Supercookies (Photo : Reuters)
Verizon is currently facing some serious problems due to its continued persistence in implementing the "supercookies" on its mobile network. The company has been on the list of target of various cyber-security and privacy advocates regarding the issue over security and privacy over its network.
The tiny computer code programmed on the "supercookie" allows it to covertly follow its mobile users while browsing around the internet as well as storing its users browsing habit and website preference, Boston Globe reported.
Lawyer and Stanford computer science graduate Jonathan Mayer posted on his blog that an advertising company named Turn is taking advantage of Verizon's cookie in order to keep track of its customers even after they clear their browsing data.
Normally, a cookie will be completely deleted after the user wipes the browsing history clean. However, Turn has found a way to regenerate the customer's unique code even after deleting its digital footprint.
Mayer said, "Verizon is not in a position to control how others use its header. There's no doubt that this particular approach does introduce new privacy problems."
Verizon along with AT&T has been the target of various internet privacy advocates regarding their alleged corporate practice of selling their customers personal information to advertisers, according to LiveMint. The report also added that the two telecommunications giant has been developing ad-targeting software in order to gather information from their respective clientele.
Advocacy groups like Public Knowledge have been lobbying for the regulation of "supercookies" and other privacy-violating practices of certain telecom companies. The group insisted that the government needs to pay more attention to the increasing amounts of cases concerning identity theft caused by unregulated privacy policies.
Public Knowledge senior vice president Harold Field said, "Stuff like this is worse than what Google or Facebook or anyone else does. If network operator is going to spy on me, there is nothing I can do about it."
