The Australian government passes laws which give them power over the content which is consumed by Internet users all over the country. This can lead to Internet providers being forced to report users based on specific classifications of online content, leading to possible false allegations and censorship. source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2022-09-21/internet-online-safety-act-industry-codes/101456902 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/09/20/australias-laws-about-internet-regulation-archived-source/
When users search for information within the TikTok app it was reported that up to 20% of the results show unchecked false misinformation, e.g. about COVID-19 vaccines or school shootings. The misinformation plays in the goals of the Chinese regime, to which the TikTok company has ties to, to undermine the app’s audience in western… Read more: TikTok’s search engine repeatedly delivers misinformation
American border authorities access travelers’ phones without the need of a warrant, giving free reign of extracting all personal information and storing them for years. source: https://www.engadget.com/us-border-forces-traveler-data-15-years-085106938.html archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/09/16/us-border-forces-seize-americans-phone-data-and-store-it-for-15-years-archived-source/
Facebook reported private messages to the FBI if the content expressed anti-government or anti-authority sentiments. The FBI stated the reports were a waste of their time as no direct planned violent acts could be derived. source: https://nypost.com/2022/09/14/facebook-spied-on-private-messages-of-americans-who-questioned-2020-election/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/09/14/facebook-spied-on-private-messages-of-americans-who-questioned-the-2020-election-archived-source/
For decades the Iranian government sentenced 1000s of gays and lesbians to death. In the latest example two LGBTQ activists have been given the death sentence without even allowing them being defended by a lawyer. source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-716282 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/09/04/iran-sentences-two-gay-rights-activists-to-death-archived-source/
An Analysis of the TikTok app reveals it is implemented in a way which makes it possible to obtain any input on the device, including sensitive data like credit card credentials. source: https://krausefx.com/blog/announcing-inappbrowsercom-see-what-javascript-commands-get-executed-in-an-in-app-browser archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/08/18/tiktok-uses-every-technical-possibility-to-obtain-as-much-user-data-as-possible-archived-source/
An analysis of digital attacks on organizations all around the world show the methods used by the Chinese government to undermine and spy on critical voices who stand up against their totalitarian regime. source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/08/16/1057894/hackers-linked-to-china-have-been-targeting-human-rights-groups-for-years/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/08/16/chinese-hackers-have-been-targeting-human-rights-groups-for-years-archived-source/
Apple asked suppliers in Taiwan to label their products as ‘made in China’ to appease the Chinese regime which does not accept Taiwan as a sovereign country. Instead of standing up against the suppression of a country the Apple company prefers to comply with the Chinese regime in favor for their business in the country.… Read more: Apple asks Taiwan suppliers to label products as ‘Made in China’
The UK government plans to pass a new bill on Internet access which would give advanced power over it’s citizens, opening the possibility for censorship and prosecution. Also attempting to undermine the use of strong encryption to give the government easy access to all user content for inspection. The bill in it’s current form imposes… Read more: The UK Online Safety Bill Attacks Free Speech and Encryption
GitLab announced plans to change their policy regarding projects hosted on their platform, leading to a complete removal in case of no current activity. The platform aims to win back resources by applying this policy on free unpaid accounts and drive users to apply to premium paid accounts. Although the plans were abandoned after severe… Read more: GitLab plans to delete dormant projects in free accounts
The government in Indonesia aims to make big tech companies sign certain agreements which would give the country’s government extended insight into citizens’ data who use the companies’ services, in an attempt to surveil and control their people. After the companies did not comply with these terms the Indonesian government went a step further and… Read more: Indonesia wants to control data from foreign companies
Leaked documents show the company’s policy for publicly communicating sensitive topics, among them the often criticized association with the totalitarian regime in China. Employees are directed to avoid direct questions concerning these topics. source: https://gizmodo.com/tiktok-master-messaging-pr-playbook-china-music-1849334736 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/07/27/tiktok-downplays-its-association-with-china-archived-source/
