Worry About 3rd Party Data Collection?

[operadude]

My queries are in response to a recent post:

https://forum.mxlinux.org/viewtopic.ph ... 8#p794508

Given the recent issues necessitating the use of Cloudflare (CF), the "Dark Reader" browser extension for Firefox (FF) stopped working on the Forum, and Midnight Lizard was recommended. I REALLY enjoy the Lizard!

However, the post listed at the top warns that Midnight Lizard uses 3rd-party data collection.

So, my question is: How concerned should I be about any 3rd-party data collection?
I know that this is a very loaded question, and depends on my individual circumstances.
So, here's a brief summary of my situation:

0. I just don't like the idea of someone collecting my data.
1. Nothing to hide, and not a state-sponsored whatever
2. No Social Media footprint, except for the occasional Discord programming servers (sites).
---> No Social Media, just 'cause I prefer human interaction, and have a negative bias as to how I think it has changed society. Yeah, grumpy old-ish man mourning his lost youth, etc., etc., etc.
3. In general, I want to avoid any of my data being collected, so I use:
uBlock Origin, Facebook Container, Privacy Badger, Express VPN, & Bitwarden
4. But then again, I do use Google (Gmail). So, I'm probably a gonner in terms of my data being collected!

So, if I don't worry about Google collecting my data (and I do, but have yet to make the switch)-- should I be worried about Midnight Lizard's 3rd-party data collection?

I know this is a HUGE topic, and all those things I installed are probably overkill, or maybe won't matter anyway, now that Google probably pwns me (Yes, "pwn"; pun, intended!).

I really am enjoying the Midnight Lizard, and welcome any advice/opinions about what people think about using it (or any other app/service/whatever) that has 3rd party data collection.

OK, can-of-worms opened, and I have prepared myself for the onslaught

[FullScale4Me]

@operadude
@Eadwine Rose

Hi Folks:
Just a friendly mention.
The https://midnight-lizard.org/ site does say that there is 3rd party data collection with the add-on.
Thanks all.

I use Firefox across 4 machines all with Sync enabled. I only view this forum on my phone AND one of those PCs. Thus my daily driver PC is excluded from running Midnight Lizard.

In the Firefox Setting Sync tab I unchecked 'Addons' and 'Settings'. My 'goal' with sync was to keep bookmarks up to date on all, including my phone.

From an other topic.

[CharlesV]

My queries are in response to a recent post:

https://forum.mxlinux.org/viewtopic.ph ... 8#p794508

Given the recent issues necessitating the use of Cloudflare (CF), the "Dark Reader" browser extension for Firefox (FF) stopped working on the Forum, and Midnight Lizard was recommended. I REALLY enjoy the Lizard!

However, the post listed at the top warns that Midnight Lizard uses 3rd-party data collection.

So, my question is: How concerned should I be about any 3rd-party data collection?
I know that this is a very loaded question, and depends on my individual circumstances.
So, here's a brief summary of my situation:

0. I just don't like the idea of someone collecting my data.
1. Nothing to hide, and not a state-sponsored whatever
2. No Social Media footprint, except for the occasional Discord programming servers (sites).
---> No Social Media, just 'cause I prefer human interaction, and have a negative bias as to how I think it has changed society. Yeah, grumpy old-ish man mourning his lost youth, etc., etc., etc.
3. In general, I want to avoid any of my data being collected, so I use:
uBlock Origin, Facebook Container, Privacy Badger, Express VPN, & Bitwarden
4. But then again, I do use Google (Gmail). So, I'm probably a gonner in terms of my data being collected!

So, if I don't worry about Google collecting my data (and I do, but have yet to make the switch)-- should I be worried about Midnight Lizard's 3rd-party data collection?

I know this is a HUGE topic, and all those things I installed are probably overkill, or maybe won't matter anyway, now that Google probably pwns me (Yes, "pwn"; pun, intended!).

I really am enjoying the Midnight Lizard, and welcome any advice/opinions about what people think about using it (or any other app/service/whatever) that has 3rd party data collection.

OK, can-of-worms opened, and I have prepared myself for the onslaught

lol.. your about 100% correct.. I suspect it will start now ;-p ... Honestly.. the two pieces of this that are of concern...
- Browsing: what you see, click on, where you are, and your demographics.
- What your "likes" and other 'data' that google can worm out of your email.

Personally ... I think gmail is the devil.. they rake your email's looking for anything that "is useful" in their content, searching, and ads ... and THAT pretty much means - "they use just about everything" from your email - AND they know who you are and where you are ;-/ (Specially if your using an android.)

I would suggest using something like firefox (here goes my bombardment!), with Not sending any data, then ublock origin, Privacy Badger and a good VPN (I dont know about ExpressVPN.) There are other browsers that dont have the FF 'data' part, but you can turn that off.

And wipe those cookies and cache every four or five websites too!

[siamhie]

There are links at the bottom of ML's settings page that are out of their control.

