I didn’t saw it was dangerous only that it was similar to MS GDID, and it is.

I’m not technically inclined enough to harden against that, nor do ai really have the inclination. But here is a thread on that topic where I even heard about it.

[email protected]

https://lemmy.ml/post/49710604

See discussion below. I’m making it up obviously

That’s fair. I didn’t mean MS was the threat actor, just the seed from which this grew. I definitely take that back after reading up more on where machine-id grew out of.

However, I don’t concede that machine-id is theoretical for user fingerprinting. Any software installed can read it, especially a browser. That’s the vector for tracking across the web. Do I have instances of this occurring, no. Seems plausible and the more we can sandbox things, especially “web browsers” (untrusted app runners more like it) the better.

Absolutely zero reason a init system needs admin date of birth. Yes separate issue entirely, but it’s showing a trend and the direction things are headed.

https://blog.bofh.it/debian/id_473

Cost of doing business

machine-id

If any of your Linux machines use SystemD, then Microsoft has done that then there’s something to be aware of with those machines. SystemD has a global system ID that can be used like the Windows GDID apparently.

Edit: not MS

Thanks for pointing out the actually definition of security by obscurity. Popularity has nothing to do with it.

I’ve been using Mojeek lately and it looks like their advanced search can do some of that.

https://www.mojeek.com/advanced.html

Reminds me of early Google search.