📝 Correction | Invidious wording is incorrect - you are still communicating with Google #2144

New Issue

2020-12-01T01:27:20Z

bkil commented

2020-12-01 01:27:20 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Description

If you open up a video from an Invidious instance and inspect the networking tab of the developer toolbar, you will clearly find that your video chunks are coming from googlevideo.com. Google not only sees your IP, but they know what you are watching, your connection speed, which parts you find interesting (seek/play/pause), whether you need to speed up or down for comprehension and may fingerprint you based on headers as well. I haven't checked what else they can do.

Why I am making the suggestion

The existing wording is misleading: you can keep watching videos without sharing your IP.

My connection with the software

No connection.

I will keep the issue up-to-date if something I have said changes or I remember a connection with the software.

## Description If you open up a video from an Invidious instance and inspect the networking tab of the developer toolbar, you will clearly find that your video chunks are coming from `googlevideo.com`. Google not only sees your IP, but they know what you are watching, your connection speed, which parts you find interesting (seek/play/pause), whether you need to speed up or down for comprehension and may fingerprint you based on headers as well. I haven't checked what else they can do. ## Why I am making the suggestion  The existing wording is misleading: `you can keep watching videos without sharing your IP`. ## My connection with the software  No connection. - [x] I will keep the issue up-to-date if something I have said changes or I remember a connection with the software.

👍 1

bkil commented

2020-12-01 01:43:21 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Oh, I found a hint in the documentation, this seems to be an optional feature:

https://github.com/iv-org/documentation/blob/master/Always-use-%22local%22-to-proxy-video-through-the-server-without-creating-an-account.md

As this was not obvious, I think it would be beneficial to mention this.

Oh, I found a hint in the documentation, this seems to be an optional feature: - https://github.com/iv-org/documentation/blob/master/Always-use-%22local%22-to-proxy-video-through-the-server-without-creating-an-account.md As this was not obvious, I think it would be beneficial to mention this.

👍 1

Gusted commented

2021-01-06 22:50:55 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Hi @bkil!

Please check my comment over at #2182 I think you might want to add some information to it.

Regards,
Gusted

Hi @bkil! Please check my comment over at #2182 I think you might want to add some information to it. Regards, Gusted

bkil commented

2021-01-06 23:16:21 +00:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Thank you, I think the warning is adequate from my perspective.