The government in Thailand used the Pegasus spyware against multiple pro-democracy activists. source: https://citizenlab.ca/2022/07/geckospy-pegasus-spyware-used-against-thailands-pro-democracy-movement/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/07/17/thailand-used-pegasus-spyware-against-pro-democracy-movement-archived-source/
ISPs in Iran manipulate the Internet access of Iranian citizens via DNS hijacking, for example forcing a redirect to the Google search website in a way it always uses the SafeSearch option. This example shows the forced control over Internet users in Iran and the next steps could be the total censorship of certain websites.… Read more: Iran manipulates internet with DNS hijacking
In an attempt to control and censor the communication of the Chinese people the Chinese regime plans to extend their control over all posts via social media, aiming to silence all possible criticism about the country’s dictatorship. source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/18/1054452/china-censors-social-media-comments/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/06/18/china-censors-all-social-media-posts-archived-source/
The police force in India used malware to place false evidence in computers owned by activists who are critical of the government. source: https://www.wired.com/story/modified-elephant-planted-evidence-hacking-police/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/06/16/india-police-used-malware-to-place-false-evidence-on-activist-computers-archived-source/
Vodafone plans a new way of deploying targeted ads to users on ISP level in their mobile network infrastructure, against their consent and by the nature of the implementation impossible to circumvent. source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/vodafone-plans-carrier-level-user-tracking-for-targeted-ads/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/05/30/vodafone-plans-carrier-level-user-tracking-for-targeted-ads-archived-source/
Plans for an app for Amazon workers show the censorship of certain keywords in an aim to prevent any communication between workers emphasizing the creation of unions and other topics which would not be beneficial from the perspective of the company. source: https://theintercept.com/2022/04/04/amazon-union-living-wage-restrooms-chat-app/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/04/04/amazon-worker-chat-app-censors-certain-words-archived-source/
The Chinese regime oppresses the country Tibet and condones every criticism about their politics. In response to the actor Keanu Reeves displaying support for the freedom of Tibet the Chinese regime removed all movies relating to the actor in the country. source: https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/keanu-reeves-movies-pulled-chinese-streaming-platforms-1234711003/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/03/24/china-pulls-keanu-reeves-movies-due-to-support-for-tibet-archived-source/
When downloading the Mozilla Firefox web browser from the official Mozilla website a unique identifier is included in the installer file which allows the company to trace the end user without their consent. source: https://www.ghacks.net/2022/03/17/each-firefox-download-has-a-unique-identifier/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/03/17/mozilla-telemetry-in-firefox-installer-archived-source/
In a discriminating narrative an IBM executive aims to get rid of employees of a certain age to be replaced with younger new hires. source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ibm-execs-called-older-workers-dinobabies-in-age-discrimination-lawsuit-2022-2 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/02/13/ibm-executives-called-older-workers-dinobabies-who-should-be-extinct-archived-source/
It got known about a practice by the tech giant Apple to change the title of former employees to “associate” in an aim to lower their chances on the job market e.g. to be hired by possible competitors. source: https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/news/apple-practice-of-changing-former-employee-titles-to-associate-spurs-complaint/#disqus_thread archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/02/11/apple-practice-of-changing-former-employee-titles-archived-source/
It was found that a hacker group initiated by the Chinese regime attacked financial institutions in Taiwan, showing the regime does not shy away from any illegal action to get a foothold on foreign countries. source: https://thehackernews.com/2022/02/chinese-hackers-target-taiwanese.html archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/02/06/china-targets-taiwanese-financial-institutions-archived-source/
The movie Fight Club was altered for Chinese viewers in a way that the ending does not show the destruction of a series of buildings but instead displaying a message that the characters have been apprehended by the police. This almost comical alteration shows the deep fear by the Chinese regime about anything that could… Read more: China censors end of movie Fight Club
Google is called out in a lawsuit about the practices it used to profit from collecting end user location data over the span of years while deceiving about it. source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/google-deceived-consumers-about-how-it-profits-from-their-location-data-attorneys-general-allege-in-lawsuits/ar-AAT5ADk archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/01/24/google-deceived-consumers-about-how-it-profits-from-their-location-data-archived-source/
