Questions about apps vs websites, cookies, tracking, etc
I am trying to understand the current state of tracking tech, and would like a more thorough understanding than just the basic stuff.
For example, the actual difference between using a website vs an app. How much actual info can an app take from your phone? It used to be that you could deny certain rights within apps that didn't seem appropriate (eg, why an app needs access to my mic or camera when I have no intention of using the app that way) and so on. I've always been on the cautious side, and lately I'm just getting fed up with all the stuff that corps are getting away with, and I want to make it as hard for them as possible. What prompted this was a Nextdoor (which I access via website, not app!) discussion about grocery store apps and digital coupons, something I don't use so miss out on a lot of deals.
First question is very basic: what info can a cookie contain? Is there a way to view a cookie file to see what it is collecting? I should mention my main tool is a smartphone, not a computer, so Android based.
Another recent event contributed to this concern: I recently used the Walmart (I know, don't start) website to order some items for shipping, to see how they compare to Amazon. What shocked me was that when I looked in the "prior purchases" section, it had items from years ago that were purchased in a brick and mortor store! Now, Walmart isn't like Costco, so the *only* way they could correlate that data is by using my credit card info!! Is this legal?? It really is bothering me.
Any sites that contain good info or discussions along these lines? TIA
= new reply since forum marked as read
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/31/746878763/how-tech-companies-track-your-every-move-and-put-your-data-up-for-sale
We Checked 250 iPhone Apps—This Is How They’re Tracking You
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-iphone-apps-track-you/
(was not paywalled for me, but if it is, use the archive)
https://archive.is/ZBzBA
I chose the first two because the first gives general info, and the second focuses on what phone apps can gather in addition to what web apps get. Better than I could!
Good luck.
More for the techies here:
Very technical:
How Companies Track You Online – The Definitive Guide
https://firewalltimes.com/how-companies-track-you-online/
You can always get good info at off.org. https://eff.org
Phone-specific: https://ssd.eff.org/playlist/privacy-breakdown-mobile-phones
Privacy Breakdown of Mobile Phones
Mobile phones have become commonplace and basic communications tools—now used not only for phone calls, but also for accessing the Internet, sending text messages, and documenting the world.
Unfortunately, mobile phones were not designed for privacy and security by default. Not only do they do a poor job of protecting your communications, they also expose you to new kinds of surveillance risks—especially location tracking. Most mobile phones give the user much less control than a personal desktop or laptop computer would; it's harder to replace the operating system, harder to investigate malware attacks, harder to remove or replace undesirable bundled software, and harder to prevent parties like the mobile operator from monitoring how you use the device. Additionally, the device maker may declare your device obsolete and stop providing you with software updates, including security fixes; if this happens, you may not have anywhere else to turn for these fixes.
Some of these problems can be addressed by using third-party privacy software—but some of them can't. Here, we'll describe some of the ways that phones can aid surveillance and undermine their users' privacy.
Part of surveillance self-defense
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/05/surveillance-self-defense-playlist-getting-know-your-phone