Privacy Digest 21/26
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Ghostery Users Are the Most Satisfied on the Chrome Web Store
Ghostery has earned a 4.8-star rating on the Chrome Web Store, the highest among leading, established ad blockers. Users particularly appreciate its combination of ad blocking, tracker protection, automatic cookie pop-up removal, and simplicity. And unlike many alternatives, Ghostery is completely free and open source, with no subscription required. This recognition comes directly from the people who use it every day, making it especially meaningful to us. Thank you for helping make the web a better place!
ghostery.com
Israeli Firm Used Online Ads to Run Vast Spy Operation, Researchers Say
Online advertising has become a weapon for espionage. Researchers uncovered how Israeli advertising company Discover-Tech allegedly used ads appearing across more than 120,000 websites and 75,000 apps to identify, track, and target internet users. Some ads helped deliver powerful spyware without requiring victims to click anything. Researchers confirmed that 45 devices at Al Jazeera were compromised, while malicious ads also reached sensitive networks belonging to governments and international organizations. Google and other advertising platforms have since cut ties with Discover-Tech. The investigation exposes how the infrastructure behind everyday online advertising can be exploited for mass surveillance and cyberattacks.
reuters.com
Amazon Knows More About Your Butt Than You Think
Apparently, your shopping cart has opinions about your body. Amazon's new "About You" feature creates surprisingly personal profiles based on shopping activity, including assumptions like "has flat buttocks," "cusses when scared," and "husband has skinny legs." While some shoppers find the results hilarious, others are disturbed by how much Amazon remembers and infers about them. The feature is designed to personalize shopping, but it also reveals how everyday purchases and reviews can build an unexpectedly intimate picture of our lives. Curious what Amazon thinks about you? Check Account Settings, Shopping Preferences, and then "Manage your information" under "About You."
fastcompany.com
US States Seek Children's Data Protections in Character.AI Bankruptcy
As AI companion company Character.AI files for bankruptcy, 40 U.S. state attorneys general are seeking safeguards for young users' private conversations. The platform has collected deeply personal information through chatbot interactions, which could potentially be transferred to a new owner. Disney has agreed to pay $20 million for the company's technology but reportedly does not want its user information. Character.AI also faces lawsuits alleging its chatbots exposed children to harmful content, including sexualized interactions and dangerous advice. The case highlights what can happen to sensitive AI conversations when a company goes bankrupt and its assets are sold.
reuters.com
AI Is Getting Really Good at Messing With Cybercriminals
An Australian company is turning AI against scammers with 350,000 bots designed to waste their time. Developed by Apate, these convincing digital decoys answer fraudulent calls, respond to messages, and infiltrate scam groups, keeping criminals occupied while collecting intelligence about their operations. Some conversations last more than two hours, potentially preventing scammers from reaching real victims. Meanwhile, researchers are using AI-powered traps to distract hackers and study their techniques. Although these tools cannot stop cybercrime entirely, they demonstrate how the same technology fueling increasingly sophisticated scams can also help protect people from them.
wired.com
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