I responded to that post here regarding what ML collects. viewtopic.php?p=794548#p794548

[operadude]

@FullScale4Me @CharlesV @siamhie :

Thank you guys for the responses!

CharlesV: I thought I had the strictest "Privacy & Security" settings enabled on my FF (only Browser I use).

But, checking, I found that I needed to enable 2 more options (which I just did):
"Website Privacy Preferences":
1. "Tell websites not to share my data", &
2. "Send websites a 'Do Not Track' request "

I thought I was crazy clearing my history so often. By "history", I mean, using the FF built-in "clear recent history" function from the FF "Library" tab/icon I have at the top right-hand section of the browser. I think I may have added that, using the editing of the FF "Bookmarks Toolbar Items", by right-clicking on the Bookmarks Toolbar area (upper-right), and selecting "Customize Toolbar".

If I understand you correctly, CharlesV, perhaps your mention of:

And wipe those cookies and cache every four or five websites too!

means something other than what I have been doing (clearing the "history")???

Do you mean to go into the FF settings, again, under "Privacy & Security", and in the "Cookies and Site Data" section, to manually choose/click-on "Clear Data"?

[Re: the strikeout below, see my "POST-POST-SCRIPT" section below!]
In that FF section, I do have selected "Delete cookies and site data when FF is closed".

So, If you recommend to do more (like I said above, by manually "Clear Data" in FF settings), PLEASE let me know

Also, I'm not sure I understand the difference between "Cookies" and "Cache"

Sorry for the NOOB question, but how do I clear my "Cache"? Is that something other than what I have been doing by frequently clearing my "History", using the built-in FF Bookmark Toolbar?

WOW: this reply is much longer than I had anticipated

Post Script:

In FF settings "Privacy and Security", in "Browser Privacy" section, in the first sub-section, "Enhanced Tracking Protection", I do have selected "Strict".

In Conclusion (2 most important words of a speech), I have thought for years now that I have been unnecessarily paranoid about all of this!

Good to Know that I'm not alone, or losing my mind

[Again, re: strikeout, see my "POST-POST-SCRIPT" below]
So, yeah, if you (or anyone else) could clarify for me my questions above about how to wipe "cookies and cache" in FF!



YO!
POST-POST-SCRIPT:

Really sorry that I didn't check, and certainly don't want to waste anyone's time! So:

I just clicked-on the built-in FF "clear recent history" icon/function that I mentioned above. Doing so brings-up a dialog box that says:

"Clear browsing data and cookies", and, underneath that I have all the boxes checked, including:
"History"
"Cookies and site data "
"Temporary cached files and pages"
"Site settings"

So, I think I'm covered by what you said, CharlesV.

If I'm missing something, please let me know!

[lars_the_bear]

So, if I don't worry about Google collecting my data (and I do, but have yet to make the switch)-- should I be worried about Midnight Lizard's 3rd-party data collection?

That's like worrying about your toothache in the middle of a heart attack :)

In my view, the first step towards regaining some control over your data is to divorce Google. For most people, I suspect that's the hardest part, because Google's services are ubiquitous. Until you can do that -- at least to some extent -- I'm not sure it's even worth worrying about anybody else's data scraping.

Just my $0.02.

BR, Lars

[Eadwine Rose]

Mind.. we are being recorded by a number of Ring doorbells, security cameras are able to follow our every move, traffic camera's can see where we have been, and the government knows exactly how much we make in a year.

And we have NO influence on what is being done with all that data.

[operadude]

@lars_the_bear
Yeah, that was my suspicion!!!

As an old "Peanuts" cartooned warned once, when Charlie Brown found out that he worried over nothing, he responded, "Drats, I wasted a good worry!"

[operadude]

@Eadwine Rose

I was afraid that would be the answer!

So, I guess that I shouldn't worry that Big Brother is watchin', cause he's gonna' anyway!

Is there a "Cringe" emoji ???

Closest I can see on the Forum is ("Eek")

P.S.: Just found "Grimacing Emoji":

[lars_the_bear]

So, I guess that I shouldn't worry that Big Brother is watchin', cause he's gonna' anyway!

Dunno. I think the fact that we can do little, isn't a good reason to do nothing. But where on-line privacy is concerned, even doing the minimum that seems to be necessary is already quite intrusive. I don't use any Google services, and I'm happy to pay the little that is required to use alternatives. But I can do that because I'm a geek, and I don't mind spending time and effort as well as money, to exclude Google from my life. For most people, I suspect it's mostly not a matter of money, but of convenience.

And, I guess, no clear assessment of the risks. People ask me: why does it matter, that Google knows everywhere I go? I don't have a convincing answer, beyond the stock one that it just seems risky to put so much information in the hands of an organization that doesn't have your best interests at heart. Asking somebody to do something that is tedious and inconvenient, for no clear benefit, is a big ask.

BR, Lars.