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Apple and Privacy issues

I've been an Apple guy since the beginning, always felt smug about how reliable their platform was and how Apple treated customers with respect and honored the highest standards of privacy.

Lately there has been a growing problem with Apple, probably some of you using Apple for music or movies know about this but seems most do not.

For instance, the new Apple (Safari) browser will load Google track cookies even if you choose Ixquick (private browser) as primary and Yahoo as backup.

This occurs if Safari is loaded and UNUSED in 15 minutes or less. In other words there is an autoload of Google track cookies before you use the browser or visit any web site.

I searched forums at Apple and other computer sites and there are a few people aware of this. Seems it occurred in the last 30 days or so via automated updates of system and Safari browser software.

Worse still, the latest version of Apple system software (Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard) DOES NOT allow removal of Google cookies, even via security tab when you select and press delete.

As if that were not enough, the CIA and Google are building a massive network to track all internet traffic. They refer to it as "Predictive Analytics."

I'm an honest person, nothing to hide but I resent the attack on privacy this represents. I'll continue to use Ixquick and have switched to Firefox as my primary browser and removed Safari from my menu bar.

Never thought I would see the day I griped about Apple, I've never owned anything else and now they are looking worse than Microsoft with their privacy snooping.

Google/CIA
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xalbertporter
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Albert, It's all about national security.

The CIA got word about your humor and how that often comes out in jokes. They want to compile a list of all of your comments. Then flood Al Queda with it. While the terrorists are laughing...they'll do what needs to be done.

(that is if the jokes don't get em first) :) !!!

I for one am glad you posted this. I am toying with computer based audio. So I think this is a pertinent topic for Audiogon since browers like safari are a critical component in this audio source.

No one is forcing anyone to read it and it's appropriatly labeled.

So if you're on a soapbox, then we have another now to. Besides, isn't what these forums are about? Expressing opinions and sometimes facts, sharing viewpoints, and discussing with others...

Thanks for posting
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I personally don't consider tracking cookies to be a significant privacy concern, although in principle the potential for abuse cannot be completely ruled out.

It should be kept in mind that tracking cookies do NOT provide the capability of recording ALL website visits from the particular browser on the particular computer. They just provide the capability of recording visits to sites that subscribe to the particular cookie.

In this case I would expect that to mean sites which use Google's advertising services to place third-party ads on their sites. The tracking cookie would allow them to avoid repetitious placement of the same ads for a given user, and to target selection of the ads based on what other sites the user has visited that also use Google's ad services.

Regards,
-- Al
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Albert
Thanks for the informative posts!!! I found them pertinent to my life and not at all provocative!!!

Thanks again for making me aware of this practice!!
mb9061
137 posts
 
Larry_S must work for Apple, Google, or the CIA (when he's not "listening" to audio).

Thanks for the info Albert, I wasn't aware of this news till reading your post.
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