Not all privacy promises are what they appear..., and other privacy and security news

Privacy

Last week, there was some bad news, and some not so bad news about consumer tracking, Let’s have the bad news first

• Verizon might collect your browsing data even if you previously opted out

• Apple’s app tracking transparency feature isn’t an instant privacy button

• Guess What? The Cops Can Buy Your Data Instead of Going to Court for It

And now the not so bad news, which is really mixed news, taking a closer look:

• Mozilla rolls out GPC for all Firefox users, but enforcement limited to two states, why not for all users?

• Google Tells Specific Apps to Disclose Location Gathering or Be Removed, and why not asking all apps?

• Apple releases Tracker Detect to protect Android users from AirTags stalkers, a feature that’s built into IOS.

This Could Be the End for Surveillance Giant NSO Group - publications and some financial problems finally catching up with them.

Pushing further, It’s time for democracies to protect dissidents from spyware

TOR, the Onionrouter, one of the most securely ways to access the Internet privately, is coming under attack:

• Tor is under threat from Russian censorship and Sybil attacks

• KAX17 threat actor is attempting to deanonymize Tor users running thousands of rogue relays

Security

From the department of unintended consequences: Car Thieves Are Using AirTags to Track Vehicles

Is VPOTUS Bluetooth-phobic or sensible? The answer's pretty clear using Bluetooth headphones in public can have security risks.

Researchers Share New Attacks on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Chips – require compromising chips rather than just listening to transmissions, tho.

As should be pretty transparent by now:

• IoT under attack: Security is still not good enough on these edge devices

• It’s time for tech to embrace security by design

Regulation

Regulatory news activity was pretty slow last week:

• Amazon Illegally Tricking Customers With Ads in Its Search Results, Complaint to FTC Claims

• Senate bill would facilitate social platforms sharing data with outside researchers

• Poland latest to probe Apple’s app tracking transparency shift — over self-preferencing concerns