An analysis of Xiaomi smartphones revealed software installed on the device which aims to censor certain keywords in favor of the Chinese regime. source: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4402842 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/01/08/taiwans-ncc-finds-censorship-software-in-xiaomi-smartphones-archived-source/
The Canadian Public Health Agency used cell towers to track the movement of millions of citizens with the excuse of a pandemic, violating their privacy. source: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadas-public-health-agency-admits-it-tracked-33-million-mobile-devices-during-lockdown archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/12/24/canada-tracked-33-million-mobile-devices-during-lockdown-archived-source/
Although the company Huawei claims it does not directly work for the Chinese regime, internal documents show the extensive ways the company supplies the Chinese regime with technology and systems which are mostly used to surveil dissidents in China. source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/14/huawei-surveillance-china/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/12/14/huawei-supplies-chinese-government-with-surveillance-technolgy-archived-source/
Even when a Facebook account is deactivated the company continues to use the account in it’s offline state for further data collection and analysis and ad revenue, ignoring the end user’s privacy. source: https://digiday.com/media/why-facebook-keeps-collecting-peoples-data-and-building-their-profiles-even-when-their-accounts-are-deactivated/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/10/28/facebook-collects-data-even-when-accounts-are-deactivated-archived-source/
Albeit the claim by Facebook about the messages in their WhatsApp messenger service being end-to-encrypted this seems not to be the case, exposing every content send via the service and violating the end user’s privacy. source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/09/whatsapp-end-to-end-encrypted-messages-arent-that-private-after-all/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/09/08/whatsapp-end-to-end-encrypted-messages-arent-that-private-after-all-archived-source/
The German government admitted it obtained the Pegasus software, a spyware known for being used in totalitarian countries for persecuting dissidents. source: https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/08/german-government-admits-buying-pegasus-spyware/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/09/08/german-government-admits-buying-pegasus-spyware-archived-source/
On the request of Europol the EMail provider Protonmail had to provide the IP address of an activist who is targeted by the law enforcement. Although Protonmail offers fully encrypted EMail services, meta data like IP addresses are still available and in this example it is shown that a company still has to abide the… Read more: ProtonMail provides IP address of climate activist
In another aim to appease the Chinese regime, Apple censors certain keywords customers are able to engrave on Apple products, keywords which are related to protests against the Chinese regime. source: https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/19/22632029/apple-engraving-filter-censorship-keyword-china-hong-kong-taiwan archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/08/19/apple-is-censoring-words-and-phrases-customers-can-engrave-on-products-archived-source/
Microsoft changed the process of setting the default web browser in their latest version of their Windows operating system, unnecessarily over complicating the process in favor of their own software. This practice shows the unfair advantage the company uses against 3rd party software vendors. source: https://www.theverge.com/22630319/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-changes archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/08/18/microsoft-is-making-it-harder-to-switch-default-browsers-in-windows-11-archived-source/
In response to protests in the country the Cuban government announced new plans to excessively monitor the internet access of it’s citizens in an attempt to gain control over alleged dissidents. source: https://p.dw.com/p/3z6Yi archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/08/18/cuba-monitors-the-internet-archived-sources/
It was found that the Chinese company Huawei used a backdoor to extract citizen information in Pakistan, likely initiated by the Chinese regime. source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/chinas-huawei-spied-installed-data-back-door-in-pakistan-report-101629004305415.html archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/08/15/chinas-huawei-spied-installed-data-back-door-in-pakistan-archived-source/
Amazon plans to monitor the computer systems used by it’s employees extensively, stating the necessity for computer security. In reality the goal is to monitor the employees even more as much as possible. source: https://www.inputmag.com/tech/amazon-will-monitor-workers-keystrokes-to-combat-data-theft-privacy-spying-surveillance archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/08/13/amazon-will-monitor-workers-keystrokes-to-combat-data-theft-archived-source/
