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Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android

  • Covert Web-to-App Tracking via Localhost on Android

    Meta -- never not At It.

    Facebook/Instagram used a sneaky localhost socket connection to correlate web visits with Meta user ids and track web/app user identity without any explicit permission.

    "the novel tracking method works even if the user:

    • Is not logged in to Facebook, Instagram or Yandex on their mobile browsers
    • Uses Incognito Mode
    • Clears their cookies or other browsing data

    This tracking method defeats Android's inter-process isolation and tracking protections based on partitioning, sandboxing, or clearing client-side state."

    Tags: privacy meta facebook instagram apps android