• Re: How Google tracks Android device users before they've even opened a

    From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to Marion on Sun Mar 16 19:06:46 2025
    On 16/03/2025 18:16, Marion wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 18:00:37 -0000 (UTC), Marion wrote :


    We have a detailed thread over here that shows you can instantly negate the >> DataSetIdentifier (DSID) cookie by a simple action that is trivial to do.
    *Google Android "DSID" cookie, Android ID & Android System SafetyCore*
    <https://www.novabbs.com/computers/thread.php?group=comp.mobile.android> >> <https://newsgrouper.org/comp.mobile.android/121580/0>
    <https://comp.mobile.android.narkive.com/JedCXG9A/google-android-dsid-cookie-android-id-android-system-safetycore>

    Ooops. I apologize to RetroGuy! I didn't realize the RetroGuy was one of
    the respondents, where I greatly admire The RetroGuy for what he does for
    us (e.g., his archives are the best - and I respect him for doing that!)
    <https://www.novabbs.com/computers/thread.php?group=alt.comp.os.windows-10>
    <https://www.novabbs.com/computers/thread.php?group=,alt.privacy.anon-server>
    <https://www.novabbs.com/computers/thread.php?group=comp.mobile.android>
    <https://www.novabbs.com/computers/thread.php?group=comp.os.linux.advocacy>

    However, my reaction equating those who claim that you can't have privacy
    to those who claim you must be slaves is based on facts about privacy.

    You can have privacy.
    You just have to NOT do exactly what the marketing orgs tell you to do.

    You have to think for yourself.
    Don't blindly accept all the defaults when setting up a system.

    Think about what you're doing.
    Make liberal use of that 'skip' button.

    The fact that people make the claim that you can't have privacy bothers me
    so much that I react vehemently to anyone who says "you can't have privacy" on Android, since you have far more privacy on Android than on iOS simply because an Android phone works 10x better (my guesstimate) after you hit
    the skip button, while on iOS devices (which I have plenty of) the device works 1/10th as well when you don't set it up with an Apple Account.

    Ask me how I know this fact.
    *Google Android "DSID" cookie, Android ID & Android System SafetyCore*
    <https://www.novabbs.com/computers/article-flat.php?id=57594&group=comp.mobile.android#57594>

    There's more functionality on (non-rooted) Android when you hit that skip button, and when you replace the Google Apps with their 1:1 equivalents.

    Just *look* at the functionality of this search app, for example:
    <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=scadica.aq>

    Which I get, for free, with full functionality, simply because I hit the "skip" button, so no app has any way to directly charge me for anything.
    <https://skyica.com/appfinder/get/>

    If that app doesn't have over 10 times the functionality of the Google Play Store search engine, I'll never again post to Usenet. It's that good.

    You can have a /greater/ degree of privacy by following your
    instructions noted in the previous thread in relation to a Google
    account and the DSID cookie. But "privacy" isn't a term to be assumed
    where Android is concerned. There's an interesting article at <https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/03/13/googles-android-decision-bad-news-for-all-samsung-pixel-users/>.
    (*** see below)

    Quote:

    "Google has an awkward Android problem that a recent report highlighted.
    The AI space race between Google and Samsung and between Android and
    iPhone has exposed long-standing issues that the companies need to
    address, issues buried within Android’s core."

    Note in particular "...issues buried within Android’s core".

    And from the final paragraph in that article:

    "None of this changes the nature of the bad news for Google or Samsung
    users given Android’s tracking, or the need for transparency and clarity
    as to what is being done on-device, how and by whom. It would be good to
    see a thorough review of the hidden tracking taking place without
    consent or opt out — that means “silent” Android tracking and digital fingerprinting. It would be good to see default opt outs introduced
    across the board."

    Hmm."...hidden tracking taking place without consent or opt out — that
    means “silent” Android tracking and digital fingerprinting". And I
    wonder how deep down those default op outs will be hidden if they are
    forced to introduce them. :-(

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message:
    "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then lost. I
    got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had loaded.
    The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    --
    Jeff

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  • From Carlos E.R.@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Mon Mar 17 12:56:06 2025
    On 2025-03-16 20:06, Jeff Layman wrote:

    You can have a /greater/ degree of privacy by following your
    instructions noted in the previous thread in relation to a Google
    account and the DSID cookie. But "privacy" isn't a term to be assumed
    where Android is concerned. There's an interesting article at <https:// www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/03/13/googles-android-decision-bad- news-for-all-samsung-pixel-users/>. (*** see below)

    ...

