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{{Infobox software
{{Infobox software
| name = Ghostery
| name = Ghostery
| logo = File:Ghostery-Logo.png
| logo = File:Ghostery logo.svg
| screenshot =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| caption =
| developer = [[David Cancel]]<br>Christopher Tino<br>José María Signanini<br>Serge Zarembsky<br>Patrick Lawler<br>Caleb Richelson
| developer = [[David Cancel]]<br>Christopher Tino<br>José María Signanini<br>Serge Zarembsky<br>Patrick Lawler<br>Caleb Richelson
| released = {{Start date and age|2010|1}}
| released = {{Start date and age|2009}}
| programming language =
| programming language =
| operating system = {{plainlist|
| operating system = {{plainlist|
Line 14: Line 14:
*[[iOS]]
*[[iOS]]
}}
}}
| license = [[Mozilla Public License|MPL 2.0]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/ghostery/ghostery-extension/blob/master/LICENSE|title=ghostery/ghostery-extension|website=GitHub}}</ref>
| license = [[Mozilla Public License|MPL 2.0]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/ghostery/ghostery-extension/blob/master/LICENSE|title=ghostery/ghostery-extension|website=GitHub|date=December 19, 2022 }}</ref>
| website = [https://www.ghostery.com www.ghostery.com]
| website = [https://www.ghostery.com www.ghostery.com]
| logo_size = 250px
| logo_size = 250px
| latest_release_version = {{plainlist|
| latest_release_version = {{plainlist|
*'''Browser extension:''' {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1521928|P348|P548=Q2804309}} / {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1521928|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
*'''[[Browser extension]]:''' 8.9.6 / {{Start date and age|2022|11|22}}<ref>{{citation|title=Releases · ghostery/ghostery-extension|url=https://github.com/ghostery/ghostery-extension|date=October 5, 2022|website=GitHub}}</ref>
*'''[[Android (operating system)|Android]]:''' 8.8.1 / {{Start date and age|2022|10|05}} <ref>https://github.com/ghostery/user-agent-android</ref>
*'''Android:''' 2.4 / {{Start date and age|2019|03|21}}<ref>{{citation|title=Releases · ghostery/browser-android|url=https://github.com/ghostery/browser-android|date=March 21, 2019|website=GitHub}}</ref>
*'''[[iOS]]:''' 2.1.0 / {{Start date and age|2018|10|30}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/app/ghostery/id472789016 |title=Ghostery Privacy Browser on the App Store|website=[[iTunes]] |access-date=November 12, 2018}}</ref>
*'''iOS:''' 2.1.0 / {{Start date and age|2018|10|30}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/app/ghostery/id472789016 |title=Ghostery Privacy Browser on the App Store|website=[[iTunes]] |access-date=November 12, 2018}}</ref>
}}
}}
}}
}}
'''Ghostery''' is a [[free and open-source]] [[Internet privacy|privacy]] and [[Internet security|security]]-related [[browser extension]] and [[Mobile computing|mobile]] browser application. Since February 2017, it has been owned by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Cliqz GmbH|Cliqz International GmbH]] (formerly owned by [[Evidon, Inc.]], which was previously called Ghostery, Inc. and the Better Advertising Project).<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news |url=https://cliqz.com/en/magazine/cliqz-und-ghostery|title=CLIQZ and Ghostery join forces to defend your privacy |date=February 15, 2017|newspaper=CLIQZ |access-date=February 15, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://wbteck.com/|title=wbteck|last=Ghostery Team}}</ref> The code was originally developed by [[David Cancel]] and associates.
'''Ghostery''' is a [[free and open-source]] [[Internet privacy|privacy]] and [[Internet security|security]]-related [[browser extension]] and [[Mobile computing|mobile]] browser application. Since February 2017, it has been owned by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Cliqz GmbH|Cliqz International GmbH]] (formerly owned by [[Evidon, Inc.]], which was previously called Ghostery, Inc. and the Better Advertising Project).<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news |url=https://cliqz.com/en/magazine/cliqz-und-ghostery|title=CLIQZ and Ghostery join forces to defend your privacy |date=February 15, 2017|newspaper=CLIQZ |access-date=February 15, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghostery.com/blog/ghostery-news/ghostery-acquired-cliqz/|title=Ghostery is Acquired by Cliqz!|last=Ghostery Team|access-date=February 15, 2017|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216054016/https://www.ghostery.com/blog/ghostery-news/ghostery-acquired-cliqz/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The code was originally developed by [[David Cancel]] and associates.


Ghostery enables its users to detect and control [[JavaScript]] "tags" and "trackers" in order to remove JavaScript bugs and [[web beacon|beacons]] that are embedded in many [[web page]]s which allow for the collection of a user's browsing habits via [[HTTP cookies]], as well as participating in more sophisticated forms of tracking such as [[canvas fingerprinting]].
Ghostery enables its users to detect and control [[JavaScript]] "tags" and "trackers" to remove JavaScript bugs and [[web beacon|beacons]] that are embedded in many [[web page]]s which allow for the collection of a user's browsing habits via [[HTTP cookies]], as well as participating in more sophisticated forms of tracking such as [[canvas fingerprinting]].


As of 2017, Ghostery is available for [[Mozilla Firefox]], [[Google Chrome]], [[Internet Explorer]], [[Microsoft Edge]], [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]], [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], and [[Firefox for Android]].
As of 2024, Ghostery is available for [[Mozilla Firefox]], [[Google Chrome]], [[Internet Explorer]], [[Microsoft Edge]], [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]], [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], and [[Firefox for Android]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker | url = https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-ad-blocker | website = www.ghostery.com | access-date = March 9, 2024}}</ref>


Additionally, Ghostery's privacy team creates profiles of page elements and companies for educational purposes.<ref name=venture-beat>{{cite web | url=https://wbteck.com/|title= wbteck.com}}</ref><ref name="foxnews">{{cite AV media | title = Attacking Tracking: They're Watching You | medium = Video | publisher = Fox News | date = March 15, 2011 }}</ref>
Additionally, Ghostery's privacy team creates profiles of page elements and companies for educational purposes.<ref name="foxnews">{{cite AV media | title = Attacking Tracking: They're Watching You | medium = Video | publisher = Fox News | date = March 15, 2011 }}</ref>


==Functionality==
==Functionality==
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Ghostery blocks HTTP requests and redirects according to their source address in several ways:
Ghostery blocks HTTP requests and redirects according to their source address in several ways:
# Blocking third-party tracking scripts that are used by websites to collect data on user behavior for advertising, marketing, site optimization, and security purposes. These scripts, also known as "tags" or "trackers", are the underlying technology that places tracking [[HTTP cookies|cookies]] on consumers' browsers.
# Blocking third-party tracking scripts that are used by websites to collect data on user behavior for advertising, marketing, site optimization, and security purposes. These scripts, also known as "tags" or "trackers", are the underlying technology that places tracking [[HTTP cookies|cookies]] on consumers' browsers.
# Continuously curating a "script library" that identifies when new tracking scripts are encountered on the Internet and automatically blocking them.<ref name="foxnews" />
# Continuously curating a "script library" that identifies when new tracking scripts are encountered on the Internet and automatically blocks them.<ref name="foxnews" />
# Creating "Whitelists" of websites where third-party script blocking is disabled and other advanced functionality for users to configure and personalize their experience.
# Creating "Whitelists" of websites where third-party script blocking is disabled and other advanced functionality for users to configure and personalize their experience.
When a tracker is blocked, any cookie that the tracker has placed is not accessible to anyone but the user and thus cannot be read when called upon.
When a tracker is blocked, any cookie that the tracker has placed is not accessible to anyone but the user and thus cannot be read when called upon.<ref>{{cite web
<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.opentracker.net/article/third-party-cookies-vs-first-party-cookies
| title = Third-Party Cookies vs First-Party Cookies
| last =
| first =
| date =
| website =Opentracker
| publisher = Opentracker
⚫
| access-date = December 11, 2015
| quote = }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31710488/prevent-3rd-party-script-from-setting-cookies-specifically-google-adsense
| url = https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31710488/prevent-3rd-party-script-from-setting-cookies-specifically-google-adsense
| title = Prevent 3rd party script from setting cookies (specifically Google adsense)
| title = Prevent 3rd party script from setting cookies (specifically Google adsense)
Line 62: Line 51:
===Reporting===
===Reporting===
Ghostery reports all tracking packages detected, and whether Ghostery has blocked them or not, in a "findings window" accessible from clicking on the Ghostery Icon in the browser. When configured, Ghostery also displays the list of trackers present on the page in a temporary purple overlay box.<ref>{{cite web
Ghostery reports all tracking packages detected, and whether Ghostery has blocked them or not, in a "findings window" accessible from clicking on the Ghostery Icon in the browser. When configured, Ghostery also displays the list of trackers present on the page in a temporary purple overlay box.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://wbteck.com/
| url = https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/how-does-ghostery-work/
| title = wbteck
| title = How does Ghostery work? (Dead link)
| last =
| last =
| first =
| first =
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| date = 2010
| date = 2010
| website = Github
| website = Github
⚫
| access-date = December 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| publisher = Ghostery, Inc.
| url = http://blog.betteradvertising.com/2010/01/19/better-advertising-acquires-ghostery/
| access-date = December 12, 2015
| title = Better Advertising Acquires Ghostery
⚫
| quote = }}</ref> (renamed [[Evidon, Inc.|Ghostery, Inc.]]) in January 2010. Ghostery is among the most popular browser extensions for privacy protection. In 2014, [[Edward Snowden]] suggested consumers use Ghostery along with other tools to protect their online privacy.<ref>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111002102931/http://blog.evidon.com/2010/01/19/better-advertising-acquires-ghostery/
| archive-date = October 2, 2011
| url-status = dead
⚫
}}</ref> (renamed [[Evidon, Inc.|Ghostery, Inc.]]) in January 2010. Ghostery is among the most popular browser extensions for privacy protection. In 2014, [[Edward Snowden]] suggested consumers use Ghostery along with other tools to protect their online privacy.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.computerworld.com/article/2475978/encryption/snowden-at-sxsw--we-need-better-encryption-to-save-us-from-the-surveillance-state.html
| url = http://www.computerworld.com/article/2475978/encryption/snowden-at-sxsw--we-need-better-encryption-to-save-us-from-the-surveillance-state.html
| title = Snowden at SXSW: We need better encryption to save us from the surveillance state
| title = Snowden at SXSW: We need better encryption to save us from the surveillance state
Line 98: Line 91:
On March 8, 2018, Ghostery shifted back to an open source development model and published their source code on [[GitHub]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/story/ghostery-open-source-new-business-model/|title=Ad-Blocker Ghostery Just Went Open Source—And Has a New Business Model|date= March 8, 2018|access-date = January 1, 2019|website=wired.com}}</ref> saying that this would allow third-party contributions as well as make the software more [[Transparency (behavior)|transparent]] in its operations. The company said that Evidon's business model "was hard to understand and lent itself to conspiracy theories", and that its new monetization strategy would involve affiliate marketing and the sale of ad analytics data.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/ghostery-tool-for-web-privacy-goes-open-source/|title=This tool to block web tracking software just went open-source so you see exactly what it's up to|date=March 8, 2018|work=CNET|access-date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/ad-blocker-ghostery-is-going-open-source-to-win-back-so-1823612514|title=Ad Blocker Ghostery Is Going Open Source to Win Back Some Privacy Points|last=Conger|first=Kate|work=Gizmodo|access-date=May 30, 2018}}</ref>
On March 8, 2018, Ghostery shifted back to an open source development model and published their source code on [[GitHub]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/story/ghostery-open-source-new-business-model/|title=Ad-Blocker Ghostery Just Went Open Source—And Has a New Business Model|date= March 8, 2018|access-date = January 1, 2019|website=wired.com}}</ref> saying that this would allow third-party contributions as well as make the software more [[Transparency (behavior)|transparent]] in its operations. The company said that Evidon's business model "was hard to understand and lent itself to conspiracy theories", and that its new monetization strategy would involve affiliate marketing and the sale of ad analytics data.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/ghostery-tool-for-web-privacy-goes-open-source/|title=This tool to block web tracking software just went open-source so you see exactly what it's up to|date=March 8, 2018|work=CNET|access-date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/ad-blocker-ghostery-is-going-open-source-to-win-back-so-1823612514|title=Ad Blocker Ghostery Is Going Open Source to Win Back Some Privacy Points|last=Conger|first=Kate|work=Gizmodo|access-date=May 30, 2018}}</ref>


In May 2018, in the distribution of an email promoting changes to Ghostery's practices to comply with [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR), hundreds of user email addresses were accidentally leaked by listing them as recipients. Ghostery apologized for the incident, stating that they stopped the distribution of the email when they noticed the error, and reported that this was caused by a new in-house email system that accidentally sent the message as a single email to many recipients, rather than sending it individually to each user.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/ad-blocker-ghostery-celebrates-gdpr-day-by-revealing-hu-1826338313|title=Ad Blocker Ghostery Celebrates GDPR Day by Revealing Hundreds of User Email Addresses|last=Dellinger|first=AJ|work=Gizmodo|access-date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghostery.com/blog/ghostery-news/ghostery-email-incident-update/|title=Ghostery Email Incident Update|date=May 26, 2018|work=Ghostery|access-date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref>
In May 2018, in the distribution of an email promoting changes to Ghostery's practices to comply with [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR), hundreds of user email addresses were accidentally leaked by listing them as recipients. Ghostery apologized for the incident, stating that they stopped the distribution of the email when they noticed the error, and reported that this was caused by a new in-house email system that accidentally sent the message as a single email to many recipients, rather than sending it individually to each user.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/ad-blocker-ghostery-celebrates-gdpr-day-by-revealing-hu-1826338313|title=Ad Blocker Ghostery Celebrates GDPR Day by Revealing Hundreds of User Email Addresses|last=Dellinger|first=AJ|work=Gizmodo|access-date=May 30, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghostery.com/blog/ghostery-news/ghostery-email-incident-update/|title=Ghostery Email Incident Update|date=May 26, 2018|work=Ghostery|access-date=May 30, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528161054/https://www.ghostery.com/blog/ghostery-news/ghostery-email-incident-update/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


After that Cliqz GmbH has closed,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Cliqz |date=April 29, 2020 |title=Cliqz |url=https://cliqz.com/announcement.html |access-date=May 23, 2024 |website=Cliqz}}</ref> Ghostery Gmbh has become current owner of Ghostery business. And a confirmation of business continuity can also be derived from their location<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terms and Conditions |url=https://www.ghostery.com/privacy/ghostery-terms-and-conditions |access-date=May 23, 2024 |website=Ghostery}}</ref> that is still at same address of former Cliqz GmbH company,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact |url=https://cliqz.com/en/contact |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=Cliqz}}</ref> and because Jean-Paul Schmetz, previous founder of that same former company<ref>{{Cite web |title=About - Cliqz |url=https://cliqz.com/en/about#:~:text=Jean-Paul%20Schmetz%20Founder%20and%20CEO%20Cliqz,new%20way%20of%20using%20the%20web.&text=Jean-Paul%20Schmetz%20Founder%20and,of%20using%20the%20web.&text=Founder%20and%20CEO%20Cliqz,new%20way%20of%20using |access-date=May 24, 2024}}</ref> is currently directing it together with Heinz Spengler.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imprint |url=https://www.ghostery.com/privacy/imprint |access-date=May 23, 2024 |website=Ghostery}}</ref>
In March 2018, Ghostery went to a new business model and became Open Source.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source</ref>. Edward Snowden gave Ghostery a "shout out" in his first first televised interview from the 2014 SXSW Interactive Conference. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Snowden</ref>

== Features ==

=== Ad-Blocking ===
Ad-Blocking includes banners, pop-ups, and video ads.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghostery Privacy Suite Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/ghostery-privacy-suite |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}</ref>

=== Anti-Tracking ===
Added from Cliqz after owning Ghostery, it uses a heuristic, AI approach to determine if those trackers are sending unsafe data.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Barrett |first=Brian |title=Ghostery Deploys AI in the Fight Against Ad Trackers |url=https://www.wired.com/story/ghostery-deploys-ai-in-fight-against-ad-trackers/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

=== Never-Consent ===
This feature stops cookie pop-ups by automatically rejecting unneeded third-party cookies and preserves user privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Sara |date=2022-09-14 |title=Cookie pop-ups have taken over the internet. Here's how to stop them. |url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/9/14/23353266/cookie-pop-up-go-away |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Vox |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Criticism==
==Criticism==


Under its former owner Evidon, Ghostery had an opt-in feature called GhostRank. GhostRank took note of ads encountered and blocked, then sent that information back to advertisers who could then use that data to change their ads to avoid further being blocked; although this feature is meant to incentivize advertisers to create less intrusive ads and thus a better web experience, the data can just as easily be used to create more malicious ads that escape detection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lifehacker.com/ad-blocking-extension-ghostery-actually-sells-data-to-a-514417864/|title=Ad-Blocker Ghostery Actually Helps Advertisers, If You 'Support' It|first=Alan|last=Henry|date=|website=LifeHacker.com|access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>
Under its former owner Evidon, Ghostery had an opt-in feature called GhostRank. GhostRank took note of ads encountered and blocked, then sent that information back to advertisers who could then use that data to change their ads to avoid further being blocked; although this feature is meant to incentivize advertisers to create less intrusive ads and thus a better web experience, the data can just as easily be used to create more malicious ads that escape detection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lifehacker.com/ad-blocking-extension-ghostery-actually-sells-data-to-a-514417864/|title=Ad-Blocker Ghostery Actually Helps Advertisers, If You 'Support' It|first=Alan|last=Henry|date=June 19, 2013|website=LifeHacker.com|access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>


Not everyone sees Evidon's business model as conflict-free. Jonathan Mayer, a Stanford graduate student and privacy advocate, has said: "Evidon has a financial incentive to encourage the program's adoption and discourage alternatives like [[Do Not Track]] and [[HTTP cookie|cookie]] blocking as well as to maintain positive relationships with intrusive advertising companies".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://mashable.com/2013/06/17/ad-blocker-helps-ad-industry/ |title= Popular Ad Blocker Also Helps the Ad Industry |first=Tom |last= Simonite |agency= MIT Technology Review |date= June 17, 2013 |website= Mashable |access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>
Not everyone sees Evidon's business model as conflict-free. Jonathan Mayer, a Stanford graduate student and privacy advocate, has said: "Evidon has a financial incentive to encourage the program's adoption and discourage alternatives like [[Do Not Track]] and [[HTTP cookie|cookie]] blocking as well as to maintain positive relationships with intrusive advertising companies".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://mashable.com/2013/06/17/ad-blocker-helps-ad-industry/ |title= Popular Ad Blocker Also Helps the Ad Industry |first=Tom |last= Simonite |agency= MIT Technology Review |date= June 17, 2013 |website= Mashable |access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>


Since July 2018, with version 8.2, Ghostery shows advertisements of its own to users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/what-is-ghostery-rewards/|title=Ghostery FAQ - What is Ghostery Rewards?}}</ref> Burda claims that the advertisements do not send personal data back to their servers and that they do not create a personal profile.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Ghostery-Erweiterung-blendet-Werbung-ein-4107209.html|title=Ghostery-Erweiterung blendet Werbung ein|website=Heise |language=German }}</ref>
In July 2018, with version 8.2, Ghostery started showing advertisements of its own to users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/what-is-ghostery-rewards/|title=Ghostery FAQ - What is Ghostery Rewards?|access-date=July 10, 2018|archive-date=May 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526054400/https://www.ghostery.com/faqs/what-is-ghostery-rewards/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Burda claims that the advertisements do not send personal data back to their servers and that they do not create a personal profile.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Ghostery-Erweiterung-blendet-Werbung-ein-4107209.html|title=Ghostery-Erweiterung blendet Werbung ein|website=Heise |date=July 10, 2018 |language=German }}</ref> This was a program call Ghostery Rewards and has been discontinued.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Matsakis |first=Louise |date=March 8, 2018 |title=Ad-Blocker Ghostery Just Went Open Source—And Has a New Business Model |url=https://www.wired.com/story/ghostery-open-source-new-business-model/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

As of 2022, there are no advertisements with Ghostery and Ghostery Rewards no longer exists as verified via Github.<ref>https://github.com/ghostery</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 21:11, 26 October 2024

Ghostery
Developer(s)David Cancel
Christopher Tino
José María Signanini
Serge Zarembsky
Patrick Lawler
Caleb Richelson
Initial release2009; 15 years ago (2009)
Stable release
  • Browser extension: 10.4.14[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 14 November 2024
  • Android: 2.4 / March 21, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-03-21)[2]
  • iOS: 2.1.0 / October 30, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-10-30)[3]
Repository
Operating system
LicenseMPL 2.0[4]
Websitewww.ghostery.com

Ghostery is a free and open-source privacy and security-related browser extension and mobile browser application. Since February 2017, it has been owned by the German company Cliqz International GmbH (formerly owned by Evidon, Inc., which was previously called Ghostery, Inc. and the Better Advertising Project).[5][6] The code was originally developed by David Cancel and associates.

Ghostery enables its users to detect and control JavaScript "tags" and "trackers" to remove JavaScript bugs and beacons that are embedded in many web pages which allow for the collection of a user's browsing habits via HTTP cookies, as well as participating in more sophisticated forms of tracking such as canvas fingerprinting.

As of 2024, Ghostery is available for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari, iOS, Android, and Firefox for Android.[7]

Additionally, Ghostery's privacy team creates profiles of page elements and companies for educational purposes.[8]

Functionality

[edit]

Blocking

[edit]

Ghostery blocks HTTP requests and redirects according to their source address in several ways:

  1. Blocking third-party tracking scripts that are used by websites to collect data on user behavior for advertising, marketing, site optimization, and security purposes. These scripts, also known as "tags" or "trackers", are the underlying technology that places tracking cookies on consumers' browsers.
  2. Continuously curating a "script library" that identifies when new tracking scripts are encountered on the Internet and automatically blocks them.[8]
  3. Creating "Whitelists" of websites where third-party script blocking is disabled and other advanced functionality for users to configure and personalize their experience.

When a tracker is blocked, any cookie that the tracker has placed is not accessible to anyone but the user and thus cannot be read when called upon.[9]

Reporting

[edit]

Ghostery reports all tracking packages detected, and whether Ghostery has blocked them or not, in a "findings window" accessible from clicking on the Ghostery Icon in the browser. When configured, Ghostery also displays the list of trackers present on the page in a temporary purple overlay box.[10]

History and use

[edit]

Originally developed by David Cancel, Ghostery was acquired by Evidon[11][12] (renamed Ghostery, Inc.) in January 2010. Ghostery is among the most popular browser extensions for privacy protection. In 2014, Edward Snowden suggested consumers use Ghostery along with other tools to protect their online privacy.[13] Ghostery, Inc. made their software source code open for review in 2010, but did not release further versions of the source code after that. On February 22, 2016, the company released the EULA for the Ghostery browser extension, as a proprietary closed-source product.

Cliqz GmbH acquired Ghostery from Evidon Inc. in February 2017.[14] Cliqz is a German company majority-owned by Hubert Burda Media. Ghostery no longer shares data of any kind with Evidon.

On March 8, 2018, Ghostery shifted back to an open source development model and published their source code on GitHub,[15] saying that this would allow third-party contributions as well as make the software more transparent in its operations. The company said that Evidon's business model "was hard to understand and lent itself to conspiracy theories", and that its new monetization strategy would involve affiliate marketing and the sale of ad analytics data.[16][17]

In May 2018, in the distribution of an email promoting changes to Ghostery's practices to comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), hundreds of user email addresses were accidentally leaked by listing them as recipients. Ghostery apologized for the incident, stating that they stopped the distribution of the email when they noticed the error, and reported that this was caused by a new in-house email system that accidentally sent the message as a single email to many recipients, rather than sending it individually to each user.[18][19]

After that Cliqz GmbH has closed,[20] Ghostery Gmbh has become current owner of Ghostery business. And a confirmation of business continuity can also be derived from their location[21] that is still at same address of former Cliqz GmbH company,[22] and because Jean-Paul Schmetz, previous founder of that same former company[23] is currently directing it together with Heinz Spengler.[24]

Features

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Ad-Blocking

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Ad-Blocking includes banners, pop-ups, and video ads.[25]

