Recent discussions on Security Now reveal a surprising tactic employed by Meta and Yandex. Both companies have been using localhost to bypass tracking blockers on Android devices. This method involves opening a port on localhost, effectively creating a locally installed web service within their respective apps. This strategy allows them to circumvent traditional tracking prevention measures.
As users become more aware of privacy issues, the actions of these tech giants raise significant concerns. By using localhost, Meta and Yandex can continue to gather user data even when tracking is ostensibly disabled. This revelation highlights the ongoing battle between user privacy and corporate data collection practices. It’s crucial for consumers to stay informed about these tactics and take necessary precautions to protect their privacy.