3mo ago

What's the point of Privacy Frontends that support loggin in with your normal accounr?

Hello, while I use frontends where possible in place of the original websites/apps I do find it interesting that some of them, mostly referring to the Youtube ones still allow you to login normally? I understand this is to bypass blocks and that in theory the frontend still tries to limit what it sends back to Google but in practice how does this work without killing the privacy aspect?

11 comments

I'd say it's one thing and better to be tracked only at account level than to be tracked at traffic level.
So you know only your history in the site can be used as opposed to any other form of fingerprinting the sites might use at browser, cookies, or ip level.

I can see the interest where it may be easier to extract your own data through that frontend in some cases.

Corporate app frontends track everything you do and see. They can record your mouse movement and watch it again, they track your scrolls, every button click, and even sometimes what you type in inputs even when you don't actually save them (like an Instagram comment you decide not to post, or a video search you don't actually search). There is a lot of tracking done on the frontend. Some of it could also be done in the backend (and a part of that is), some not
- Thank you, that's a rather comprehensive answer! Just wanted and idea from someone more knowledgeable on the subject.

I'd say there's a darn good point if Meta doesn't want you to use one.
There used to be a great frontend for Instagram that was sued and forced to cease development when all it allowed you to do is browse Instagram on an account in this private frontend app.
EDIT: here it is https://austinhuang.me/barinsta.html
- Hmmm yea if they still bother going after such a frontend then they likely lose something anyway, didn't know about this. Thanks
- Yeah, great times.. i kept using it as long as I could, at some point insta forced me to change my password every single time i opened it due to "suspicious activity", then they outright banned my account completely. Never looked back (to insta) since.

For the most part it's not privacy they're looking for, but to get rid of ads.

which frontend allows that?
as I know piped and invidious have their own account system, and by following their attempts to regain access to youtube content I would think that if they allowed login with a google account, that would place the account in danger of getting blocked for good

The frontends provide other benefits on top of just privacy - e.g. invidious lets you watch youtube videos without javascript, download videos directly on some instances, etc.

You already signed up for the service and agreed to all manner of things.
Feels to me like your in a mask with your name tag still on.

11 comments