AT&T mothballs creepy customer web stalking system (until everyone's forgotten about it)

AT&T has stopped stamping unique ID numbers on its customers, which allowed websites and ad networks to track them across the web. The telco promised to offer an opt-out switch if the system returns. "We have completed testing of the numeric code that would be part of any new mobile Relevant Advertising program we may launch …

[Mark 85]

In-Private Browsing an option?

I'm not sure if mobes can do that but it sounds like their ID would still be added and tracked at the server. Pfffttttttt.........

Is there anyplace safe from being tracked anymore? Rhetorical question as the answer is obviously "NO".

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: In-Private Browsing an option?

Verizon adds it via an http proxy that all http requests go through. So it doesn't matter what sort of browser you use, or even if you telnet to port 80. The only fix is to use https, and hope they don't have a way to do a MITM attack on it. That's great, for the websites that allow https connections.

[Ben Tasker]

Re: In-Private Browsing an option?

Wouldnt say its the only fix, just the most convenient.

Passing everything over VPN is also a viable fix, and something I've been doing for a while. It might not be possible to keep the alphabet agencies from watching your traffic, but it's easy enough to keep your ISP's nose out.

Course, you've got to have an endpoint somewhere, so you've still got to find a hosting (or vpn) provider you trust.

[Notas Badoff]

Does using/requiring HTTPS break this addition of identifying headers by the mobile provider? Lovely capitalist tracking pigs fouling up the plans of the lovely fascist security tracking pigs?

[Gannon (J.) Dick]

As long as the pigs in the Marketing Department are still putting on lipstick to fly, and the pigs in the corner offices have their hams covered by the politically leeward wage slaves in IT, the whole farm is happy, happy, happy.

[Ben Tasker]

Yes, using HTTPS will break the addition. Its been a bad year for the TLS stacks security wise, but its also been a year where it feels like everyone is going out of their way to encourage wider adoption.