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A tech expert cautioned users of the Facebook and Instagram apps against falling into a trap, emphasising that internal website browsing gives these companies software codes that enable user tracking.
Felix Krause, a technical expert, explained to the website Engadget how Facebook or Instagram’s internal browser injects JavaScript code into every website a user of the two applications visits. This enables the company Meta, which owns the two applications, to track all user interactions, including passwords, addresses, and credit card numbers.
Because the company that owns it (Apple) permits users to stop tracking the application after launching it for the first time and because Apple is renowned for its electronic security guarantees, Krause focused his analysis on the iOS versions of the two programmes.
The IT expert added that even while the Facebook software does not use codes to collect personal information as Instagram does, viewing websites within it is still dangerous.
Krause recommended users of these programmes to visit the Internet using third-party browsers, mentioning in particular the Safari and Firefox browsers for their data security guarantees and noting that they shield users from malware surveillance by encrypting browsing.
Other Meta-owned applications, including the well-known messaging software WhatsApp, he claimed, do not follow users in the same manner that Facebook and Instagram do because the latter’s functioning method is the best for the user and the right thing to do.
A representative for Meta previously told the British newspaper The Guardian that the tracking software gathers user information before using it only for targeted advertising or measurement purposes.
He emphasised that purchases done through the internal browser are only made with the user’s agreement, with payment information being kept for the purposes of eventual auto-filling.
Users of Facebook and Instagram can remove tracking codes by using the Links open externally function, which will open any website in the default external browser when clicking on its link.
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If you use Facebook or Instagram, be wary of traps that reveal personal info.
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