TomsHardWare selling privat data to facebook and google?

[Morugs]

I just want to know, when i visit toms hardware forum is my data being sold to thrid party companys like facebook and google?

When i browse toms hardware forum without an account am i already being tracked by facebook & co?
I have read an article saying when websites link facebook or twitter or instagram on their website, when i can see the icon present this means those linked companyes have tracking cookies installed on the website im currently on.

Screenshot of the present icons: https://i.postimg.cc/jjxgwRqR/l.png
Toms hardware privacy policy: https://i.postimg.cc/fb8HY1km/2.png

Cookie policy:

Third Party Cookies - Future

www.futureplc.com

 

[CParsons]

If you take a look through the Cookie policy page it will tell you what each set of cookies does and the information they collect and how it is used: https://www.futureplc.com/cookies-policy/.

When i browse toms hardware forum without an account am i already being tracked by facebook & co?

Every site that makes use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or pretty much any other service out has to include the tracking as part of using those services on their site. For example, if someone was to embed a Facebook video here, it would include tracking. If we offer a 'log in with Facebook' feature that has to have tracking as well. That's where this portion comes in:

When you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, YouTube or Facebook, these third party service providers may set their own cookies on your device. Future does not control the use of these third party cookies and cannot access them due to the way that cookies work, as cookies can only be accessed by the party who originally set them. Please check the third party websites for more information about these cookies.

As noted on the cookie policy page, you do have options when it comes to blocking those cookies such as opting out through your browser, using an ad / tracking blocker, etc. However, doing so often reduces functionality of sites as some cookies contain things such as your user preferences, style layouts, etc.

 

[Morugs]

If you take a look through the Cookie policy page it will tell you what each set of cookies does and the information they collect and how it is used: https://www.futureplc.com/cookies-policy/.

• I read that already.


Every site that makes use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or pretty much any other service out has to include the tracking as part of using those services on their site. For example, if someone was to embed a Facebook video here, it would include tracking. If we offer a 'log in with Facebook' feature that has to have tracking as well. That's where this portion comes in:

• Alright i understand, basically if i watch a video on tomshardware which is originally uploaded to facebook and just shared with a embed link this means facebook can track this? What exactly would they be tracking in this scenario?
How long im watching, where i move my mouse, if i pause the video, if i copy the link from the video, my ip adress, my browser version, my windows versions, blablabla.. im just curios how much information do they get and what is it?

• Also what if i dont use the login with facebook option and if i dont watch or klick any facebook releated content, if i just use tomshardware forum to create - write - and upload question, is facebook or google tracking that aswell? Even when i am not logged into any of their accounts/services?

As noted on the cookie policy page, you do have options when it comes to blocking those cookies such as opting out through your browser, using an ad / tracking blocker, etc. However, doing so often reduces functionality of sites as some cookies contain things such as your user preferences, style layouts, etc.

• I use Firefox webbrowser and Duckduckgo searchengine. I set every possible option from firefox to the highest possible privacy setting. I also have three browser plugins installed, two of them are addblockers. I see almost zero adds all the time and im super happy about this. But anyways im certainly sure facebook, google, etc have their ways to track users one way or another.

• Sorry if this is going in a direction more about facebook and google tracking but after all those companys are everywhere including tomshardware so it should be fine i guess. Personally i think that tracking is taking place way too much these days and privat data is being abused and sold alot... big companys are tracking every little thing they can get in their greedy hands... also i feel that the cookie and privacy policies are not clear and detailed enough.
You claim that your cookies collect data for example for analytic purposes, But what does that even mean? Why cant i see a detailed description for this word and what your understanding of it means? This is a huge word because there is certainly alot behind it. To be honest its pretty pathetic how 80% of the websites now say "we value your privacy" ... for sure they do... what a bad joke, because when it comes to opting things out the BIG GREEN BUTTON always says ACCEPT ALL but the customize your choices button is smal and grey hidden in the corner, and the worst about it only a few websites let you turn off the cookies with one klick, fact is when it comes to OPT-OUT majority of websites force you to trough a whole giantic list of third party companys and you must disable every single setting by hand, which is time consuming and the goal behind it is to get people simply to tell themselfes, not this again... i will just klick accept all... There should be a law for all website hosting companys to give two equally large buttons one for opt out all and one for accept all, privacy is a joke today.