A technical analysis of a JavaScript kit used by the Chinese regime for surveillance of alleged dissidents. source: https://imp0rtp3.wordpress.com/2021/08/12/tetris/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/08/12/china-targets-dissidents-via-js-surveillance-kits-archived-source/
Samsung announced a function for their SmartTVs product series which allows the company to remotely disable the devices functionality. The company defends the implementation with the goal to fight off looters but it shows how even when you buy a product it does not fully belong to you as the vendor keeps full control over… Read more: Samsung remotely disables SmartTVs
Apple planned to implement a system which scans all images stored on iPhone smartphones with the goal of finding illegal content to pass on to law enforcement agencies. The difference between this system and the fact that user data is already scanned on the iCloud is the fact that this would be a system running… Read more: Apple scans all images on iPhones without user consent
Facebook builds a team with the task to analyze encrypted user data without decrypting it. It shows the company has no respect for end user privacy and only aims to gain as much profit as possible from selling as much user data as they can in every way possible. source: https://www.techspot.com/news/90660-facebook-reportedly-trying-analyze-encrypted-data-without-decrypting.html archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/08/03/facebook-is-reportedly-trying-to-analyze-encrypted-data-without-decrypting-it-archived-source/
It has been proven that the video conference platform Zoom does not use end-to-end encryption, lying to their users and endangering them in a breach of privacy and data loss. Additionally it was found the company shares user data with 3rd parties like Facebook and Google in contrast of their statements in their Terms of… Read more: Zoom to pay $85M for lying about encryption and sending data to Facebook and Google
TikTok users discovered they cannot use certain text like “Black Lives Matter” in their profile. This shows the arbitrary censorship by the platform. source: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/562146-tiktok-blocked-creators-from-using-black-lives-matter-in-bios/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/07/08/tiktok-blocked-creators-from-using-black-lives-matter-in-bios-archived-source/
The EU parliament approved a derogation which allows law enforcement agencies the mass surveillance of all messaging services, opening the doors to unjustified breaches of privacy for innocent citizens. source: https://european-pirateparty.eu/parliament-approves-chatcontrol/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/07/06/eu-parliament-approves-mass-surveillance-of-private-communications/
Concerns raised by privacy advocates got fueled by reports of Google home devices recording audio even when they are not actively used. source: https://www.techtimes.com/articles/262271/20210701/google-ai-assistant-records-company-admits.htm archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/07/01/google-assistant-records-audio-even-when-youre-not-using-it-archived-source/
TikTok updated their privacy policy in an attempt to cover the legitimacy of collecting even more data from their end users. source: https://www.pandasecurity.com/en/mediacenter/security/tiktok-privacy-faceprints/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/06/22/tiktok-quietly-updated-privacy-policy-to-collect-faceprints-and-voiceprints-archived-source/
It was found that Google pushed the installation of software to end user’s Android smartphones without their consent. This example shows that Android Smartphones with the default Google Play services are not really in the control of the user as the company has the power to remotely install and uninstall software as they please. source:… Read more: Google installs apps without consent
To not lost any footing in the Chinese market, Apple does not put in any effort to stand up against the Chinese regime and instead bends to their bidding, giving full access to customer data and giving in censorship. source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/technology/apple-china-censorship-data.html archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/05/17/apple-gives-chinese-government-access-to-icloud-data-and-censored-apps-archived-source/
It was found that Apple willingly censored LGBTQ+ related apps from their app store in multiple countries which condone the LGBTQ+ community. Instead of standing up against censorship and the oppression of certain social groups, Apple decides to bend the will of foreign countries to not lose their business footing. source: https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2021-06-14-apple-is-enabling-censorship-of-lgbtq-apps-in-152/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/06/14/apple-is-enabling-censorship-of-lgbtq-apps-archived-source/
Amazon planned a change to their series of home devices which will share their respective internet connectivity. This change is done without the consent of the many users of these devices and shows the company does not care about their end users privacy or consent. source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/amazon-devices-will-soon-automatically-share-your-internet-with-neighbors/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/05/29/amazon-devices-automatically-share-internet-with-neighbors-archived-source/
