There are several tools that can block third-party ad firms from zeroing in on your Web browsing Credit: CSO staff The Electronic Frontier Foundation has published a list of tools that can block online advertising companies from collecting web browsing data in ways that privacy advocates contend are deceptive. Computer scientist Jonathan Mayer of Stanford University and ProPublica revealed on Wednesday that an online advertising company, Turn, can re-create the history of a person’s Web browsing traffic using Verizon’s tracking system. Verizon tracks its mobile subscribers’ web surfing by tagging their traffic at the carrier level with a number called a UIDH (Unique Identifier Header). Verizon uses the system for two of its targeted advertising programs. The type of tracking, known as “header enrichment,” is controversial. AT&T stopped using the method last year after running tests, ProPublica reported in November 2014. Turn uses the UIDH in a way that privacy advocates say is concerning. Turn and other online advertising companies uses cookies, or small data files stored in a Web browser, to keep track of websites and Web pages that people have visited in order to serve targeted advertisements. But if a person deletes their cookies, online advertisers have less data. Turn, however, can re-create one of its deleted cookies by looking at Verizon’s UIDH, a practice that critics say is invasive. It’s called a “zombie” cookie. Turn has defended its practices, writing in a blog post on Wednesday that “clearing a cookie cache is not a widely recognized method of reliably expressing an opt-out preference.” “The advertising industry has worked together to develop far more effective methods for consumers to express the choice not to receive tailored ads,” Turn said, noting that opt-out tools are available from the Network Advertising Initiative and the Digital Advertising Alliance. There are several tools, however, that can block Web trackers such as Turn, wrote Peter Eckersley, technology projects editor for the EFF. Applications such as AdAway, AdBlock, AdBlock Plus and Disconnect Pro will all halt Turn from receiving data. Users don’t have a lot of options for preventing their mobile traffic from being tagged with a UIDH. Using a VPN or Tor would stop it, but it’s probably unlikely the vast majority of people would use those kinds of services on a mobile device. But people could stop using Verizon. Ironically, that is Verizon’s suggestion according to its privacy policy: “If you do not want information to be collected for marketing purposes from services such as the Verizon Wireless Mobile Internet services, you should not use those particular services.” Related content feature Windows 11 Insider Previews: What’s in the latest build? Get the latest info on new preview builds of Windows 11 as they roll out to Windows Insiders. Now updated for Build 22635.3566 for the Beta Channel, released on April 26, 2024. By Preston Gralla Apr 26, 2024 251 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Windows 11 news Dropbox adds end-to-end encryption for team folders Dropbox this week unveiled a range of features, including security updates and key management, and the ability to co-edit Microsoft 365 documents from within the file-sharing app. By Matthew Finnegan Apr 26, 2024 3 mins Cloud Storage Collaboration Software Productivity Software feature Android versions: A living history from 1.0 to 15 Explore Android's ongoing evolution with this visual timeline of versions, starting B.C. (Before Cupcake) and going all the way to 2024's Android 15 (beta) release. By JR Raphael Apr 26, 2024 23 mins Small and Medium Business Smartphones Android news analysis The unspoken obnoxiousness of Google's Gemini improvements Google's Gemini chatbot is seeing all sorts of upgrades on Android this week, but those advancements reveal a darker underlying reality. By JR Raphael Apr 26, 2024 12 mins Google Assistant Google Android Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe