Terms of Service; Didn't Read (ToS;DR) is a community-driven project that simplifies and rates the terms of service and privacy policies of various websites and online services. It uses a simple grading system (Class A to Class E) to quickly inform users about potential issues regarding their rights, data usage, and other key aspects hidden within lengthy legal documents. The goal is to increase transparency and awareness, empowering users to make informed decisions about which services they choose to use based on how those services handle their data and respect user rights. ToS;DR relies on volunteer contributions to analyze and summarize these complex documents, making them easily digestible for the average internet user.
Favicons, small icons associated with websites, are a valuable tool in OSINT research because they can persist even after a site is taken down or significantly altered. They can be used to identify related sites, track previous versions of a website, uncover hidden services or connected infrastructure, and verify ownership or association between seemingly disparate online entities. By leveraging search engines, browser history, and specialized tools, investigators can use favicons as digital fingerprints to uncover connections and gather intelligence that might otherwise be lost. This persistence makes them a powerful resource for reconstructing online activity and building a more complete picture of a target.
Hacker News users discussed the utility of favicons in OSINT research, generally agreeing with the article's premise. Some highlighted the usefulness of favicons for identifying related sites or tracking down defunct websites through archived favicon databases like Shodan. Others pointed out limitations, noting that favicons can be easily changed, intentionally misleading, or hosted on third-party services, complicating attribution. One commenter suggested using favicons in conjunction with other OSINT techniques for a more robust investigation, while another offered a practical tip for quickly viewing a site's favicon using the curl -I command. A few users also discussed the potential privacy implications of browser fingerprinting using favicons, suggesting it as a potential avenue for future research or concern.
Summary of Comments ( 22 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43533096
HN users generally praise ToS;DR as a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of terms of service. Several highlight its usefulness for quickly assessing the key privacy and data usage implications of various online services. Some express appreciation for the project's crowd-sourced nature and its commitment to transparency. A few commenters discuss the inherent difficulties in keeping up with constantly changing terms of service and the challenges of accurately summarizing complex legal documents. One user questions the project's neutrality, while another suggests expanding its scope to include privacy policies. The overall sentiment is positive, with many viewing ToS;DR as a vital tool for navigating the increasingly complex digital landscape.
The Hacker News post titled "ToS;DR" links to the website tosdr.org, which provides simplified summaries of terms of service and privacy policies. The comments section contains a robust discussion about the website and its utility.
Several commenters express appreciation for the resource, finding it valuable for quickly understanding the implications of dense legal documents. One commenter highlights the site's usefulness for comparing services based on their respect for user privacy and rights. Another describes using it as a quick check before signing up for new services, saving them time and potential headaches.
A key point of discussion revolves around the inherent limitations of simplifying complex legal agreements. Some users acknowledge that while ToS;DR offers a helpful overview, it shouldn't replace a thorough reading of the actual terms. One commenter emphasizes that the summaries are interpretations, and it's important to understand the methodology behind these interpretations. Another cautions that reliance on summaries could lead to overlooking crucial details.
The maintainability and sustainability of the project are also addressed. One commenter expresses concern about the resources required to keep the summaries up-to-date, given the frequent changes to terms of service. Another raises the question of funding and the potential influence of external parties.
Some commenters discuss specific examples of how ToS;DR has helped them make informed decisions. One user shares their experience avoiding a service with questionable data practices after checking its rating on the site. Another recounts using the resource to compare cloud storage providers and choose one with more favorable terms.
The topic of automation in summarizing legal documents is also brought up. While acknowledging the challenges, some commenters express hope for future tools that could automatically analyze and simplify terms of service. One user suggests using AI-powered summarization techniques, while another cautions about the potential biases and inaccuracies of such methods.
Finally, a few commenters provide suggestions for improving ToS;DR. These include adding more services, incorporating user reviews, and providing more context on the ratings. One commenter proposes a feature to compare the terms of service of multiple services side-by-side.