Menu
EN

AdGuard’s digest: Microsoft’s nightmarish AI feature, Google’s ad injection, and massive biometric data leak

Google is injecting ads in AI-generated query results

Google has never shied away from pushing more ads on its users. Now it’s found yet another way — the big G has said it it’s been experimenting with putting search and shopping ads in its AI Overviews, which are AI-generated summaries to search queries. According to statements from the Google Ads & Commerce blog, these ads will be positioned both above and below the AI-generated overview.

In its blog, Google said that people who were part of the early testing of the new ad placements found them “overly helpful.” We would rather take this with a grain of salt — surveys suggest that the majority of users are annoyed by the paid ads, and only agree with them because the Google Search is free. We must say it’s free with strings attached — since it collects your browsing habits and sells them to third parties.

q0p1zScreenshot

By integrating ads above and below the content, Google appears to prioritize profit over user experience — but it won’t be the first for the company, which derives over 80% of its revenue from ads.

Biometric data leaked in major cybersecurity incident

A trove of biometric data, including thousands of fingerprints and facial images linked to law enforcement in India, was found exposed online. This sensitive information, unearthed by security researcher Jeremiah Fowler on a server associated with a company called ThoughtGreen Technologies, is now reportedly being put on sale on Telegram.

About 500 gigabytes of data encompassing 1.6 million documents were leaked, including a folder housing a staggering 8 GB of sensitive facial data, according to the researcher, who could not verify the contents of the file dump. ThoughtGreen Technologies claimed that the data did not belong to them.

The breach highlights broader concerns regarding the security and privacy implications of widespread biometric data collection. As governments and companies increasingly rely on biometrics for identification and authentication purposes, ensuring the protection of such sensitive data becomes critical. It seems that security practices have simply not kept pace with technological advances. And while you can change your phone number, cancel your credit card, or even change your name (although that would be extreme), it’s impossible to change your fingerprint or voice. That makes you think twice whether it is really a great idea to pay for a cup of coffee with your face.

Microsoft new AI tool dubbed ‘a privacy nightmare’

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has initiated inquiries with Microsoft regarding its brand new feature called Recall, which captures screenshots of users’ laptops every few seconds. Privacy campaigners already dubbed the feature, exclusive to Microsoft’s forthcoming Copilot+ PC, a “nightmare” that can have “a chilling effect” on people.

The feature will be able to look through all users’ past activity: that includes browsing history, as well as files, photos, and emails. And while this is nothing unheard of on its own, Microsoft adds a twist — the Recall feature will also be taking screenshots every few seconds while you’re using the device and will be able to comb through these screenshots too.

Microsoft claims Recall is private “by design” and says that the snapshots will be encrypted and stored locally on the device, allowing the user to be in control over the captured content. You can configure the Recall feature to exclude some websites or apps, you can also pause it completely, or delete all the snapshots that it had captured and.

However, despite Microsoft’s assurances, Mozilla has already raised concerns that Recall’s screenshot feature could expose sensitive information, including passwords, to potential misuse by parties like law enforcement or Microsoft itself. There are also concerns that Microsoft may change its mind and decide to store the data on its servers, which may pave the way for using it for targeted advertising or AI training. Microsoft said it won’t remove sensitive content from snapshots, meaning that all your searches or financial account details could be visible in them. So, we side with Mozilla and say — be vigilant when using this “optional experience,” as Microsoft calls it.

A federal privacy bill is finally coming to the US?

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers, Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, are spearheading efforts to pass new federal online privacy legislation ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections. The proposed legislation, known as the American Privacy Rights Act, includes provisions to protect the online data of Americans from Big Tech companies.

According to a bill summary, it would grant consumers the right to access, correct, delete, and export their data — similar to the landmark EU legislation — while also imposing limits on data collection and usage by companies. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the transfer of certain data to third parties without consent. “I see the American Privacy Rights Act as foundational to protecting kids online, foundational to protecting our individual identity online,” Rodgers said.

Lawmakers appear to be racing against the clock to pass the legislation before the US presidential election, which is five months away. And while such a bill is long overdue, it would mark a milestone for privacy in the US. It will be a major disappointment if things turn sour and the bill’s passage is derailed.

Discuss this and other ad-blocking and privacy-related topics on our social media channels:

Liked this post?

AdGuard for Windows

AdGuard for Windows is more than an ad blocker. It is a multipurpose tool that blocks ads, controls access to dangerous sites, speeds up page loading, and protects children from inappropriate content.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Read more

AdGuard for Mac

AdGuard for Mac is a unique ad blocker designed with macOS in mind. In addition to protecting you from annoying ads in browsers and apps, it shields you from tracking, phishing, and fraud.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Read more

AdGuard for Android

AdGuard for Android is a perfect solution for Android devices. Unlike most other ad blockers, AdGuard doesn't require root access and provides a wide range of app management options.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement

AdGuard for iOS

The most advanced ad blocker for Safari: it makes you forget about pop-up ads, speeds up page loading, and protects your personal data. A manual element-blocking tool and highly customizable settings help you tailor the filtering to your exact needs.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement

AdGuard Browser Extension

AdGuard is the fastest and most lightweight ad blocking extension that effectively blocks all types of ads on all web pages! Choose AdGuard for the browser you use and get ad-free, fast and safe browsing.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5

AdGuard for Safari

Ad blocking extensions for Safari are having hard time since Apple started to force everyone to use the new SDK. AdGuard extension is supposed to bring back the high quality ad blocking back to Safari.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
App Store
Download
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement

AdGuard Home

AdGuard Home is a network-wide software for blocking ads & tracking. After you set it up, it’ll cover ALL your home devices, and you don’t need any client-side software for that. With the rise of Internet-Of-Things and connected devices, it becomes more and more important to be able to control your whole network.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5

AdGuard Content Blocker

AdGuard Content Blocker will eliminate all kinds of ads in mobile browsers that support content blocker technology — namely, Samsung Internet and Yandex.Browser. While being more limited than AdGuard for Android, it is free, easy to install and still provides high ad blocking quality.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Read more

AdGuard Assistant

A companion browser extension for AdGuard desktop apps. It offers an in-browser access to such features as custom element blocking, allowlisting a website or sending a report.
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
Assistant for Chrome Is it your current browser?
Install
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Assistant for Firefox Is it your current browser?
Install
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Assistant for Edge Is it your current browser?
Install
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Assistant for Opera Is it your current browser?
Install
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Assistant for Yandex Is it your current browser?
Install
By downloading the program you accept the terms of the License agreement
Assistant for Safari Is it your current browser?
If you can't find your browser, try the old legacy Assistant version, which you can find in AdGuard extension settings.

AdGuard Temp Mail β

A free temporary email address generator that keeps you anonymous and protects your privacy. No spam in your main inbox!
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5

AdGuard for Android TV

AdGuard for Android TV is the only app that blocks ads, guards your privacy, and acts as a firewall for your Smart TV. Get warnings about web threats, use secure DNS, and benefit from encrypted traffic. Relax and dive into your favorite shows with top-notch security and zero ads!
User Reviews: 13065
4.7 out of 5
Downloading AdGuard To install AdGuard, click the file indicated by the arrow Select "Open" and click "OK", then wait for the file to be downloaded. In the opened window, drag the AdGuard icon to the "Applications" folder. Thank you for choosing AdGuard! Select "Open" and click "OK", then wait for the file to be downloaded. In the opened window, click "Install". Thank you for choosing AdGuard!
Install AdGuard on your mobile device