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message: "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then lost. I
    got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had loaded.
    The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    Confirm (firefox on Linux)

    You can bypass that by loading the page, and then on UBlock I click
    "disable javascript". I can then page down to the end.



    --
    Cheers, Carlos.

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  • From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to Carlos E.R. on Mon Mar 17 13:27:51 2025
    On 17/03/2025 11:56, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-03-16 20:06, Jeff Layman wrote:

    You can have a /greater/ degree of privacy by following your
    instructions noted in the previous thread in relation to a Google
    account and the DSID cookie. But "privacy" isn't a term to be assumed
    where Android is concerned. There's an interesting article at <https://
    www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/03/13/googles-android-decision-bad-
    news-for-all-samsung-pixel-users/>. (*** see below)

    ...

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message:
    "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then lost. I
    got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had loaded.
    The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    Confirm (firefox on Linux)

    You can bypass that by loading the page, and then on UBlock I click
    "disable javascript". I can then page down to the end.

    I didn't have the time yesterday to see what was going on with that
    page, but reckoned breaking the connection to the mothership might solve
    the issue. I tend to use the "Javascript Switcher" extension - it's a
    bit easier than going through uBlock as it's a single click to
    disable/enable Javascript.

    --
    Jeff

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  • From Carlos E.R.@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Mon Mar 17 14:55:54 2025
    On 2025-03-17 14:27, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 17/03/2025 11:56, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-03-16 20:06, Jeff Layman wrote:

    You can have a /greater/ degree of privacy by following your
    instructions noted in the previous thread in relation to a Google
    account and the DSID cookie. But "privacy" isn't a term to be assumed
    where Android is concerned. There's an interesting article at <https://
    www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/03/13/googles-android-decision-bad- >>> news-for-all-samsung-pixel-users/>. (*** see below)

    ...

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message:
    "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then lost. I >>> got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had loaded.
    The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    Confirm (firefox on Linux)

    You can bypass that by loading the page, and then on UBlock I click
    "disable javascript". I can then page down to the end.

    I didn't have the time yesterday to see what was going on with that
    page, but reckoned breaking the connection to the mothership might solve
    the issue. I tend to use the "Javascript Switcher"  extension - it's a
    bit easier than going through uBlock as it's a single click to disable/ enable Javascript.

    It is also a single click on uBlock.

    --
    Cheers, Carlos.

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  • From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to Carlos E.R. on Mon Mar 17 14:13:25 2025
    On 17/03/2025 13:55, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-03-17 14:27, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 17/03/2025 11:56, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    ..

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message:
    "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then lost. I >>>> got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had loaded. >>>> The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    Confirm (firefox on Linux)

    You can bypass that by loading the page, and then on UBlock I click
    "disable javascript". I can then page down to the end.

    I didn't have the time yesterday to see what was going on with that
    page, but reckoned breaking the connection to the mothership might solve
    the issue. I tend to use the "Javascript Switcher"  extension - it's a
    bit easier than going through uBlock as it's a single click to disable/
    enable Javascript.

    It is also a single click on uBlock.

    <Pedant mode>

    Two clicks - one to bring up the uBlock options, and another click to
    disable Javascript. It's a single click with the Switcher extension.

    <Pedant mode off> ;-)

    By the way, did you find out what the Javascript did to get that
    application error? Console info is above me I'm afraid.

    --
    Jeff

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  • From Frank Slootweg@21:1/5 to Carlos E.R. on Mon Mar 17 15:59:28 2025
    Carlos E.R. <[email protected]d> wrote:
    On 2025-03-16 20:06, Jeff Layman wrote:

    You can have a /greater/ degree of privacy by following your
    instructions noted in the previous thread in relation to a Google
    account and the DSID cookie. But "privacy" isn't a term to be assumed
    where Android is concerned. There's an interesting article at <https:// www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/03/13/googles-android-decision-bad- news-for-all-samsung-pixel-users/>. (*** see below)

    ...

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message: "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then lost. I got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had loaded.
    The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    Confirm (firefox on Linux)

    You can bypass that by loading the page, and then on UBlock I click
    "disable javascript". I can then page down to the end.

