Another "Big Brother is watching you" tale

[stockhausen]

This is taken from a Guardian article which can probably be found by Googling "Anonymous browsing data can be easily exposed, German researchers reveal."

'Anonymous' browsing data can be easily exposed, German researchers reveal.
Pair secured database containing 3bn URLs from 3m German users.
Journalist and data scientists presented findings at hacking summit in Vegas.
...
[The data] was collated from a number of browser plugins, according to Dewes, with the prime offender being “safe surfing” tool Web of Trust.

It would be interesting to know what other browser plugins and software is designed with the express intention of collecting browsing history - at best - perhaps even User Ids, Passwords, Bank details, etc., etc., etc.?

 

[opethdisciple]

There is a technique called fingerprint. Which is where they can identify individuals buy watching patterns in random anonymised data.

Collecting information from random sources to build up a fingerprint.

 

[KIA]

Browser extensions can be deadly (See Cisco WebEx). Use as few as possible.

 

[stockhausen]

The WebEx thing was a "vulnerability". It was not deliberately designed to harvest browser history to sell on to marketing organisations.
I accept that any searches I carry out on Google, Amazon, eBay, etc. will be used for analysis purposes. However, if I use an add-on that purports to protect my privacy I don't expect it actually to be doing the exact opposite.