Topic: Privacy – Ctrl blog

Phone Link relays your personal data through Microsoft servers

2023-04-07T13:43:00Z

The Microsoft Phone Link (formerly known as “Your Phone”) app for Windows, Android, and iOS lets you access parts of your smartphone from within Windows. However, Microsoft has not built the service with your privacy in mind. Instead, the software behemoth relays your personal data through its servers, despite the app only working while your devices are connected to the same local network.

Don’t record your social life on an append-only social network

2022-11-08T22:29:00Z

Secure Scuttlebutt (SSB) is an alternative, self-governed, distributed social network without gatekeepers. You only see updates and mentions from people you follow, so moderation isn’t as much of an issue as on Twitter. However, the technology that powers the platform is ill-suited for sharing things with our ever-changing social circles.

Stop using DICT dictionary apps (such as GNOME/MATE Dictionary)

2022-08-12T16:16:00Z

The MATE Desktop for Linux installs a Dictionary app by default (a fork of the retired GNOME Dictionary app). The apps don’t protect your privacy, and you might want to stop using them.

TeamViewer installs suspicious font only useful for web fingerprinting

2022-07-20T09:26:00Z

So, here’s a bit of a mystery: Why does TeamViewer – the popular remote desktop program – install a font it doesn’t use on your computer? The abstract font (shown in the above image) doesn’t seem to serve any purpose in the software. Intentional or not, it enables websites to detect if you have TeamViewer installed on your computer.

Some discouraging anecdotes on how services handle account deletions

2022-03-09T14:37:00Z

I set out to purge my password manager for unused accounts and services. I also took the opportunity to request that the companies that stored that data should delete it. The results were quite discouraging.