Palestinian journalists found their WhatsApp messenger accounts blocked only to be restored a few days later, leaving them without an important communication tool. The incident shows the company Facebook bends to the will of foreign countries, in this case Israel, to push their interests instead of standing in for a free press. source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/25/israel-blocks-whatsapp-accounts-of-gaza-journalists archived… Read more: WhatsApp blocked Gaza-based journalists accounts
The Chinese regime hacked the RSA in an effort to gain access to every foreign entity which used the system to encrypt their digital infrastructure. source: https://www.wired.com/story/the-full-story-of-the-stunning-rsa-hack-can-finally-be-told/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/05/20/china-hacked-rsa-archived-source/
The Chinese regime makes use of well known social media networks to promote their own agenda, not shying away from the use of fake bot accounts. source: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-05-11-fanatic-fans-or-fake-followers-chinese-diplomats-and-their-social-media-networks archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/05/11/china-manipulates-via-social-media-archived-source/
It is well known that Google makes a large part of it’s profit via ad revenue, but court documents reveal that they company also used anti competitive tactics to position themselves against other players in the advertisement business. source: https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/11/22378296/google-secret-project-bernanke-ad-buying-competitors-texas archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/04/11/google-boosted-its-own-ad-buying-system-over-competitors-archived-source/
An analysis of the Intel website revealed extensive tracking of visitors. The company could claim this practice is “done by everyone” but the push back in a form of lawsuits luckily shows that this state of excessive user tracking is not accepted by the general population. source: https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/30/intel_wiretapping_data/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/03/30/intel-uses-analytics-to-track-keystrokes-mouse-movements-on-its-website-archived-source/
On the demand of the Turkish government Facebook agreed to block posts of a Kurdish militia which is targeted by the Turkish government as opponent of the state. Facebook chose to censor the content on their platform to not risk losing any business in Turkey. source: https://www.propublica.org/article/sheryl-sandberg-and-top-facebook-execs-silenced-an-enemy-of-turkey-to-prevent-a-hit-to-their-business archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/02/24/facebook-willingly-censored-turkeys-political-opposition-archived-source/
The police force in Los Angeles, USA uses data gathered by Amazon Ring surveillance devices to persecute persons of interest. Another example of a government misusing a product which was not intended for their purposes. source: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/02/lapd-requested-ring-footage-black-lives-matter-protests archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/02/16/amazon-ring-used-by-police-archived-source/
A deep inspection of the TikTok platform reveals an intensive gathering of user data despite opposite claims in their policy. source: https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgqbmk/tiktok-data-collection archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/01/21/tiktok-is-watching-you-even-if-you-dont-have-an-account-archived-source/
Elastic, the creator of the open source products Ealsticsearch and Kibana announced a change of the license which can be problematic to companies who made use of these products in the past. source: https://anonymoushash.vmbrasseur.com/2021/01/14/elasticsearch-and-kibana-are-now-business-risks archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/01/01/elasticsearch-and-kibana-are-now-business-risks-archived-source/
By claiming to introduce new improved technologies Google aims to push their new AMP web framework but in truth the main gain from it is to play into Google’s ad revenue business. source: https://tutanota.com/blog/posts/amp-email-bad-idea/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/01/08/googles-amp-is-not-made-to-improve-speed-but-ad-revenue-archived-source/
The police force in Singapore uses data gathered by the TraceTogether app to persecute persons of interest. Another example of a government misusing a product which was not intended for their purposes. source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-police-force-can-obtain-tracetogether-data-covid-19-384316 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/01/04/singapore-police-uses-tracetogether-data-archived-source/
It was found that in a certain release of the OS used on Zyxel network security devices an undocumented access was introduced. This could be displayed as an unplanned error by the vendor but it arises the question if their products can be trusted at all to be run in any critical infrastructure. source: https://www.eye.security/blog/undocumented-user-account-in-zyxel-products-cve-2020-29583… Read more: Zyxel Undocumented user account
