Ethereum wallet MetaMask exposes your transaction history to third parties
Ethereum wallet MetaMask exposes your transaction history to third parties. Is that really such a big deal? | Source: ShutterstockWho Cares if Crypto Wallet MetaMask Exposes Your Ethereum History?
HomeAltcoin NewsWho Cares if Crypto Wallet MetaMask Exposes Your Ethereum History?
ethereum crypto metamaskEthereum wallet MetaMask exposes your transaction history to third parties. Is that really such a big deal? | Source: ShutterstockWho Cares if Crypto Wallet MetaMask Exposes Your Ethereum History? P. H. Madore 01/04/2019 Altcoin News, Bitcoin Security, Crypto, News
Several outlets and crypto programmers have pointed out for a year or more that MetaMask, by default, broadcasts your Ethereum public key (address) to websites you visit. The assumption is that this is a privacy vulnerability – most sites have no need for such information, after all.
The Next Web’s David Canellis writes:
“Sharing Ethereum addresses with any tracking service that requests it is certainly a little unsettling, but there are wider implications. Think of your Ethereum address as a unique identifier, you want to keep it separate from the rest of your online footprint at all times.”
PUBLIC ADDRESSES IN ETHEREUM ARE STATIC
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I’m not concerned that my Ethereum transaction history is public. | Source: Shutterstock
I question this logic. Public addresses are public for a reason. Indeed, the information should only be available on request, which is why MetaMask created privacy mode. However, the actual next web – the blockchain-enabled internet – is going to require wallets like MetaMask, Shutter, and TronLink.
More and more websites are going to have uses for the data these extensions can provide. Public keys can be used for more than just sending money. Signatures can be granted. Do you know how you grant all those sits permission to store cookies by clicking a button? Comp
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