I want to preface this by saying that yes, I know that Instagram is bad. I am planning to get rid of it in the future but as of now I have to keep it for communication with people who are only on that platform.
So I have grapheneOS, use protonvpn (free version), use mull as my browser, and do not have google play services enabled on my phone. I do have some apps downloaded through aurora store such as Instagram, whatsapp, mychart, and mint mobile, but the rest came from f-droid.
I have noticed multiple times that after having private conversations on matrix, I get Instagram content in my feed that is scarily accurate to the conversation I had on the other platform immediately after. I know that things discussed in Instagram direct messages and group chat will give suggested content based on those conversations, but I get stuff that that is very specific to what I have ONLY discussed on matrix and didn’t look up via my browser.
So my question is how is Instagram doing this and what can I do to mitigate the spying it’s doing on my other apps. Thanks.
You probably discussed it because you were aware and interested in it, and your awareness and interest showed through in your other trackable habits outside of your chatroom. You only notice when they guess your interests correctly.
this is the real answer. unless you gave the app a bunch of permissions it shouldn’t have, they cannot see what you do/say in matrix. but they don’t need to. you willingly feed them enough information through location/posts/comments/private messages/friends/contacts/+a very long list of things for them you figure out your interests and serve you tailored ads.
I’m not so sure. I’m interested in this thread because I had a recent issue like this. I barely use Instagram, hadn’t booted the app for a month or something, only have it to support my SO’s art account. Never comment/DM, just likes. Had a lengthy in person conversation about tattoos and the idea of getting them at current location. I didnt do any searches on my phone or any other device for that matter. Don’t have any tattoos, or ever look at that content on insta (only follow art and wildlife photography accounts). Booted up Instagram that day and was getting purely adverts for local tattoos studios on my feed. Checked my permissions, all disabled. The only explanation I have is that it’s somehow still listening. That can’t possibly be a coincidence.
The only explanation I have is that it’s somehow still listening.
or the other person participating in the conversation had looked them up.
The reality is actually far scarier…
Meta manipulated you to have those conversations.
whatsapp is owned by Meta. I did a quick DDG search to see if I was correct and got this:
“Meta owns several companies, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Threads, Meta Quest, Horizon Worlds, Ray-Ban Stories, Mapillary, Workplace, and Portal (discontinued).”
I’ve been working to get the people I communicate with on Signal.app, instead. Other more informed individuals may be able to make additional suggestions.
I have gotten some people on signal but I will have to wait to try and get more on it. I’ve also heard that there’s privacy issues with signal but even if the allegations are true it’s a big step up from Instagram. I’m hoping to mainly use signal and my self-hosted matrix server in the future.
I suspect the main issues people ‘in the wild’ have with signal involves ineffective use of the app. Do you check the ‘safety number’ with every user? Do you use disappearing messages? Does anyone have access to your phone, or other linked device?
Here’s what the interwebs say about Signal and Security:
Signal encryption key vulnerability being fixed on Mac (and less fully on Windows), July 12 2024 https://9to5mac.com/2024/07/12/signal-encryption-key-vulnerability/
https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/is-signal-safe-4129801
https://restoreprivacy.com/secure-encrypted-messaging-apps/signal/
Keep nefarious apps in your work profile and don’t store any files in your work profile. Turn on the work profile only when you use the app, then freeze it again as soon as you’re done. Regularly clear the apps’ caches. This will limit what the spyware can spy on and how long they can spy on you.
It happens to me as well, in my instances it’s most likely the social network they tied me to. Some friends of mine are heavy Instagram users and whenever I hang out with them I get almost real time relevant ads on my isolated Instagram.