Another example of a tech company bending their own terms of services in favor of being successful on the Chinese market, disbanding the protection of basic human right laws and instead following the demands of the Chinese regime. source: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/how-zoom-violated-its-own-terms-service-access-china-s-n1252092 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/12/22/china-forces-censorship-on-zoom-archived-source/
The Chinese government used Zoom employees to target opponents of the regime by incriminating them with false evidence on the video platform. source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/wp-admin/post.php?post=180&action=edit archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/12/18/china-infiltrated-zoom-to-force-censorship-archived-source/
China aims to gain control over internet traffic through involvement in the operation of it’s infrastructure. source: https://www.newsweek.com/taiwan-china-spy-nations-steal-data-undersea-cable-networks-kiribati-connectivity-project-1555849 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/12/18/china-attempts-to-spy-via-internet-cable-contractors-archived-source/
Michelin announced the use of RFID chips implemented in their tire product line which are used to track the tire life cycle. Though this might be beneficial from the manufacturer’s point of view it is a dreading future for possible customers using these tires in their everyday life; more aspects of their behavior being tracked… Read more: Michelin tracks end users with RFID chips in tires
Hardware reviewers who posted critical content regarding NVidia technology have been contacted by the company and were informed that they will no longer receive hardware samples for reviews. Although after broad criticism NVidia apologized and reverted the decision, it shows how badly the company handles negative feedback and does not shy away from silencing any… Read more: NVidia tries to silence free press
Facebook exploits every possibility to gather as much personal information about users as possible, even by overcoming restrictions on platforms which aim to put a stop to their breach of privacy. In this case the EXIF meta data of photos was used to use them as data collection source. source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/12/13/facebook-tracks-apple-iphone-locations-even-ios-14-and-iphone-12-12-pro-and-pro-max/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/12/13/facebook-exploits-exif-photo-data-to-track-users-archived-source/
Apple cooperated with the FBI to give access to a protester’s data stored in Apple’s iCloud. Though it is normal for a cooperation like Apple to comply with official search warrants this example shows how deeply personal access can be gained into a person’s private life as any data stored in one of the big… Read more: Apple gave the FBI access to the iCloud account of a protester
Although smartphone users have the option to disable app activity tracking in the device’s system settings it was found that Google ignores these settings and continues to track the user’s app activity nonetheless. source: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN24F2N4 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/07/14/google-continues-to-track-users-despite-opt-out-in-settings-archived-source/
An analysis of the Reddit website showed the use of the DRM system used to track users. The purpose of DRM within web browsers is in it’s nature not used for telemetry purposes and in this case by making use of the technology the company deceives their website visitors. source: https://smitop.com/post/reddit-whiteops/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/07/08/reddit-website-uses-drm-for-fingerprinting-archived-source/
It was found that on Apple’s MacOS operating system information about each executed binary file is logged and sent to their central servers. Which gives the company a deep insight about the user’s system usage without their consent. The company can claim this is a security measure but at the least it should be an… Read more: Apple sends information about every binary file on MacOS to their central servers
An analysis of the web browser preinstalled on Xiaomi smartphones revealed excessive telemetry to gather as much personal data from the device’s end user as possible. Based on these findings it is questionable how much any software or hardware created by Xiaomi can be trusted. source: https://palant.info/2020/05/04/are-xiaomi-browsers-spyware-yes-they-are…/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/05/04/xiaomi-browsers-are-spyware-archived-source/
Microsoft aims to force users of the Windows operating system to create an online account bound to their online platform. The company’s goal is to drive users to the use of their online services, opening the possibilities of further tracking of user data which can be used to push additional subscription offers and other advertisement.… Read more: Microsoft forces the use of online accounts on Windows
The Safari web browser installed on all Apple systems by default logs user’s ip addresses and sends them to their partner company Tencent which is known to be under control by the Chinese regime. source: https://reclaimthenet.org/apple-safari-ip-addresses-tencent/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2019/10/10/apples-nonfree-safari-browser-spies-on-users-for-the-chinese-company-tencent-archived-source/
