LinkedIn Is Illegally Searching Your Computer
browsergate.eu
Microsoft is running one of the largest corporate espionage operations in modern history. Every time any of LinkedIn’s one billion users visits linkedin.com, hidden code searches their computer for installed software, collects the results, and transmits them to LinkedIn’s servers and to third-party companies including an American-Israeli cybersecurity firm. The user is never asked. Never told. LinkedIn’s privacy policy does not mention it. Because LinkedIn knows each user’s real name, employer, and job title, it is not searching anonymous visitors. It is searching identified people at identified companies. Millions of companies. Every day. All over the world.
  • AthanAster@lemmy.ml
    4·
    3 hours ago

    So this is basically fingerprinting extensions? They aren’t scanning your system but it’s still invasive if they aren’t mentioning this anywhere. Seems like a browser level issue, not really illegal in most places, but definitely shady behavior that should be flagged.

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
    29·
    10 hours ago

    Why it’s illegal and potentially criminal

    LinkedIn scans your browser for installed extensions every time you visit the site. It does this without asking, without telling you, and without any mention in its privacy policy.

    Cool! Send the fucking CEO to jail. Send a fucking message. If I break the law, I go to jail, can we PLEASE give them the same treatment already?

      • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        29·
        12 hours ago

        Oh, browser extensions. And specifically on chromium browsers.

        Yeah, that makes much more sense than “any installed software”. It also throws out their claim of this being illegal. Using a browser API endpoint to say “hey do you have this extension” isn’t illegal, at least in most countries.

        Is this shitty behavior? Yes. Is this anywhere near what their clickbait title and honestly clickbait article claim? Not in the slightest.

          • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            2·
            9 hours ago

            Eh, I can see how that might work under EU law. So I suppose there’s a potential for it to be illegal in the EU then.

            Though I do question the extent that could reach, since “left leaning lesbians looking for work only browser” could be the user agent if someone was so inclined. Admittedly though, that’s outside the scope of this argument.

      • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
        1·
        10 hours ago

        Okay, so is there a browser plugin that can di ply hide the plugins that I have installed?

  • Goldenring@lemmy.ca
    6·
    10 hours ago

    I’m glad I didn’t upload my profile pic. I shut the website down in 2016

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
    8·
    10 hours ago

    And they send me over 2.5mb of javascript code for this shit?

    Why oh why is the internet such a shit place these days?

    Greedy fucking C suite execs. That’s why