- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.ca
- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.ca
If you shop on AliExpress and your Bluetooth headphones stop switching between devices, this is caused by hidden tracking scripts on the site, not broken hardware. Install uBlock Origin and add filter rules to block collina.js and fireyejs.js on aliexpress.com, then close all open AliExpress tabs and reload the site for the fix to take effect.
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AliExpress users report a privacy-invasive tracking mechanism on the company’s homepage that interferes with Bluetooth hardware. The site runs hidden audio processes that prevent multipoint headphones from switching between devices. This behavior occurs even when the tab is idle and no media is visible to the user. The issue is caused by Alibaba’s security scripts designed for device identification and anti-fraud detection.
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Doesn’t the website need to ask for microphone permissions first?
It’s playing inaudible audio, not recording.
But doesn’t it need to record the audio to do any kind of fingerprinting?
If I understood it correctly, it only checks how your hardware reacts to audio being played.
It’s fingerprinting your system to gain information about you that way, not through listening in on you in real space.