Updated Ghostery (markdown)

Ghostery.md

@@ -4,14 +4,33 @@
 
 # FAQ
 
-### I've heard that Ghostery couldn't be trusted.
+### Why would I use Ghostery? uBlock Origin has a sterling record and does what I want it to do.
-You might be referring to the pre-2017 era where Ghostery belonged to a company named 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, as well as client-side offers targeting called rewards. [^1]
+[uBlock Origin](http://https://ublockorigin.com) is an amazing extension, no question. There are still differences with Ghostery, though, which would make people use one or the other. Putting the UI aside (some people really like the Ghostery UI and the way it allows to gain insight about what was blocked for example), there are differences in the privacy protection built-in.
 
+Ghostery extension contains multiple features aiming at preventing tracking, blocking ads, etc. There are three main mechanisms for this, layered and complementary:
 
-**Features.**
+1. A network request blocking mechanism based on a list of known trackers, categorized, which are shown in the UI as they are detected and blocked on each page visited (e.g.: tracking, advertisement, etc.).
-source https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/f98tjg/firefox_turns_encrypted_dns_on_by_default_to/fir7npi
 
-### Does Ghostery collect and sell my data?
+2. An [adblocker](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-20/not-all-adblockers-are-born-equal.html) feature of the like of uBlock Origin, AdGuard, or Adblock Plus. It uses the usual blocklists (such as Easylist and a few more by default) to identify requests to block to prevent ads from loading as well as some tracking. It also supports cosmetic filtering (aka elements hiding).
+
+3. An [anti-tracking technology](https://0x65.dev/blog/2019-12-19/blocking-tracking-without-blocking-trackers.html), which blocks third-party cookies and also detects and prevents fingerprinting attempts. [The methodology we use to power this feature](https://whotracks.me/blog/how_cliqz_antitracking_protects_users.html) is unique and you will not find it anywhere else.
+
+4. Around May 2020, Ghostery has added the option to block annoyances as well. Ghostery uses a mix of community-driven lists such as uBlock Origin annoyances or EasyList cookie, as well as some custom filters. We do not use Fanboy's annnoyances list at the moment, though.
+
+[![Screenshot-2020-08-08-at-10-15-23-AM.jpg](https://i.postimg.cc/N00S0J9s/Screenshot-2020-08-08-at-10-15-23-AM.jpg)](https://postimg.cc/XrTQHgkm)
+
+In short, uBlock Origin is (2) (and a very good one, Gorhill is doing an amazing work with uBO), but blocklists have well-known limitations which make them an imperfect privacy protection tool (i.e. because of slow updates, limited coverage and exceptions for some domains/requests to not break websites), which is why an approach like (3) is desirable. Of course it depends on how you setup uBlock Origin, the more you block the better, but it also increases breakage and you will never be able to block everything (this would break a lot of websites and you would have to whitelist some requests, leaving your privacy un-protected). 
+
+On top of the part actively protecting privacy like anti-tracking and content blocking (explained above), there are other features to clear cookies from tracker domains to keep a "clean slate", etc. (A bit like what Safari does). For example cookies from tracking domains that you did not visit as first parties are cleared after an hour or so, hardening the protection further.
+
+We're also working on a feature to automatically manage consent for you (all these cookie/GDPR notices). It's already in production in Cliqz, and we are considering to also porting it Ghostery eventually. The idea is that pop-ups are blocked, but also, consent is automatically denied on your behalf (if you opt-in to this feature), which is pretty unique.
+
+[^1]
+
+### 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]
+
+### Rewards? So, does Ghostery collect and sell my data?
 source https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/g565bs/disney_to_stop_paying_100000_workers_but_is_still/fo2ossl
 
 Anti-tracking AI?
@@ -31,5 +50,17 @@ Human Web
 source https://www.reddit.com/r/privacytoolsIO/comments/f1bn8s/i_did_a_test_on_panopticlick_to_see_how_anonymous/fheg1x9
 https://www.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/eshkp0/microg_android_almost_without_google_our/ffpzv9x
 
+Who is Cliqz?
+Cliqz GmbH is a German company owned by Hubert Burda Media who has acquired the popular Ghostery brand and consumer products, including the anti-tracking browser extensions and mobile apps, from Evidon, Inc. Cliqz is a provider of innovative, privacy-focused browser technologies with integrated quick-search functionality. By combining algorithmic and blocklist anti-tracking approaches, Cliqz and Ghostery will together raise the benchmark in privacy protection. The acquisition of Ghostery’s 10 million active users around the globe will spur Cliqz’s international growth. [^ ]
+https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/who-is-cliqz/
 
-[^1]:https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/f298x0/what_chrome_extensions_make_the_internet_100x/fheeoco
+As a subsidiary company, Ghostery will collaborate closely with its parent company, Cliqz, on both new and existing products. This means that Ghostery will be implementing proprietary Cliqz technologies, such as its anti-tracking functionality with Human Web, and that the Ghostery product and brand will be available immediately for download on the Cliqz browser.   Both companies will also participate in joint messaging to promote products and solutions.
+
+Ghostery and Cliqz technologies will evolve in parallel and become more closely integrated as these two organizations strive to set a new benchmark in consumer privacy protection. [^ ]
+https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/ghostery-work-cliqz/
+
+I heard Cliqz shut down. Does that mean Ghostery has too?
+The Ghostery extension is alive and well.
+
+[^1]:https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/f98tjg/firefox_turns_encrypted_dns_on_by_default_to/fir7npi/
+[^2]:https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/f298x0/what_chrome_extensions_make_the_internet_100x/fheeoco