    FYI, scrolling works fine in (google) Chrome with JavaScript enabled.

    And yes Jeff, I also have a *one*-click 'JavaScript Toggle On and Off' Extension! :-)

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  • From Carlos E.R.@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Mon Mar 17 19:30:47 2025
    On 2025-03-17 15:13, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 17/03/2025 13:55, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2025-03-17 14:27, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 17/03/2025 11:56, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    ..

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message:
    "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then
    lost. I
    got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had
    loaded.
    The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    Confirm (firefox on Linux)

    You can bypass that by loading the page, and then on UBlock I click
    "disable javascript". I can then page down to the end.

    I didn't have the time yesterday to see what was going on with that
    page, but reckoned breaking the connection to the mothership might solve >>> the issue. I tend to use the "Javascript Switcher"  extension - it's a
    bit easier than going through uBlock as it's a single click to disable/
    enable Javascript.

    It is also a single click on uBlock.

    <Pedant mode>

    Two clicks - one to bring up the uBlock options, and another click to
    disable Javascript. It's a single click with the Switcher extension.

    <Pedant mode off> ;-)

    Ok :-)


    By the way, did you find out what the Javascript did to get that
    application error? Console info is above me I'm afraid.

    No, I don't read javascript.

    --
    Cheers, Carlos.

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  • From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to Frank Slootweg on Mon Mar 17 18:33:52 2025
    On 17/03/2025 15:59, Frank Slootweg wrote:
    Carlos E.R. <[email protected]d> wrote:
    On 2025-03-16 20:06, Jeff Layman wrote:

    You can have a /greater/ degree of privacy by following your
    instructions noted in the previous thread in relation to a Google
    account and the DSID cookie. But "privacy" isn't a term to be assumed
    where Android is concerned. There's an interesting article at <https://
    www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/03/13/googles-android-decision-bad- >>> news-for-all-samsung-pixel-users/>. (*** see below)

    ...

    (*** NB - scrolling down the article webpage results in a message:
    "Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the
    browser console for more information)". The browser page is then lost. I >>> got round this by turning off my Wi-Fi immediately the page had loaded.
    The whole page could then be read by scrolling down)

    Confirm (firefox on Linux)

    You can bypass that by loading the page, and then on UBlock I click
    "disable javascript". I can then page down to the end.

    FYI, scrolling works fine in (google) Chrome with JavaScript enabled.

    And yes Jeff, I also have a *one*-click 'JavaScript Toggle On and Off' Extension! :-)

    I would expect nothing less!!! ;-)

    However, the scrolling also fails in Vivaldi 7.1.3570.60 unless
    Javascript blocking is invoked. Vivaldi is chromium-based, so I wonder
    what Chrome does differently.

    --
    Jeff

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  • From Marion@21:1/5 to Carlos E.R. on Wed Mar 19 01:44:10 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone, uk.telecom.mobile

    On Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:25:46 +0100, Carlos E.R. wrote :


    Because an "Account" tells Google you want to automatically log into it.
    Without asking for consent. (full circle completed)

    Ok, that basically means that we can not instantly negate the DataSetIdentifier (DSID) cookie by a simple action that is trivial to
    do. We being the 99% of Android users in the world.

    I agree. Based on the article, you "can't" disable the DSID cookie.

    Of course, as I said, only 1% of Android users is aware that there is a way
    to disable the DSID cookie; but that way was not stated in the article.

    We discussed that way using other links which explained how it works. Basically, the instant you boot a phone with a Google Account set up on
    that phone, the DSID cookie is activated. And you can't deactivate it.

    Bear in mind there "might" be another way, but we don't know it (yet).

    Since I'm purposefully helpful and knowledgeable, there are ways you can ameliorate the damage the DSID cookie causes without removing the account.

    a. Of course you can disable 3rd-party cookies in your web browser
    b. You can modify your ad settings <https://adssettings.google.com/>
    c. You can opt out of ad personalization <https://optout.aboutads.info/>
    d. There are almost certainly DSID browser extensions too

    I'm not an Android expert so I'll just say that an expert might know of a better way to kill the DSID cookie without doing it the way I do it.

    Note: I killed the DSID accidentally, without even knowing it existed.

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