Google And Several Prominent Advertising Networks Caught ‘Using A Workaround’ To bypass The Safari And Mobile Safari Security Restrictions

Posted on Feb 17 2012 - 10:51am by Editorial Staff

What it have been said to be a case of “misconduct” or what else even when especially the behaviour is restricted – Google and several prominent online advertising networks have been caught circumventing Safari and Mobile safari security restrictions. The WSJ reported that search giant and other major online advertising networks have been using a workaround to bypass the security restrictions on Apple’s Safari and Mobile Safari web browsers, which reportedly allowing the companies to deposit cookies on a user’s computer even if the device is set to be free from such kind of behavior.

Understanding how this happens, under Safari default settings, both iOS and desktop versions of the app will accept the files, which results in keeping a track of how the user browse over the web – keeping a record of what the user interact or visit – preventing a cooking from outside source allowing it to make its way onto a user’s machine without their any kind of “direct” involvement. The problem which was first noted by developer Anant Garg in 2010 , who uses the blank form that was sent in the Safari background in order to trick the browser into the source of accepting cookies from unauthorized sources.

The search giant keeps a check against this restrictions pointing in its own theory when it couldn’t use cookies to determine whether the users were logged into any of Google services in conjunction with its +1 recommendation system. Google’s workaround was spotted by Jonathan Mayer, Stanford researcher and later corroborated by the WSJ. It was also discovered by the WSJ that the technique was used by at least three other prominent advertising networks as well as Facebook – as both search giant and social networking giant in order to provide user-facing benefits with the practice.

In lieu of same, Apple spokesperson stated, “we are working to put a stop” to the practices in question. When asking Google about the technique, the company reportedly ceased the practice, saying, “The Journal mischaracterizes what happened and why. We used known Safari functionality to provide features that signed-in Google users had enabled. It’s important to stress that these advertising cookies do not collect personal information.”

(Image Source: WSJ)

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