Ghostery

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ghostery
Basic data

Maintainer Felix Shnir,
José María Signanini
developer Ghostery, Inc.
Current  version 8.3.1
( January 31, 2019 )
operating system overarching
programming language C ++ , JavaScript
category Data protection on the Internet , ad blockers
License MPL-2.0
German speaking Yes
www.ghostery.com

Ghostery is software that informs the user of hidden services while surfing , which transmit private data to the website operator in the background, and which can be blocked if desired. The program is a software extension for the web browser Firefox , Safari , Chrome , Opera , Edge and Internet Explorer available as well as a standalone Web browser app for Android and Apple iOS .

history

Original manufacturer of Ghostery was the company Ghostery, Inc. , which traded first as Better Advertising , then as Evidon Inc.

In February 2017 it became known that the Ghostery brand and technology had been partially bought up by Cliqz in order to be integrated into the anti-tracking function of the web browser of the same name in the future. The majority behind Cliqz is Burda-Verlag . The acquisition is seen in connection with the ancillary copyright for press publishers and, according to press reports, is directed against Google . The data collected by Ghostery is to be merged with those that the web browser aggregates via the tracking services on the Internet. The purchaser told Zeit online that the acquisition would make Ghostery a German company and that it would be subject to data protection law in Germany . The sale only affects business with consumers. The corporate customers stayed with Evidon, formerly Better Advertising, and have since been served under this brand again.

From version 8.1, which was released in March 2018, Ghostery is available as free open source software under the MPL-2.0 ( Mozilla Public License ). The source code can be viewed on GitHub .

functionality

Ghostery does not categorically block all scripts. Instead, only those scripts are identified that endanger the privacy or anonymity of the user, and harmless scripts are allowed. In addition to scripts, other processes are also identified that could affect the anonymity or privacy of the user (e.g. certain cookies , images or other website elements). The list of items to be identified is updated regularly.

The user can decide for each of these potentially dangerous scripts or website elements which he wants to block or allow. He can also find out about their copyright and data protection guidelines. When visiting a website, Ghostery informs the user which elements have been found and which of them have been blocked. The user can then adjust the settings again for the respective page if necessary.

Elements that endanger anonymity and privacy also include social media buttons such as B. the “Like” button from Facebook , which is sometimes integrated on other websites. If desired, Ghostery can replace these buttons with its own button (“ Click to Play ”), with which the blocked button can be reactivated temporarily with a click if necessary.

The user can also consent ( opt-in ) to send anonymized information about the tracking elements found to the developers. The corresponding function is called ghost potion .

When a new website is loaded, the program displays a list of the active tracking elements and which of them have been blocked in the upper right corner of the browser window. Clicking the Ghostery symbol in the status bar opens the list and can be edited. It contains the links to further information and offers the possibility to adjust the settings individually for the respective page if necessary.

criticism

This article or section needs to be revised. Details should be given on the talk page. Please help to improve it , and then remove this flag.

The manufacturer of Ghostery also made its database available to the advertising industry, which is why the computer magazine Chip advised against using the software and recommended NoScript instead . Technology Review reported that the company behind Ghostery will pass on user data to advertising companies when the "Ghostrank" option is enabled.
The manufacturing company said that Ghostrank does not collect any data for personalized advertisements or to identify a user. Data is only collected if the user has consented to the Ghostrank function ( opt-in ). The collected data would be made available to the US organization Better Business Bureau (roughly comparable to the German consumer advice centers). In addition, Ghostery delivers data to university students, data protection researchers and journalists for their studies.
Website operators can use the data to track which tracking code of the various advertising companies is active on their pages and how it affects the loading speed. Second, advertisers can see how widespread a particular type of tracking code is on the web.

According to its own information, Cliqz GmbH does not pass on any data from Ghostery users to third parties. Ghostery does not collect any personal information.
Data would only be collected if the user had consented to the Ghostrank function ( opt-in ).

In September 2015, version 5.4.6 introduced the “Consumer Messaging Platform” function. The function is activated by default and is used to send “announcements, advertising campaigns or other appropriate notifications” to users via the browser.

reception

Ghostery has been added to Mozilla's “Recommended Firefox Extensions” list.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Release 8.3.1 . January 31, 2019 (accessed February 1, 2019).
  2. ↑ github.com .
  3. ↑ Overview ( Memento of the original from August 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on ghostery.com @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ghostery.com
  4. ↑ Privacy first: Cliqz takes over Ghostery - Munich Startup. Simon Tischer, February 21, 2017, accessed March 20, 2017 .
  5. ↑ Patrick Beuth: Cliqz buys Ghostery: A new package to avoid Google . In: The time . Hamburg February 15, 2017 ( zeit.de [accessed February 15, 2017]).
  6. ^ Tilman Wittenhorst: Ghostery anti-tracking tool becomes open source software. In: heise online. March 11, 2018, accessed on March 12, 2018 (German).
  7. ↑ Source code: ghostery / ghostery-extension. In: github.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Questions and answers about Ghostery ( Memento of the original from April 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on ghostery.com @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ghostery.com
  9. ↑ Ghostery for Firefox. chip.de, May 21, 2013, accessed on May 26, 2013 (see conclusion).
  10. ↑ a b Tom Simonite: The spirits I called. Technology Review, June 18, 2013, accessed January 17, 2014 .
  11. ↑ What does Evidon do with Ghostrank information? Official FAQ point 17, accessed on May 26, 2013 (English)
  12. ↑ CLIQZ and Ghostery are fighting together to protect your privacy. Cliqz GmbH, February 15, 2017, accessed on March 20, 2017 .
  13. ↑ Ghostery 5.4.6 New for YOU! ( Memento of the original from September 19, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ghostery.com
  14. ↑ Linux and Me: Update to Ghostery 5.4.6 activates the ad network in the popular privacy add-on
  15. ↑ Ghostery on addons.mozilla.org