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What Is Browser Fingerprinting? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

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John Mateer – Medium: “You’re browsing the internet without a care in the world — why shouldn’t you? You’re internet savvy, after all. You take your privacy seriously. That’s why you pay $20 a month for a rotating VPN. Surfshark, NordVPN, Google One — ever heard of them? You’re ahead of the game. But you didn’t stop there. No, you went the extra mile. You use DuckDuckGo, clear your cookies religiously, enable Private Relay on your phone, and, for good measure, you casually browse with TOR. You’re basically a ghost online — a clever, untraceable phantom. Except… you’re not. That VPN subscription? A glorified digital paperweight. Private Relay? It was never as secure as you thought. DuckDuckGo? Surfshark? TOR? You’re not fooling anyone. You’re not invisible. You’re not hidden…”

Fingerprinting is exactly as it sounds – completely unique to you, just like your fingerprint. Websites don’t only perceive your IP address; they analyze everything about your device to create a unique profile. Your browser version, operating system, which fonts are installed in it, the screen resolution, hardware details, time zone, and even the color depth of your screen-all these constitute information. Put them altogether, and you will get a profile so unique that the possibility of tracking you all over the internet without cookies or anything on your device becomes very real…”

Use These 4 Apps and Tools to Detect Phishing Emails

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MakeUseOf: “Phishing emails are no longer exclusively sent by Nigerian princes needing financial assistance. Scammers are now tech-savvy criminals who leverage state-of-the-art tools to con their victims. But it’s not like they’re the only ones with an arsenal of tools to pull from. Most phishing emails will send you attached files and links or try… Continue Reading

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, November 16, 2024

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Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, November 16, 2024 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex… Continue Reading

Americans Are Using the Dumbest Possible Passwords

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Gizmodo: “Just about everyone knows at this point that it’s important to use a strong password. But that hasn’t stopped a lot of people from using the dumbest passwords imaginable. NordPass just published its annual lists of the most popular easy-to-crack passwords, and there are quite a few bad ones, as well as some head-scratchers.… Continue Reading

Hourly retail workers are now wearing police-like body cameras

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CNN – “…Retail giant TJX, the parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said it’s equipping some store employees with body cameras to thwart shoplifting and keep customers and employees safe. TJX finance chief John Klinger disclosed the body-camera initiative on an earnings call last month. “It’s almost like a de-escalation, where people are less… Continue Reading

Genetic Discrimination Is Coming for Us All

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The Atlantic: [unpaywalled] “Insurers are refusing to cover Americans whose DNA reveals health risks. It’s perfectly legal…Studies have shown that people seek out additional insurance when they have increased genetic odds of becoming ill or dying. “Life insurers carefully evaluate each applicant’s health, determining premiums and coverage based on life expectancy,” Jan Graeber, a senior… Continue Reading

The WIRED Guide to Protecting Yourself From Government Surveillance

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Wired: “President-elect Donald Trump has promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. He’s vowed to jail his political foes and journalists. A Republican-controlled government could further restrict abortion and transgender rights. Influential conservatives have called for a crackdown on left-leaning activist groups, a replay of Trump’s hardline attitude against protesters in his first administration. To… Continue Reading

DeFlock – Automated License Plate Readers

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Welcome to DeFlock, your go-to resource for understanding and addressing the growing presence of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in our communities. Our mission is simple: to shine a light on the widespread use of ALPR technology, raise awareness about the threats it poses to personal privacy and civil liberties, and empower the public to… Continue Reading

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, November 9, 2024

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Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, November 9, 2024 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex… Continue Reading

Voted in America? This Site Doxed You

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404 Media: “If you voted in the U.S. presidential election [November 5, 2024] in which Donald Trump won comfortably, or a previous election, a website powered by a right-wing group is probably doxing you. VoteRef makes it trivial for anyone to search the name, physical address, age, party affiliation, and whether someone voted that year… Continue Reading

If You Fall for a Phishing Email, Here’s What Happens Next

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MakeUseOf: “Most people receive a lot of spam emails, calls, and other messages daily. These usually represent some phishing attempt and try as you might, you’ll likely accidentally put yourself in a sketchy position eventually—it’s not your fault; it happens to everyone. If you get phished, it’s important not to worry too much. While it’s… Continue Reading