content/posts/2025-06-07-uninstall-facebook.md: formatting fixes, add web site over app recommendation

1 files changed, 24 insertions, 18 deletions

diff --git a/content/posts/2025-06-07-uninstall-facebook.md b/content/posts/2025-06-07-uninstall-facebook.md
index e8a8701..904d43b 100644
--- a/content/posts/2025-06-07-uninstall-facebook.md
+++ b/content/posts/2025-06-07-uninstall-facebook.md
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ slug: uninstall-facebook
 title: "Uninstall Facebook"
 date: "2025-06-07T18:08:27-04:00"
 ---
-You should immediately remove the Facebook and Instagram apps from your
-Android devices:
+You should immediately remove the Facebook and Instagram apps from
+your Android devices:
 
 > We disclose a novel tracking method by Meta and Yandex potentially
 > affecting billions of Android users. We found that native Android
@@ -14,18 +14,18 @@ Android devices:
 >
 > ...
 >
-> This web-to-app ID sharing method **bypasses typical privacy protections
-> such as clearing cookies, Incognito Mode and Android's permission
-> controls. Worse, it opens the door for potentially malicious apps
-> eavesdropping on users’ web activity.** (emphasis mine)
+> This web-to-app ID sharing method **bypasses typical privacy
+> protections such as clearing cookies, Incognito Mode and Android's
+> permission controls. Worse, it opens the door for potentially
+> malicious apps eavesdropping on users’ web activity.** (emphasis mine)
 
 [Source][local mess]
 
 [Ars Technica][] also has [an excellent summary][].
 
 In English: If you have the Facebook app or Instagram app installed on
-your Android device, then Meta may have collected your identity and your
-browsing history.
+your Android device, then Meta may have secretly collected your identity
+and your browsing history.
 
 This is true even if you don't have a Facebook account.  It's true even
 if you don't use the Facebook app.  It's true even if you took steps to
@@ -51,21 +51,25 @@ still several problems:
 
 Additional privacy recommendations:
 
-1. [Stop using Google Chrome][ditch-chrome].  I recommend [Firefox][]
+1. Prefer web sites over apps.  Many services use [deceptive patterns][]
+   to trick you into using an app instead of a web site.  They do this
+   because an app can collect more information about you than a web site.
+2. Remove unused and rarely used apps.
+3. Stop using Google Search.  I recommend [DuckDuckGo][].
+4. [Stop using Google Chrome][ditch-chrome].  I recommend [Firefox][]
    with [uBlock Origin][] and some [configuration
-   changes][firefox-privacy].  Other folks swear by [DuckDuckGo Browser][],
-   but I haven't used it personally.  See also: [The case for ditching
+   changes][firefox-privacy].  Some folks swear by [DuckDuckGo Browser][],
+   but I haven't used it myself.  See also: [The case for ditching
    Chrome][vox-chrome].  If you really do need Chrome or Edge, then at
    least install [uBlock Origin Lite][].
-2. Stop using Google Search.  I recommend [DuckDuckGo][].
-3. Switch from MacOS or Windows to [Linux][].  I recommend [Ubuntu][]
-   for new users.  I use [Debian][] personally.  If you really do need
-   Windows, at least [disable Windows telemetry][].
-4. Switch from text messaging and WhatsApp (owned by Meta) to [Signal][].
-5. Set up [Pi-hole][] on your home network.  It has an easy-to-use web
+5. Switch from Microsoft Windows to [Linux][].  I recommend [Ubuntu][]
+   for new users.  I use [Debian][debian].  If you really do need
+   Windows, then at least [disable Windows telemetry][].
+6. Switch from text messaging and WhatsApp (owned by Meta) to [Signal][].
+7. Set up [Pi-hole][] on your home network.  It has an easy-to-use web
    interface and can help block ads and tracking on mobile devices and
    "smart" TVs.
-6. Consider [Tor Browser][] or [Tails][] if the you need more protection
+8. Consider [Tor Browser][] or [Tails][] if the you need more protection
    and are willing to accept some tradeoffs.
 
 Further reading: [Surveilance Self Defense][ssd]
@@ -124,3 +128,5 @@ Further reading: [Surveilance Self Defense][ssd]
   "The case for ditching Chrome (vox.com)"
 [ublock origin lite]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UBlock_Origin#uBlock_Origin_Lite
   "Manifest V3 version of uBlock Origin for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers."
+[deceptive patterns]: https://www.deceptive.design/types
+  "Types of deceptive patterns"