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Dozens of reports came out that Facebook is collecting sensitive data from its users. This is why Mozilla decided to take some action and save users from an unpleasant situation. The company has just launched an extension for Firefox, Facebook Container, that allows people to surf the web without the intrusion of Facebook. Therefore, the social media platform won’t be able to track your searches anymore.
Facebook Container will prevent Facebook from tracking your activity on other sites
Everybody knows of Facebook’s ad practices that might become a little intrusive. Usually, the platform tracks whatever you do in the browser, and then returns with personalized ads based on your search history. However, Mozilla decided it was time for this to stop.
Therefore, it created Facebook Container, an extension for its Firefox browser that combats the platform’s tracking techniques. When using Facebook Container, the platform will be able to track your activity only while you’re using its website. Once you move to a different website, the extension will prevent Facebook from using its tracking methods.
The main tracking technique Facebook uses is called a Pixel. That is only a small instance of code that is present on the site, and that can tell when a user is interacting with the page. Then, this small piece of code keeps collecting data regarding the interactions of this user.
This extension doesn’t permanently solve the tracking problem
This can say a lot about people, so quite a big privacy problem is involved. Also, this method is pretty sneaky. It monitors what you do without leaving any traces, and you usually cannot know when this information reaches some third-party members. This is not the first controversy of the type that involved Facebook.
Since the 2014 scandal with Cambridge Analytica, a company that collects political analytics data, Facebook tried to prevent app developers from collecting data without noticing anyone. However, this doesn’t mean that user information stays completely safe and unshared.
Therefore, a solution like Facebook Container was pretty necessary. Even if this cannot solve the data leak problem, it is a way to regain a bit of your privacy.
Image source: Flickr
