wrong with Android Q
wrong with Android Q
Few people remember, but at the presentation of Android Q in May of this year, Google mentioned privacy 22 times from the scene, talking about new mechanisms for protection against surveillance. Thus, the company made it clear that with the release of the update, the developers will have no chance to spy on us, since the system will notify of any attempts by the applications to start working in the background. This can only be commended, especially since Google did not say anything that would not allow advertisers and itself, in particular, to spy on users.
As the experts of the Electronic Frontier Foundation human rights organization found out, in Android Q – most likely, intentionally – Google did not provide blockers for advertising trackers. The updated operating system will block the activation of geolocation services by applications, making calls and many other actions, but at the same time retain the right to collect advertising identifier data.
What is an advertising identifier?
Advertising ID is a unique number that allows advertisers to track users. It gives them the opportunity to analyze our preferences in order to subsequently show us relevant ads on the Internet and in the applications that we install.
Despite the fact that the advertising identifier does not contain any personal data, advertisers do not need this. Specially trained algorithms and neural networks will still calculate you among millions of other users, comparing your habits and preferences with an already created virtual portrait.
How to disable relevant ads on Android
Of course, in Android, there is a parameter that allows you to refuse to receive personalized advertising. To activate it, go to “Settings” – Google – “Advertising” – “Disable advertising personalization.”
However, as the practice has shown, deactivating this parameter in no way prevents applications from gaining access to the advertising identifier, leaving a demonstration of relevant ads on the conscience of the developers themselves.
In my opinion, what is happening with Android today looks like real hypocrisy. After all, with one hand Google signs a ban on surveillance of us, and with the other crosses it without a twinge of conscience. Thus, the search giant opens the door for developers and first of all the door to the world of espionage, clarifying that it is by no means possible to enter it, but if you really want to, you can.
Why iOS is better than Android
IOS devices, which always contrast Android gadgets, have a similar identifier, which is enabled by default and allows advertisers to track users. But there you can actually turn it off and no longer see ads that are based on our search queries. And you still ask what is wrong with Android?