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EFF Hints At Lawsuit Against Verizon For Its Stealth Cookies
An anonymous reader writes A few weeks ago I noted how security researchers had discovered that Verizon has been injecting a unique new 'stealth cookie' identifier into all user traffic that tracks user online behavior, even if the consumer opts out. Using a unique Identifier Header, or UIDH, Verizon's ham-fisted system broadcasts your identity all across the web — and remains intact and open to third-party abuse — even if you opt-out of Verizon's behavioral ad programs. Now the Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed a complaint with the FCC and has strongly indicated that they're considering legal action against Verizon for violating consumer privacy laws.
It's doubly cute when they've done it before and won. :)
The EFF doesn't mess around, good for them. I almost wish my Verizon phone did that tracking. I'd love to be included in that class action. I'd have to make a copy of the $10 check I'd get in two years so I could frame it. I pay Verizon well over a $100 a month. If they think they need to sell out their users privacy on top of that revenue then screw them.
It still gives you a unique identifier (even if its encrypted, its deterministic enough to be used as an ID even if you can't decrypt it) that lets you uniquely identify a household for a period of time. Combined with other more legit tracking methods, you can do some deliciously evil things with it...