.e. Ghostery has no way to know if two messages come from the same users). We wrote extensively how this is possible in our two blog posts about [Human Web](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-03/human-web-collecting-data-in-a-socially-responsible-manner.html) and our [anonymization network layer](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-04/human-web-proxy-network-hpn.html). Of course, this means that there is no unique identifier attached to messages.
Last but not least, yes the data you mention is useful for building features that are yet to come. For example, we needed data before we could launch the tracking protection feature few years back. There is a chicken and egg problem. Some seem to be very focused on the data part, without attempting to evaluate if that data compromises the privacy of the users in any way. It is not always the case that data implies lack of privacy. We wrote about it [here](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-02/is-data-collection-evil.html). [^6] Last but not least, yes the data you mention is useful for building features that are yet to come. For example, we needed data before we could launch the tracking protection feature few years back. There is a chicken and egg problem. Some seem to be very focused on the data part, without attempting to evaluate if that data compromises the privacy of the users in any way. It is not always the case that data implies lack of privacy. We wrote about it [here](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-02/is-data-collection-evil.html). [^6]
@@ -118,10 +116,10 @@ Ghostery neither collects nor sells data about users or trackers. In fact, we ev
### But I've heard that Ghostery couldn't be trusted... ### But I've heard that Ghostery couldn't be trusted...
You might be referring to the pre-2017 era where Ghostery belonged to a company named [Evidon](https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/who-is-evidon/) (which had a business model of collecting and selling data to other companies). It was then acquired by Cliqz (which builds a private and independent search engine as well as privacy-focused browsers). Since then the business model has been dropped, code has been [open-sourced](https://github.com/ghostery/ghostery-extension/) and Ghostery is now exploring ways to monetize through [paid products](https://www.ghostery.com/insights/), as well as client-side offers targeting called [rewards](https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/what-is-ghostery-rewards/). [^2] You might be referring to the pre-2017 era where Ghostery belonged to a company named [Evidon](https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/who-is-evidon/) (which had a business model of collecting and selling data to other companies). It was then acquired by Cliqz (which builds a private and independent search engine as well as privacy-focused browsers). Since then the business model has been dropped, code has been [open-sourced](https://github.com/ghostery/ghostery-extension/) and Ghostery is now exploring ways to monetize through [paid products](https://www.ghostery.com/insights/), as well as client-side offers targeting called [rewards](https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/what-is-ghostery-rewards/). [^2]
***
## Human Web
### What is the Human Web? ### What is the Human Web?
* [Human Web — Collecting data in a socially responsible manner](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-03/human-web-collecting-data-in-a-socially-responsible-manner.html)
* [Human Web Proxy Network (HPN)](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-04/human-web-proxy-network-hpn.html)
The Human Web is an open-source technology built by our parent company, Cliqz, that uses the power of anonymous group data create innovative browser technologies to make the internet more private. Users that participate in the Human Web contribute anonymous information related to trackers, websites, and search queries that are then analyzed and evaluated for relevance and safety. This data is used to create anonymous group models that power the private quick-search, anti-tracking, anti-phishing technologies featured in Cliqz products and which will soon be featured in Ghostery. The Human Web is an open-source technology built by our parent company, Cliqz, that uses the power of anonymous group data create innovative browser technologies to make the internet more private. Users that participate in the Human Web contribute anonymous information related to trackers, websites, and search queries that are then analyzed and evaluated for relevance and safety. This data is used to create anonymous group models that power the private quick-search, anti-tracking, anti-phishing technologies featured in Cliqz products and which will soon be featured in Ghostery.
The Human Web is built using world-leading privacy-by-design practices that ensures that any data that is collected is done completely anonymously without any personally identifiable information. To achieve this, the Human Web implements two core components: its data collection framework and its proxy network. The Human Web is built using world-leading privacy-by-design practices that ensures that any data that is collected is done completely anonymously without any personally identifiable information. To achieve this, the Human Web implements two core components: its data collection framework and its proxy network.
@@ -142,9 +140,6 @@ Though the Human Web is more powerful as more Cliqz and Ghostery users join it,
If you’d like to dive into the weeds and learn more about the Human Web, you can check out [the source code](https://github.com/cliqz-oss/browser-core/tree/master/modules/human-web) in our open-source Github repo. If you’d like to dive into the weeds and learn more about the Human Web, you can check out [the source code](https://github.com/cliqz-oss/browser-core/tree/master/modules/human-web) in our open-source Github repo.
### Is my data truly anonymous? ### Is my data truly anonymous?
* [Human Web — Collecting data in a socially responsible manner](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-03/human-web-collecting-data-in-a-socially-responsible-manner.html)
* [Human Web Proxy Network (HPN)](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-04/human-web-proxy-network-hpn.html)
Concerning Ghostery still collecting some data on users: I would like to give some more insights about why we think this is not a black or white situation. **Ghostery does collect some anonymous data from users, which is not the same thing as collecting "user data".** This usually takes the form of anonymous statistics which cannot be linked back to users on the backend, we make sure of that using [Human Web](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-03/human-web-collecting-data-in-a-socially-responsible-manner.html) and [our network anonymization layer](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-04/human-web-proxy-network-hpn.html). Concerning Ghostery still collecting some data on users: I would like to give some more insights about why we think this is not a black or white situation. **Ghostery does collect some anonymous data from users, which is not the same thing as collecting "user data".** This usually takes the form of anonymous statistics which cannot be linked back to users on the backend, we make sure of that using [Human Web](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-03/human-web-collecting-data-in-a-socially-responsible-manner.html) and [our network anonymization layer](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-04/human-web-proxy-network-hpn.html).
The anonymous data is always collected in such a way that it is specific to a use case: for example powering the anti-tracking feature, and cannot be re-purposed for anything else (which basically makes the data useless except for the purpose it was initially intended for). The anonymous data is always collected in such a way that it is specific to a use case: for example powering the anti-tracking feature, and cannot be re-purposed for anything else (which basically makes the data useless except for the purpose it was initially intended for).