Technology and Science10 May, 20262 min read
BGR Says Browser Fingerprinting Tracks Users Even After Cookies Are Cleared
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Browser fingerprinting tracks users even after cookies are cleared. BGR identifies four Chrome settings to protect user privacy.
Chrome privacy controls
BGR says browser fingerprinting is a form of data tracking that can identify and quantify behaviors based on browser and device specifications, and it allows websites to track you even when cookies are cleared. BGR also recommends turning off Web & App Activity by going to a Google site like Gmail, selecting Manage Your Google Account, then Data & Privacy, where the Web & App Activity toggle can be switched off and managed under Activity Controls.
BGR adds that disabling Timeline or Location Tracking can stop location tracking, and it describes Timeline as an account-wide setting that can be turned off from Manage Your Google Account > Data & Privacy > Timeline. BGR says Google estimates location using wireless signals like Wi-Fi or cellular, GPS, and sensor information when the setting is turned on, and it notes Timeline is off by default.
Gemini controls and trade-offs
Google’s blog post says the Gemini app is being updated with a privacy feature called Temporary Chats, and it says Temporary Chats will not appear in your Recent Chats or in Activity in Apps with Gemini. In the same update, Google says a setting that lets Gemini reference your past chats is enabled by default, and it can be turned on or off by going to Settings in the Gemini app and selecting “Personal Context” and then “Your chats with Gemini.”
Qazinform reports that Gemini embedded in services like Gmail and Drive raises questions about how much control users have over their data, and it says Gemini can be trained on user interactions, including outputs generated by the system. Qazinform also says a more complete opt-out requires disabling Gemini Apps Activity, which prevents data from being used for training but also removes chat history entirely.
Apple and Android security
VOI.id reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple would not change its privacy policy despite its partnership with Google in the development of AI through the Gemini model. VOI.id quotes Cook saying, "We have not changed our privacy protections," and it adds that Apple Intelligence continues to operate using the Apple Foundation Models that run directly on devices and via Apple's private cloud computing system.
“Advanced Protection is off by default on your Android device.”
PhonAndroid says Google announced the rollout of new security features for Android to make life harder for thieves by preventing them from accessing sensitive settings or the contents of a phone. ZDNET describes Android 16’s Advanced Protection as a new one-tap mode that activates Google’s most capable security and privacy features, and it says Advanced Protection is off by default and requires Android 16.