How do Facebook and Instagram apps track what you do in the browser, even in incognito mode?
Meta apps start a local server on the phone and keep it running in the background. The Meta analytics script, running on most websites, pings any "localhost" server with the anonymized tracker ID for that session. The app then associates the browser ID with your Meta account, and voilà, all your browsing history is now linked to your Facebook account.
Android is designed to block such things, but Meta found a workaround using basic Sockets and transmitting the tracker ID in the initial handshake of a WebRTC (voice call) request. It's genius and evil as fuck.
https://www.zeropartydata.es/p/localhost-tracking-explained-it-could
Make it your goal to NEVER run any Meta apps on your phone.
I have had this rule for several years now.
It's sometimes a pain being unable to be in (e.g. sports/social) groups run by WhatsApp normies, but the advantages easily outweigh the disadvantages. It's such a joy not seeing the relentless virtue signalling and group replies.
Another huge silver lining: by refusing to use WA, you can bring many more family and friends to Signal.
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