Discussions, summarized

Sumcast distills Slack conversations, Whimsical posts, Reddit discussions and more into a concise daily newsletter that only takes a few minutes to read. Or, listen to it in your favorite podcast app.

• Hacker News1Supercookie: Browser Fingerprinting via Favicon (2021)Supercookie is a tracking method that uses favicons to assign unique identifiers to website visitors that persist even in incognito mode, after clearing cache, or using VPNs and ad blockers. Unlike traditional cookies, this tracking exploits browser favicon caching and works across all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge.Privacy concerns and enforcement:Discussion about making hidden tracking criminal, comparing it to stalking. Users debate GDPR effectiveness, legitimate interest loopholes, and need for stronger legal consequences. Some argue current privacy laws help big tech maintain dominance over smaller competitors.Favicon display bugs:Multiple users report persistent favicon corruption across Safari, Firefox, and Chrome where wrong icons display for websites. Issue affects iOS, macOS, and Android, with icons getting stuck for months despite updates and surviving private browsing mode.Attack status and patches:The favicon tracking vulnerability has been largely patched by browsers years ago. Chrome and other browsers now reset favicon tracking when cache is cleared or incognito mode is used. Live demo no longer works as intended.
• Reddit science1Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Using scented products indoors, such as flame-free candles and wax melts, can create significant indoor air pollution comparable to car exhaust. Research by Purdue University found these products release nanosized particles that can penetrate deep into lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory health risks.Misleading title scope:Discussion about how study only focused on wax melts but title suggests all scented products, with debate about whether findings could logically extend to other scented itemsHealth concerns from chemist:A chemist's perspective against using scented products leads to sharing of personal health impact stories, from COPD to cancer cases, and debate about necessity of artificial scentsAir purification solutions:Discussion of HEPA filters and other air purification methods as solutions, with debate about effectiveness against different types of pollutants like VOCs and nanoparticles
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