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AT&T Stops Using 'Perma-Cookies' to Track Customer Web Activity

Verizon

Well it's not true that Verizon does not put the Perma-Cookie on Business phones. I have been a business verizon customer for years and I check the website with several of our phones and they have the Perma-Cookie on them.
 
AT&T has not done wrong by me. Their customer service has got better over the years and I appreciate that. I live in a major city and travel usually to major areas so as far as my cell service goes, I'm always covered.
 
janderson0719 said:
AT&T has not done wrong by me. Their customer service has got better over the years and I appreciate that. I live in a major city and travel usually to major areas so as far as my cell service goes, I'm always covered.
Click to expand...

I've never had 1 problem with them either (other than making the mistake of pre ordering a phone with them)
 
NachoGrande said:
I've never had 1 problem with them (other than making the mistake of pre ordering a phone with them)
Click to expand...

Never pre-ordered thru AT&T. Honestly can't remeber the last phone I bought from them (maybe a 3GS). At this point, I feel better about buying my iProducts directly from Apple.
 
PFKMan23 said:
If not permacookies they'll use something else to track activity. So meh.
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My question is whether this is all traffic or just that on cell data. And is it just web traffic or apps also.

Cause if it's just cell data and we urls folks might be able to get around it by using apps rather than safari and or using wifi
 
charlituna said:
My question is whether this is all traffic or just that on cell data. And is it just web traffic or apps also.

Cause if it's just cell data and we urls folks might be able to get around it by using apps rather than safari and or using wifi
Click to expand...

It's in ALL YOUR (UNENCRYPTED) TRAFFIC . . . on Verizon at least . . .

It even happens if you tether . . . O_O

Also, I'm pretty sure that Verizon has a deal with Google to re-inject AdSense/AdMob ads into your traffic since hosts files cannot block said ads over cellular/tethered connections . . .
 
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brand said:
That statement is incorrect. It is all unencrypted traffic. If the data is running over HTTPS or through a VPN tunnel then there is no way for them to inject the perma-cookie.
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This is true . . . My post has been edited to reflect this.

My initial statement was as to the source of the traffic (addressing the post above), not encrypted vs. unencrypted traffic.

Verizon can only modify your unencrypted traffic . . .

It would set off red flags on both sides of the connection if they tried to modify encrypted traffic . . .
 
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Good job AT&T.... Verizon boo...

I'm just glad these hidden strings are only targeting mobile's on one company. ...

Imagine if this came to the desktop with Apple and Safari to iOS and the desktop.....

I bet that alone wound make 99% of users switch to FF, or Chrome in an instance.
 
Tech198 said:
Good job AT&T.... Verizon boo...

I'm just glad these hidden strings are only targeting mobile phones ...

Imagine is this came to the desktop with Apple and Safari to iOS and the desktop.....

I bet that alone wound make 99% of users switch to FF, or Chrome in an instance.
Click to expand...

If you tether on Verizon, your desktop is also targeted . . .

There is NO way to block it (outside of encryption) since your packets are modified AFTER they leave your system.
 
ok, but that's not the same thing.

You may be on desktop, but u'r still using the phone's internet, hence why that can still happen.

I was talking about outright using desktop web browser. Basically if ISP's did this.
 
AT&T tends to follow Verzion like a little brother sometimes. I'm sure they saw verizon doing it and thought to themselves maybe we should it too!? But at least they are not following Verzion down this path.
 
Tech198 said:
Good job AT&T.... Verizon boo...

I'm just glad these hidden strings are only targeting mobile's on one company. ...

Imagine if this came to the desktop with Apple and Safari to iOS and the desktop.....

I bet that alone wound make 99% of users switch to FF, or Chrome in an instance.
Click to expand...

Google does something similar. This is how they make money. It is irrelevant to the browser. It is irrelevant to the company that you use.
 
I love all the effort that goes into showing me the best ads, which I block :p

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Tech198 said:
Good job AT&T.... Verizon boo...

I'm just glad these hidden strings are only targeting mobile's on one company. ...

Imagine if this came to the desktop with Apple and Safari to iOS and the desktop.....

I bet that alone wound make 99% of users switch to FF, or Chrome in an instance.
Click to expand...

If I were concerned about this, I would definitely not use Chrome. I already don't use it, but for other reasons.
 
i don't mind it from Google, because that's how they make money....

We know that...

But that is not how a mobile company makes money........ That's probably why this shouldn't be.
 
Their attempts give new meaning to:

Come_to_the_DarkSide_cookies.jpg

Yes, you do have cookies. Just not the kind we want!
 
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