Disconnect (software)

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Disconnect is a partly open source [1] browser extension and mobile app designed to stop non-consensual third party trackers, [2] and providing private web search and private web browsing. [3] On mobile, it is available for Android and iPhone. It was developed by Brian Kennish and Casey Oppenheim. Disconnect-Search had once been the default search engine of the security-focused Tor Browser, which now uses DuckDuckGo. [4] [5]

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The Electronic Frontier Foundation compared the app to its own Privacy Badger browser plugin. [2]

The app was banned from the Google Play Store five days after its release in late August 2014. Google cited a violation of its Terms of Service which prohibit developers from using its store "to distribute apps that interfere with or disrupt the services of any third party". [2] [6] This, however, attracted criticism from parties such as EFF (and Disconnect itself) which saw this app as privacy-friendly, and argue that Google's motivations are primarily based on the fact that this app interferes with ad-based revenue models of numerous companies, including Google itself. [2] [7] [8] [9] The app was restored to the Google Play Store two weeks after its initial banning, [10] before being banned for a second time overnight. [11]

In June 2015, Disconnect filed an antitrust complaint against Google. [12]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Disconnect. "Online Privacy & Security".
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Blocking Consumer Choice: Google's Dangerous Ban of Privacy and Security App". Electronic Frontier Foundation. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  3. ↑ Disconnect. "Online Privacy & Security". Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  4. ↑ "#14490 (Make Disconnect Search the default search engine for Tor Browser alpha) – Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki".
  5. ↑ "Why did my search engine switch to DuckDuckGo? - Tor Project".
  6. ↑ Google Bans Disconnect.me App From Play Store Based On Vague Guidelines
  7. ↑ "Google Banishes Disconnect Mobile App For Interfering with Its Lucrative Business : News : Headlines & Global News". hngn.com. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  8. ↑ "Why Google Banned Connect Mobile - Business Insider". businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  9. ↑ Albergotti, Reed; Barr, Alistair; Dwoskin, Elizabeth (28 August 2014). "Why Some Privacy Apps Get Blocked From the Android Play Store - Digits - WSJ". Wall Street Journal. blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  10. ↑ "Disconnect Mobile Returns To The Play Store Two Weeks After Google Ban". 2014-09-08.
  11. ↑ "Disconnect Mobile yanked again from Google Play". 2014-09-09.
  12. ↑ "Disconnect.Me Files Antitrust Case Against Google In Europe Over Banned Anti-Malware Android App". 2015-06-02.
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