With the recent launch of Facebook's massive new ad network, Atlas, many users are worried personal data will be shared with a much larger pool of people and companies.
Thankfully for those users worried about privacy, there is a tool called Adblock that claims to stop Facebook from tracking a user's every move.
"If you don't want Facebook and other corporate behemoths tracking your every movement on the Internet and on all of your devices in order to hit you with unwanted ads, install Adblock Plus on every browser and every device you own," said Adblock in a statement.
Before jumping on the anti-Facebook bandwagon, it's important to know what Facebook's Atlas does. Facebook had been using cookies to track websites that a user views to serve ads geared to specific users.
Now with Atlas Facebook lets other websites use that data so they can display specific ads on websites and on mobile apps. Atlas can also track data about particular advertisements.
A common misconception is that Atlas will enable companies to access personal user data, which is not true. Facebook says it will not be handing over anyone's name or location to any companies, but will instead handle the data in a completely anonymous fashion.
In fact, what Facebook is doing with Atlas is very similar to what Google has been doing for years. Google displays ads and then provides advertisers with information about how many people clicked on those ads.
There are some differences between Atlas and how Google handles ads. Atlas works effectively on mobile and can even sometimes pair a user's mobile use with his or her desktop use. Generally, however, Atlas is not creepier or more intrusive than other ad networks that have been around for years.
It is arguable, however, that Facebook might know more about a user than companies like Google. That's where software like Adblock Plus comes in, for people who are concerned about that level of insight.
"While Adblock Plus applauds innovation that improves the advertising experience for the user, we firmly believe that the user should have the choice whether or not they want to be tracked and targeted," said Ben Williams from Eyeo, the company that makes Adblock and Adblock Plus.
"So, even as the dust is still settling on Facebook's announcement of the Atlas ad platform, Adblock Plus quietly issued a work-around to Facebook's newest tracking attempts.... And even if you somehow get tracked once on a single device, you'll be able to block the ads that Atlas would serve you on your next device with Adblock Plus. In short, you can break the ad circle that Facebook-Atlas is trying to connect around you."
