Disconnect (software) explained

Disconnect is a partly open source[1] browser extension and mobile app designed to stop non-consensual third party trackers, and providing private web search and private web browsing.[2] 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.[3] [4]

The Electronic Frontier Foundation compared the app to its own Privacy Badger browser plugin.[5]

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".[5] [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.[5] [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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Online Privacy & Security. Disconnect.
  2. Web site: Online Privacy & Security. Disconnect. 2016-01-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20161110220235/https://disconnect.me/freeprotection. 2016-11-10. dead.
  3. Web site:
    1. 14490 (Make Disconnect Search the default search engine for Tor Browser alpha) – Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki
    .
  4. Web site: Why did my search engine switch to DuckDuckGo? - Tor Project.
  5. Web site: Blocking Consumer Choice: Google's Dangerous Ban of Privacy and Security App . 2 September 2014 . Electronic Frontier Foundation. 2014-09-05.
  6. Google Bans Disconnect.me App From Play Store Based On Vague Guidelines
  7. Web site: Google Banishes Disconnect Mobile App For Interfering with Its Lucrative Business : News : Headlines & Global News. hngn.com. 2014-09-05.
  8. Web site: Why Google Banned Connect Mobile - Business Insider. businessinsider.com. 2014-09-05.
  9. News: Why Some Privacy Apps Get Blocked From the Android Play Store - Digits - WSJ. Wall Street Journal . 28 August 2014 . blogs.wsj.com. 2014-09-05 . Albergotti . Reed . Barr . Alistair . Dwoskin . Elizabeth .
  10. Web site: Disconnect Mobile Returns To The Play Store Two Weeks After Google Ban. 2014-09-08.
  11. Web site: Disconnect Mobile yanked again from Google Play. 2014-09-09.
  12. Web site: Disconnect.Me Files Antitrust Case Against Google In Europe Over Banned Anti-Malware Android App. 2015-06-02.

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