Privacy Badger: New Open-Source Freeware Stops Internet Trackers

Putting the free back in freeware. EFF's latest product stops trackers
from following you on the net. (EFF.org)

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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. When using the Internet, you are the product. Among other things, your cyber habits are closely monitored. The most insidious of these trackers are the ones that you don’t agree to at all, never visit their site, and yet they find and follow you around, mineing your data and converting that data into a salable format. Remember, when you can see an ad—it can see you.  If that’s a turn off, there’s an app for that.

Privacy Badger uses algorithms to determine If an advertiser or third party seems to be tracking you across multiple websites without permission, Privacy Badger automatically blocks that advertiser from loading any more content in your browser.  To your cyber-spook, it’s like you suddenly disappeared.

Privacy Badger analyzes the cookies from each site; unique cookies that contain tracking IDs are disallowed, while “low entropy” cookies that perform other functions are allowed. (GRC.com)

Privacy Badger was created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit with the mission of defending digital civil liberties–a new frontier for most of us. Of course their work is getting extra attention with the NSA dialogue and corporate experimentation, i.e., Facebook and OK Cupid. This new product is different than comparable products like AdBlock Plus and Ghostery primarily in it’s simplicity. It just took me a few seconds to load it onto my laptop and there was nothing to configure.

If you decide you are interested in this freeware, read through the FAQs on the homepage. That will allow you to understand the product and decide if it is right for you.

I am offended by the current status quo on the Internet. The average user is acting like and therefore treated like, a mindless bag of desire. I’ve had to check myself and change my habits. If my actions have value, then I shouldn’t give the fruits of those actions away for free.

Don’t act like sheep, and corporations and governments can’t treat you like one. (HeatherChristenaSchmidt.com)

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