I’ve been using Overcast (on IOS) for years and for the most part love it, but having explored the privacy reports in its settings, I’m wondering if there is any way to actually do something about all the trackers podcasts are using these days.
I’ve tried blocking the specific trackers with AdGuard DNS, but when I do that, the podcast refuses to play at all.
Using a VPN helps to obscure some of the gross invasively personal dynamic ads, but is pretending I’m in Amsterdam really the best I can do? Doesn’t feel like it’s actually addressing the problem :/
A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.
Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.
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I know where you’re coming from. Right now the way many of podcasts’ audio files are served is via HTTP CDNs. The podcast client fetches the RSS feed, then fetches the linked-to audio file. The VPN, as you say, just changes the source address of that request.
What we could work on is reducing the number of requests to those CDNs.
One idea: A service which serves a mirror of the podcast feed and audio files. Users would need to manually enter podcast feed URLs into their client, rather than select the podcast from a convenient in-app search. You’d have to trust the service operator isn’t collecting and sharing its usage data.
Going further, we could use Bittorrent to distribute episodes between mirrors. Mirrors could subscribe to a RSS feed of torrents for particular shows.
I could imagine some community-run effort in this space.
Overcast probably is the most private client. The creator has a podcast called Accidental Tech Podcast. He has spoken several times about collecting only the minimum information to make the app work. He says he simply does not want the responsibility of keeping the data safe, and does not do targeted ads.
Not really. Even if you use something foss like AntennaPod, it still makes calls to tracking services. I don’t know how it works, but it seems that’s how those podcast services are set up and most won’t play otherwise.
Guess you can only use vpn or tor to be completely private, and preferably just use web sites instead of apps.
in antennaPod, go to settings > download > details, proxy
wait, it’s not done yet. 😂 you should connect your antennaPod to a proxy of your choice to anonymize yourself
From hearing the developer of Overcast talk about this issue, it seems that hiding your IP is really all you can or need to do, as that’s what the dynamic ad services use to track you
Overcast looks like it’s got decent privacy on iOS.
Overcast itself is fine to my knowledge but it doesn’t do anything on its own to protect your IP from getting to the podcast hosting servers, which do all sorts of creepy shit. The only real solution would be to tunnel your downloads through some kind of VPN or centralized download service, and those aren’t services Overcast provides so you’d have to do it yourself.
Oh I didn’t mean to imply otherwise - Overcast is awesome.
I guess I worded my question poorly. I’m more asking if there’s any way to block trackers without blocking the entire podcast.
The stream/download just hangs, or errors out because it “cannot connect to creep.noteventhehost.fm” or whatever - just won’t load at all until I unblock and it’s able to do its dirty work.
Not sure if this is even within the capabilities of a client… I’m starting to think not, and that I’ve asked a stupid question lol
Host lost blockers should be all you need for tnsumer VN covers IP safety. I use AdAway with Magisk to get whole phone protection. I use AntennaPod and never have problems with unplayable podcasts.
BeyondPod is what I have been using for a bunch of years now. If you don’t pay for it, it will show you ads but purchasing it removes that. It is only on Android though.
Idk if it’s available for iOS, but I really like AntennaPod. I also use Kasts on desktop (GNU/Linux), and I self-host a gpodder instance to keep my subscriptions synced.
Even AntennaPod connects to trackers in order to download some podcats. It’s how some of those hosts are set up. Although I hope that with an app like AP it shouldn’t be easy for advertisers to use that data to profile you, but I don’t know.
settings > download > details, proxy
and done?
¿¿¿Done???
here 👉
Leading traffic through a proxy or Tor network
It’s possible to make AntennaPod lead all traffic (media files, cover images, RSS requests & searches) through a proxy or the Tor network. This may have two potential benefits:
You will find this option under Settings » Network » Proxy.
In order to lead all traffic via the Tor network, you need to install a proxy app for Tor, and provide the following details in AntennaPod:
i just discovered that i can downVote my posts. What a ¿¿¿ing pleasure
¿¿¿ip hidden??? if the proxy you use has the option ❓❓❓
And wound you maybe, possibly care to elaborate what proxy server to use? Or do all the proxy dialogs in all your programs have one preselected? If not, then it’s hardly “done” is it?
proxy server of your choice? doesn’t it depend on where you are and how fast the connection is?
i don’t use proxies on all programs
That’s an interesting definition of “done”.
When you get ads in another language that you don’t understand, you know you’re winning