• tarmarbar@startrek.website
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    33
    ·
    2 months ago

    Take a look at this browser extension: https://adnauseam.io/

    As online advertising becomes ever more ubiquitous and unsanctioned, AdNauseam works to complete the cycle by automating ad clicks universally and blindly on behalf of its users. Built atop uBlock Origin, AdNauseam quietly clicks on every blocked ad, registering a visit on ad networks’ databases. As the collected data gathered shows an omnivorous click-stream, user tracking, targeting and surveillance become futile.

    • EvilBit@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      2 months ago

      Ooh, that’s nice. Now change “omnivorous” to “targeted” and things get interesting.

      Thanks, friend!

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      2 months ago

      AdNauseam quietly clicks on every blocked ad, registering a visit on ad networks’ databases

      Do those clicks appear to be coming from me, or from some random fake identity?

      False floods of data or not, there are some things I’d rather not have any identifiable contact with at all.

        • Zoot@reddthat.com
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          2 months ago

          It should atleast poison any data they gather about you right? Since you’re not ever going to realistically click on any of these ads, it would now look like anything and everything interests you

          • SolOrion@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            2 months ago

            That’s the point. You can’t really build an advertising profile if they literally engage with every single thing all the time.

          • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            2 months ago

            it would now look like anything and everything interests you

            That could get you on some interesting lists.

            Personally, I’d rather not have any database think I was interested in certain topics, no matter how false that data is.