Kent BrewsterSep 9, 2023

Infosec friends are unanimous: if you're using Chrome, you want to visit chrome://settings/adPrivacy and turn off Ad Topics, Site-Suggested Ads, and Ad Measurement.

IMPORTANT: you must do this for each of your Chrome profiles, since it's not a global setting.

#chrome #privacy #enshittification

Show threadClemSep 9, 2023

@kentbrew I use Chrome on a ChromeOS for banking and job searching. With 2 different google account's.

May I ask why your Infosec friends say why to turn this off?

I already turn this off.

Show threadCaroline Bell Sep 9, 2023
@Clementine ChromeOS has a Linux layer. If you own this Chromebook, look up how to enable it and install Firefox. If you don't, ask your administrator to do so, or just get a normal netbook.
This isn't just about ads. If any website can request a copy of your entire personal profile, they can 100% attach it to your real name and whatever information they already have on you, and use it against you.
They could use it to dox you or blackmail you, they could use it to generate more convincing malware based on what has or hasn't worked before (think about those fake download buttons, QR codes, and messenger windows), and that's just off the top of my head.
We don't know what kind of data they're actually collecting, so who knows what it could also be capable of.
Show threadChristopher SchmidtSep 9, 2023

@halotroop2288 @Clementine The topics API doesn't give anyone the ability to request "your entire personal profile". It gives websites a list of 3 generic topics of the types of websites you have visited (one for each of the last 3 weeks).

The list of topics is human-curated and public, and contains only generic categories. (specifically, the proposed list is around 450 topics, specifically to prevent individual identification). https://privacysandbox.com/proposals/topics/

Topics API: Relevant Ads without Cookies - The Privacy Sandbox

See how Topics protects online privacy and helps advertisers and sites show relevant ads without third party cookies tracking individuals on the web.

Show threadCaroline Bell 
@crschmidt
Get out of here, Alphabet worker. Get a new job if you want to be taken seriously here.
Sep 9, 2023 at 9:42pmWeb