C_NCENTRATE #577: VR demand, Netflix games, is cool 'cool', de-anonymization and more...

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Waydev helps software engineering leaders gain complete visibility of their teams with a data-driven story of key business initiatives. 

YOU ARE BEING DE-ANONYMIZED

Vice has been on a tear recently with some great pieces. The latest regards the de-anonymization industry and shows companies buying pseudonymized datasets with mobile advertising IDs (MAIDs) and unmask people's identities in the datasets. Why? Companies are locking down, changing Ts&Cs and cookies, well cookies are going.

Companies compare MAIDs from phone apps to to a person's complete name, physical address, and other personally identifiable information (PII). Tech corporations have frequently informed the public that trackers used to track smartphone users through apps are anonymous or at the very least pseudonymous, and that the individual using the phone is not directly identified. However, the companies don't disclose that there is a whole industry dedicated to purposely and explicitly shattering that anonymity.

A worrying trend that already has senators publicly naming and shaming. Expect more on this to come as the issue is more understood both before and behind closed doors. 

__ DO __ Make it a behaviour to protect your data. We’re more online than ever and sharing even more. Think before you hashtag - inference is important. // __ DON'T __ Think privacy is dead. It’s not. You can make it harder to be tracked and hand over your data without creating alt accounts and such. Being sensible and reevaluating things like bios and passwords is a good start.

THIS ISSUE OF C_NCENTRATE IS FREE THANKS TO WAYDEV

Waydev helps software engineering leaders gain complete visibility of their teams with a data-driven story of key business initiatives.