 

[CParsons]

You claim that your cookies collect data for example for analytic purposes, But what does that even mean? Why cant i see a detailed description for this word and what your understanding of it means? This is a huge word because there is certainly alot behind it.

The definition is broad but as noted on the page:

Analytical performance cookies are used to monitor the performance of our Services, for example, to determine the number of pageviews and the number of unique users a website has. Web analytics services may be designed and operated by third parties. The information provided by these cookies allows us to analyse patterns of user behaviour and we use that information to enhance user experience or identify areas of the website which may require maintenance. The information is anonymous (i.e. it cannot be used to identify you and does not contain personal information such as your name and email address) and it is only used for statistical purposes

Your issue as you seem aware, is more so with regards to Facebook and Google and how web tracking in general works and that's understandable, the only thing I can suggest personally is that you opt out of those things when and where you can. If you're looking for more information about cookies and how they are used on our sites, you can contact Future’s Data Protection Officer by email: DPO@futurenet.com

 

[Morugs]

The definition is broad but as noted on the page:



Your issue as you seem aware, is more so with regards to Facebook and Google and how web tacking in general works and that's understandable, the only thing I can suggest personally is that you opt out of those things when and where you can. If you're looking for more information about cookies and how they are used on our sites, you can contact Future’s Data Protection Officer by email: DPO@futurenet.com

I have sent them an email, lets see what they say.
Hell i even have my cellphone coverd up with aluminium foil when not in use, its the only way... not to constantly be geolocation tracked and "god" knows what other things they do.

Edit: one thing i almost forgot
Pretty pathethic how you claim registering with facebook, google or microsoft would be faster than using an email adress.
https://i.ibb.co/dD9GR3p/Unbenannt.png
Even if it is true that its faster.. (which i dont think since email works flawless) why do you want to get people to register with those companies... i mean you literally say "its faster" so if i value my time it means choosing those companys for a "faster" registraition over email will save me valuable time.
Probably you get payed for saying this.

 

[CParsons]

Edit: one thing i almost forgot
Pretty pathethic how you claim registering with facebook, google or microsoft would be faster than using an email adress.
https://i.ibb.co/dD9GR3p/Unbenannt.png
Even if it is true that its faster.. (which i dont think since email works flawless) why do you want to get people to register with those companies... i mean you literally say "its faster" so if i value my time it means choosing those companys for a "faster" registraition over email will save me valuable time.
Probably you get payed for saying this.

Some people prefer it, that way they don't have to remember passwords or deal with password managers. If you don't want to use it, there is no requirement to do so. Also, please stop making it personal. "I" do not control all of the options here and directing your anger towards me directly serves no purpose. I'll be happy to pass along your feedback regarding the login options however.

 

[Morugs]

Some people prefer it, that way they don't have to remember passwords or deal with password managers. If you don't want to use it, there is no requirement to do so. Also, please stop making it personal. "I" do not control all of the options here and directing your anger towards me directly serves no purpose. I'll be happy to pass along your feedback regarding the login options however.

I will never understand how any alive person with atleast half a functional brain can give their privacy away just like that, but whatever... Im not here to judge its just my toughts..

If this sounded personal it was a mistake, i never ment this personally. You are for sure not the person responsible for naming the login option with 3rd party companies "faster" than email, when i said "you" i ment the people who are actually responsible for putting it this way. Tomshardware is a big forum/community im certain its managed by multiple people, i would never blame one person alone, it is only my personal opinion that it is sad someone has decided the registration options facebook, google, microsoft are being adverstied as "being faster" than using an email registration. Someone makes it look like the registration options with those companies are faster and therefore better than using email.

If you put the facebook registration right next to the email registration without calling anything faster or better or whatever, i think that anyone who would like to register with facebook over email would do this anyways.

Im trying to not repeat myself but explain exactly what i see here:
The person or the people who created this registration option are trying to say "Hey register with facebook it is faster, be cool and klick the blue F" but there is nothing cool about giving your whole privat life to a company which is selling your data for adversting.