5
kiki
3y

DevRant has many privacy-conscious people and honestly just people who don't like when their personally identifiable data gets shared.

Yet, DevRant uses Carbon Ads owned by BuySellAds. Here's what their privacy policy reads:

"Some Personally Identifiable Information may also be provided to intermediaries and other Third Party Service Providers (defined in part (4) below) who assist us with the Services"

You know what's the funniest thing? In "part 4 below" they never actually state which companies do they share personally identifiable information with.

Just a quick reminder that when you use DevRant, your personally identifiable information may be shared with any amount of third parties, and you could bet a lot of money that the list includes Google and Facebook because of remarketing. Remarketing is a fancy term that means not selling personal data but instead giving it away for free.

Use AdGuard or any other browser extension that blocks analytic scripts. Buy a Raspberry Pi Zero W and make yourself a PiHole. When you're using DevRant mobile app, use analytics-blocking VPN.

Comments
  • 1
    Poor dfox can't even earn some bucks?
  • 1
    I've never seen an ad on devrant (except spam posts). I guess AdAway is working then...
  • 2
    @theabbie There are advertising companies out there who actually define who they share your data with.
  • 3
    @theabbie Also I would not mind five times as many ads (devrant barely has any) if none of them were targeted or excessively annoying.
  • 0
    Ads are only enabled on the website, and for non ++ members.

    I pay to enjoy a lack of ads.

    Or you know... use the frequently crashing app that gets sooooooo much wuv 🥰
  • 0
    @C0D4 it’s not about the ads, it’s about analytics script issued by carbonads that is there even if you’re a supporter, that collects your data and potentially shares it with arbitrary amount of third parties
  • 1
    By the way according to uBlock Origin Devrant also loads Google Analytics. Like, it's not even sharing information or anything, the script is just right there.
  • 0
    if you want real privacy stay offline
  • 4
    @nebula if you’re homeless just buy a house
  • 0
    @saucyatom there was a huge chaos created when I first saw the ad and then many, including me, turned into supporter.
  • 0
    Also, what private or personal information is exactly being captured on devRant?

    Apart from email (which too can be faked via disposable emails)?
  • 0
    What personal data? I didn't give devRant anything identifiable. I even use different emails for different accounts to disconnect myself from my online presence as much as possible
  • 4
    @Hazarth @Floydimus since they're loading Google Analytics which is a script hosted on google.com, Google knows that the person behind all your devRant activity is the same as the person behind your activity in the same browser on all other sites that load Google analytics. This is the case even if you don't use Google itself and don't have an account. Same goes for any other advertising company that loads a script.
  • 1
    @Floydimus looks like the usual browser based data.

    https://buysellads.com/about/...

    Interestingly, there privacy policy doesn't try and hide much*

    * compared to other ad companies we all hate.
  • 2
    @lbfalvy @C0D4 hmmm interesting way to capture data.

    Hello PiHole my dear friend.
  • 1
    @lbfalvy I use anti-fingerprinting addons on my browser
  • 0
    @kiki good luck trying to buy a house without an address
  • 0
    @Hazarth Depending on the quality of those addons this kind of identification could be disabled.
  • 4
    I've always had uBlock Origin active on devRant, even Google Fonts is included in my blocking list. The Facebook spyscripts are also an abomination. It's not primarily the ads, it's the tracking that I'll never accept.

    I don't want a ++ membership because first, it's not even offered on the web version, I never use a shitty app, and I wouldn't want to link my payment information. Other projects such as Mint accept donations in a way that is not related to my forum account there, that's OK.
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