While consumers are turning to VPNs and privacy software to better protect their privacy and data, Internet browsers remain a pain point, especially with regard to ad tracking. Here, Mozilla explains what they do to stop that. There is probably no greater expectation of privacy than a person's health. But ubiquitous third-party monitoring where we recently discovered many health-related websites has made the internet questionable for those who use it during this time of vulnerability. Instead of offering private access to valuable information, assistance, medical records, research, and healthcare providers, many health-related websites are attacking individuals, retrieving their data in exchange for access to these online services and information. who can save lives when they? I need it more. Health information about anyone should not be sold or collected for possible use against you. We refuse to accept that people have to choose between the technology they use every day and the privacy they deserve.About the author Peter Dolanjski is director of security and privacy products at Mozilla. So how does third-party tracking use health data to target you when you are potentially the most vulnerable? Let's look at the facts. Third-party tracking practices on health websites are widespread, according to a recent Financial Times survey: Some of the most popular UK health websites share sensitive data, including medical symptoms, diagnoses, drug names and information on periods and fertility, with dozens of companies in the UK. across the globe, from ad-targeting giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Oracle, to lesser-known data brokers and IT companies like Scorecard and OpenX. Sharing sensitive and personal health information, such as norms, fertility and health problems, with third parties without user consent is difficult terrain in the UK, thanks to the Data Privacy Directive. ) and specific restrictions of the GDPR regulations.
Data exchange
According to the survey, personal data such as drug names, symptoms, diagnoses, and ovulation cycle information was shared with companies such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon. And in some cases, unique identifiers were identified with third parties and tracking cookies were removed without user consent. This practice is not always illegal, but it is widespread and concerning. And it has become a common practice online. It's not just a pair of shoes that follows you around the internet. The data trackers are used to learn more about you than your obsession with footwear, including your age, ethnicity, financial status, and even your financial situation. Advertisers can target you, allowing advertisers to know very personally what might be going on through your internet consumption. This is extremely personal information that advertisers seek for their marketing, but they don't need to know about you. And now we know that these same practices also occur on health-related websites.Keep health problems private.
Confronting health problems is a vulnerable time, and most people would prefer to remain confidential. However, third-party trackers make it practically impossible. When third-party tracking tools are implemented behind the scenes of a website, you have no real way of knowing the following:- what information they collect about you
- what they do with it
- how it is stored safely
- how long will it be distributed
- with whom they share it, and
- to whom they sell it.