Facebook banned a developer after they learned about his creation of a tool which helps user’s overcome the addiction caused by the social media platform. This shows the company is well aware of it’s unhealthy addictive nature, as it is intended, and does everything in it’s power to prevent user’s escaping it. source: https://slate.com/technology/2021/10/facebook-unfollow-everything-cease-desist.html archived… Read more: Facebook bans dev for publishing tool which prevents facebook addiction
A summary about the Chinese fascist dictatorship and the difficult fight against it’s regime. source: https://quillette.com/2019/08/05/china-and-the-difficulties-of-dissent/amp/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2019/08/05/china-and-the-difficulties-of-dissent-archived-source/
Smart home devices by the tech giants Google and Amazon have been known to track every user interaction when activated via their speech assistant connected to the companies central servers. In a change demanded by the tech companies towards 3rd party manufacturers of home devices now every interaction with a user needs to be reported,… Read more: Google and Amazon want all smart home devices to report every user activity to them
When consumers obtained Google’s Nest Secure IoT devices there was no statement about microphones within the device. Google announced now the activation of microphones in the product series via a software update, not only proving the existence of the hidden listening device within the product but also the company’s perception about privacy. source: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3336227/nest-secure-had-a-secret-microphone-can-now-be-a-google-assistant.html archived… Read more: Google enables undocumented microphones in IoT devices
Google is not only operating a business which is based on the collecting and processing of extensive amounts of data from internet users but the company is also involved with US intelligence agencies, aiding in government sanctioned surveillance programs. source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/20/googles-earth-how-the-tech-giant-is-helping-the-state-spy-on-us archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2018/12/20/google-is-involved-in-the-us-government-surveillance-programs-archived-source/
By facing a decline in revenue Ford is looking for new ways of making a profit and does not shy away from selling their customer data to 3rd parties. source: https://eu.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/11/13/ford-motor-credit-data-new-revenue/1967077002/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2018/11/13/ford-sells-customer-data-archived-source/
A chip was found on Supermicro motherboards which is not part of the initial design and is used to compromise any system installed on the hardware. The Chinese regime exploits the fact that most hardware in today’s supply chain is manufactured in China to secretly alter it and add chips which in the end goal… Read more: China implanted spy chips on supermicro motherboards
New Zealand introduced a new law which can lead to travelers having to pay a fine if they do not accept access to their phones when crossing the country’s border. Although the search of digital devices is common at many country borders, this is the first case of a fine introduced for travelers who refuse… Read more: New Zealand introduces new law to search travelers devices
The tech giants Google and Facebook attempted to stall and stop an initiative which strengthens the privacy rights of internet users in the USA. Showing these companies put every effort into making sure user data is always as exposed and available to their core business model. source: https://www.techdirt.com/2018/04/13/public-attention-forces-facebook-to-retreat-anti-privacy-alliance-with-isps-california/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2018/04/13/google-and-facebook-attempt-to-defeat-privacy-initiative-archived-source/
An analysis of the amount of data tech giants like Google and Facebook store from tracking user data, showing how the processing of personal user data is their core business model. source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/28/all-the-data-facebook-google-has-on-you-privacy archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2018/03/30/google-and-facebook-collect-excessive-amount-of-user-data-archived-source/
Intel’s Management Engine (ME) aims to ease the administration of computers especially in corporate environments but is forced upon private end users in a way that the implementation in the hardware cannot be disabled or removed and in it’s closed source form displays a violation of the end user’s security and freedom of choice. source:… Read more: Intel forces non-free hardware implementation on consumers via their Management Engine
In 1989 the Chinese regime had 10,000 people killed at Tiananmen Square as they were protesting for a democratic change in the country. For decades the Chinese regime attempts to alter the course of history by censoring every mention of the event and it is important to remind the world what happened. source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/remains-were-hosed-down-drains-11747013 archived… Read more: Chinese Army killed 10,000 at Tiananmen Square
