Randall Stephenson – CEO of AT&T

AT&T Corp. just can’t seem to stay away from controversy, as the network provider is now being accused of tracking its unsuspecting subscribers using a unique tracker. This time though, AT&T is not alone, as Verizon Communications Inc. is also said to be guilty of the same practice.

The inconspicuous tracking activity was spotted by Kenneth White, Director of the Open Crypto Audit Project. White discovered that AT&T was using unique code to tag its subscribers, which are visible to third parties or those who want to plague you with ads.

AT&T admitted that it is testing a new way of tracking customers for ads, but stated that it has not been rolled out to its subscribers, emphasizing that when the time comes that it will be rolled out, customers would have a way of opting out of being tracked.

“AT&T does not currently have a mobile Relevant Advertising program. We are considering such a program, and any program we would offer would maintain our fundamental commitment to customer privacy,” read a statement from AT&T. “For instance, we are testing a numeric code that changes every 24 hours on mobile devices to use in programs where we serve ads to the mobile device. This daily rotation on the numeric code would help protect the privacy of our customers. Customers also could opt out of any future AT&T program that might use this numeric code.”

However, White contradicted AT&T’s announcement, stating that he has found persistent identifying codes being sent by AT&T.

As for Verizon, AT&T spokesperson Mark Siegel was the one who pointed out that the company was also experimenting on a new way to track its subscribers. But unlike Verizon, AT&T’s method does not include the unique identifier in IP packets for customers who opted out.

Are you being tracked by your mobile carrier?

To determine whether or not you’re being tracked by AT&T or Verizon, start here:

Make sure you are using 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE on you mobile device and that you are not connected to the Internet via a WiFi network.

Open this link using a mobile browser: http://lessonslearned.org/sniff

It should be noted that using Mobile Chrome or Flipboard can mask tracking beacons. It is advised you use another mobile browser.

If you see X-ACR or X-UIDH in the Broadcast UID field at the top the page when you go to White’s link it means your carriers is actively sending tracking beacons to every website you visit.

How to opt out

For AT&T subscribers:

Using your AT&T device, make sure you are on the provider’s wireless network and not on WiFi;

Using a mobile browser, go to http://205.234.28.93/mobileoptout/

Choose the blue Opt-Out button, after which, you should receive the following message: “Thank you. This device will not be receiving AT&T AdWorks Relevant Advertising.”

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For Verizon subscribers:

You can notify the company that you do not wish to be tracked or your information to be use for Relevant Mobile Advertising by calling (866) 211-0874 or visiting www.vzw.com/myprivacy.

If you have multi-line account, you must indicate your privacy choices for each individual line.

Note that even when you opt out of Verizon’s advertising program, the company will still keep track of your browsing history because there’s no way to disable its UIHD tracking software. However, Verizon assures customers that any data it keeps will not be used for advertising purposes if customers decide to opt out.

According to White, the only real way to block Verizon’s UIHD is to “use HTTPS wherever possible” or use a trusted VPN or proxy server such as the Tor network.

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Be proactive 

If you want to be more proactive in preventing advertisers or web companies from tracking you, you can visit the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (DAA) Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavioral Advertising page, where you can see which companies are tracking the browser you are using and opt out of being tracked. To exercise you choice, go to this link: http://www.aboutads.info/choices/.

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