Examine individual changes

'{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} {{short description|Free and open-source browser extension and mobile browser app}} {{Infobox software | name = Ghostery | logo = File:Ghostery-Logo.png | screenshot = | caption = | 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}} | programming language = | operating system = {{plainlist| *[[Browser extension]] *[[Android (operating system)|Android]] *[[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> | website = [https://www.ghostery.com www.ghostery.com] | logo_size = 250px | latest_release_version = {{plainlist| *'''[[Browser extension]]:''' 8.4.6 / {{Start date and age|2019|12|22}}<ref>{{citation|title=Releases · ghostery/ghostery-extension|url=https://github.com/ghostery/ghostery-extension|date=February 18, 2019|website=GitHub}}</ref> *'''[[Android (operating system)|Android]]:''' 2.2 / {{Start date and age|2019|1|31}}<ref>{{citation|title=Releases · ghostery/browser-android|url=https://github.com/ghostery/browser-android|date=February 17, 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> }} }} '''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 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]]. 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]]. 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> ==Functionality== ===Blocking=== 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. # Continuously curating a "script library" that identifies when new tracking scripts are encountered on the Internet and automatically blocking 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. 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 | 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 | title = Prevent 3rd party script from setting cookies (specifically Google adsense) | last = | first = | date = July 29, 2015 | website = | publisher = Stack Overflow | access-date = December 11, 2015 | quote = }}</ref> ===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 | url = https://wbteck.com/ | title = wbteck | last = | first = | date = | website = www.ghostery.com | publisher = Ghostery, Inc. | access-date = December 12, 2015 | quote = }}</ref> ==History and use== Originally developed by [[David Cancel]], Ghostery was acquired by Evidon<ref name=jon>{{cite web | url = https://github.com/jonpierce/ghostery | title = Github - Ghostery Source Code | last = Pierce | first = Jon | date = 2010 | website = Github | publisher = Ghostery, Inc. | access-date = December 12, 2015 | 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 | 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 | last = Storm | first = Darlene | date = March 10, 2014 | website = www.computerworld.com | publisher = computerworld | access-date = December 21, 2015 | quote = }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/15/private-search-browser-cliqz-buys-ghostery-ad-tracker-tool/|title=Private search browser Cliqz buys Ghostery ad-tracker tool |website=techcrunch.com|date=February 15, 2017 |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> 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]],<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 March 2018, Ghostery went to a new business model and became Open Source.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source</ref>. It has Edward Snowden's <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Snowden</ref> preferred Adblocker.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_blocking</ref> <ref>https://www.ghostery.com/blog/10-years-and-counting</ref> ==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> 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> ==See also== {{Portal|Free and open-source software}} {{div col}} * [[Ad blocking]] * [[Disconnect Mobile]] * [[DoNotTrackMe]] * [[List of formerly proprietary software]] * [[NoScript]] * [[Online advertising]] * [[Privacy Badger]] * [[uBlock Origin]] {{div col end}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.ghostery.com/}} [[Category:Adware]] [[Category:Formerly proprietary software]] [[Category:Free and open-source Android software]] [[Category:Free Firefox WebExtensions]] [[Category:Google Chrome extensions]] [[Category:Internet Explorer add-ons]] [[Category:Internet privacy software]] [[Category:IOS software]] [[Category:Online advertising]] [[Category:Opera Software]]'