Discord is a closed source centralized messenger software which practices excessive user data collection. source: https://spyware.neocities.org/articles/discord.html archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2017/11/23/discord-is-spyware-archived-source/
After the installation of a mayor upgrade of the Windows operating system it was found that a setting which limited the amount of collected telemetry was set to the highest level without the user’s consent. It shows the company does not respect the end user’s choice for privacy and aims to always collect as much… Read more: Microsoft gathers as much telemetry through Windows as possible
A journalist was forced to take down a critical article which describes the practices used by Google which can be seen as an unfair way to gain a competitive advantage on the online search engine market. It shows the influence Google tries to force even upon the free press to silence critical voices about their… Read more: Google tries to silence free press for reporting about their unfair market practices
Under the pressure of the Chinese government Apple removed all VPN apps from their App Store in the Chinese region. These apps helped to access content which otherwise would be inaccessible from within China as internet content is strictly controlled by the Chinese government to silence critical voices. By aiding the Chinese government in this… Read more: Apple aids China in censorship
Microsoft uses their product Windows to display advertisement to the user deeply integrated within the operating system, showing the company does not see the distribution of their operating system as their main core business but as a platform for making profit from ad revenue. End users who expect to use the Windows operating system an… Read more: Microsoft is infesting Windows 10 with annoying ads
When confronted with certain keywords, the Chinese version of the Microsoft chatbot “Xiaobing”, responded either with avoidance or straight up confrontation towards the chat partner. The keywords relate to topics the Chinese regime does not want their citizens to know about. The implementation in the chatbot by Microsoft shows the company abides the Chinese regime’s… Read more: Microsoft’s chatbot in China abides the regime’s censorship rules
Despite claims in the past the data collected via the different online services offered by the company, Google changed the paragraph from their terms of services, allowing to combine the data collected from all their services and track the users in an even more extended way. source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/21/how-to-disable-google-ad-tracking-gmail-youtube-browser-history archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2016/10/21/google-changes-its-terms-of-services-to-allow-even-more-excessive-tracking-of-users-archived-source/
Following the acquisition of the WhatsApp messenger, Facebook made changes to the privacy policy, allowing the company access to all user data. source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/25/whatsapp-backlash-facebook-data-privacy-users archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2016/08/25/facebook-collects-data-from-whatsapp-users-archived-source/
The browser extension “NoScript” promotes to help end users to protect themselves from excessive tracking and other malicious actions on websites but a further analysis of the extension itself reveals shady practices implemented by the author like whitelists to push his own ad revenue. If users seek for ways to protect themselves online they should… Read more: NoScript is harmful and promotes malware
The excessive telemetry collection within the Windows operating system has evolved so far over time that it started to impact the performance of the entire system, hindering the effective use of the operating system as a tool. source: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/microsoft-telemetry-compatibility/cefa7c8e-49c9-4965-aef6-2d5f01bb38f2 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2016/03/13/microsoft-windows-telemetry-impacts-system-performance-archived-source/
Google banned an app used for blocking ads from their app store as it was interrupting their core business, to subject their users to as many ads online as possible for revenue. source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/03/google-pulls-ad-blocking-app-for-samsung-phones archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2016/02/03/google-pulls-adblocking-app-for-samsung-phones-archived-souce/
Google collaborates with the government in Pakistan to deploy a local version of the video platform YouTube, allowing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to censor the platform’s content on their own behalf. Prior to the collaboration the service was completely banned in the country due to the lack of censorship possibilities. Instead of standing in for… Read more: Google aids Pakistan in censorship of their video platform
Reports published by Microsoft indicate that the data collected on the Windows operating system goes beyond what was initially thought so far including in detail the used software on the system. It shows the non-transparent way the vendor forces the collection of telemetry on it’s end users. source: https://www.ghacks.net/2016/01/05/microsoft-may-be-collecting-more-data-than-initially-thought/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2016/01/05/microsoft-may-be-collecting-more-data-than-initially-thought-archived-source/