Anti-Tracking

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Added from Cliqz after owning Ghostery, it uses a heuristic, AI approach to determine if those trackers are sending unsafe data.[26]

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This feature stops cookie pop-ups by automatically rejecting unneeded third-party cookies and preserves user privacy.[27]

Criticism

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Under its former owner Evidon, Ghostery had an opt-in feature called GhostRank. GhostRank took note of ads encountered and blocked, then sent that information back to advertisers who could then use that data to change their ads to avoid further being blocked; although this feature is meant to incentivize advertisers to create less intrusive ads and thus a better web experience, the data can just as easily be used to create more malicious ads that escape detection.[28]

Not everyone sees Evidon's business model as conflict-free. Jonathan Mayer, a Stanford graduate student and privacy advocate, has said: "Evidon has a financial incentive to encourage the program's adoption and discourage alternatives like Do Not Track and cookie blocking as well as to maintain positive relationships with intrusive advertising companies".[29]

In July 2018, with version 8.2, Ghostery started showing advertisements of its own to users.[30] Burda claims that the advertisements do not send personal data back to their servers and that they do not create a personal profile.[31] This was a program call Ghostery Rewards and has been discontinued.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Release 10.4.14". November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Releases · ghostery/browser-android", GitHub, March 21, 2019
  3. ^ "Ghostery Privacy Browser on the App Store". iTunes. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  4. ^ "ghostery/ghostery-extension". GitHub. December 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "CLIQZ and Ghostery join forces to defend your privacy". CLIQZ. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  6. ^ Ghostery Team. "Ghostery is Acquired by Cliqz!". Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  7. ^ "Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker". www.ghostery.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Attacking Tracking: They're Watching You (Video). Fox News. March 15, 2011.
  9. ^ "Prevent 3rd party script from setting cookies (specifically Google adsense)". Stack Overflow. July 29, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  10. ^ "How does Ghostery work? (Dead link)". www.ghostery.com. Ghostery, Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  11. ^ Pierce, Jon (2010). "Github - Ghostery Source Code". Github. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  12. ^ "Better Advertising Acquires Ghostery". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.
  13. ^ Storm, Darlene (March 10, 2014). "Snowden at SXSW: We need better encryption to save us from the surveillance state". www.computerworld.com. computerworld. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  14. ^ "Private search browser Cliqz buys Ghostery ad-tracker tool". techcrunch.com. February 15, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Ad-Blocker Ghostery Just Went Open Source—And Has a New Business Model". wired.com. March 8, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "This tool to block web tracking software just went open-source so you see exactly what it's up to". CNET. March 8, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  17. ^ Conger, Kate. "Ad Blocker Ghostery Is Going Open Source to Win Back Some Privacy Points". Gizmodo. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  18. ^ Dellinger, AJ. "Ad Blocker Ghostery Celebrates GDPR Day by Revealing Hundreds of User Email Addresses". Gizmodo. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  19. ^ "Ghostery Email Incident Update". Ghostery. May 26, 2018. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  20. ^ Team, Cliqz (April 29, 2020). "Cliqz". Cliqz. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "Terms and Conditions". Ghostery. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  22. ^ "Contact". Cliqz. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  23. ^ "About - Cliqz". Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  24. ^ "Imprint". Ghostery. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  25. ^ "Ghostery Privacy Suite Review". PCMAG. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  26. ^ Barrett, Brian. "Ghostery Deploys AI in the Fight Against Ad Trackers". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  27. ^ Morrison, Sara (September 14, 2022). "Cookie pop-ups have taken over the internet. Here's how to stop them". Vox. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Henry, Alan (June 19, 2013). "Ad-Blocker Ghostery Actually Helps Advertisers, If You 'Support' It". LifeHacker.com. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  29. ^ Simonite, Tom (June 17, 2013). "Popular Ad Blocker Also Helps the Ad Industry". Mashable. MIT Technology Review. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  30. ^ "Ghostery FAQ - What is Ghostery Rewards?". Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  31. ^ "Ghostery-Erweiterung blendet Werbung ein". Heise (in German). July 10, 2018.
  32. ^ Matsakis, Louise (March 8, 2018). "Ad-Blocker Ghostery Just Went Open Source—And Has a New Business Model". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
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