e2c22.gcp.gvt2.com: How Google Cloud Tracks Your Every Move

The domain e2c22.gcp.gvt2.com is tied to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), a service used by apps and websites to host data and functionality. While it operates in the background, it aggressively collects data on your behavior and device details to fuel Google’s vast profiling machine. As Privacy Auditors, we’re here to break down what this tracker does and how it invades your privacy.

What Is e2c22.gcp.gvt2.com?

This subdomain falls under Google’s gvt2.com, often linked to cloud services and data collection for apps or websites hosted on GCP. It silently monitors users to gather information for analytics, advertising, or app functionality, often without clear consent. Its presence has been flagged in forums like Reddit and Kaspersky as a suspicious tracker, and we agree—it’s a privacy threat.

Data It Collects

When an app or site connects to e2c22.gcp.gvt2.com, it grabs a wide range of personal data, including:

• Geolocation: Pinpoints your location via IP or GPS, down to street level.
• IP Address: Logs your digital identifier, tying you to a physical place.
• Device Identifiers: Captures hardware details like ‘Pixel 7’ and unique IDs.
• Google Advertising ID (GAID): Tracks you across devices for ad targeting.
• Browser Fingerprint: Records browser version and rendering data for unique profiling.
• User-Agent String: Notes specifics like ‘Mozilla/5.0 (Android 13; Mobile)’.
• Network Information: Logs carrier (e.g., ‘Verizon’) and connection (e.g., ‘5G’).
• Session Data: Links actions to a session ID for continuous tracking.
• Timestamps: Marks every action with millisecond precision.
• Cookie IDs: Uses cookies to track you across sites and visits.
• Page URLs: Records full addresses, including query strings.
• Referrer URLs: Tracks where you came from, like a search or ad.
• Operating System: Identifies ‘Android 14’ or ‘Windows 11’.
• Screen Resolution: Logs display size like ‘1080x1920’.
• Language Settings: Captures browser language (e.g., ’en-US’).

This data builds a comprehensive picture of who you are and what you do online, often without your knowledge.

Who Gets Your Data?

Google doesn’t keep this data to itself—it’s shared widely:

• Google’s Real-Time Bidding (RTB) System: Feeds geolocation and device ID to adtech companies for targeted ads.
• Google Cloud Platform Client: Shares data with the app or site developer using GCP.
• Third-Party Advertiser or Partner: Distributes data through Google’s ad ecosystem for profiling.
• Government Entity: Per Google’s 2024 transparency report, data like IP addresses and ad IDs are handed over in 80% of over 175,000 U.S. law enforcement requests.

How to Protect Yourself

At Privacy Auditors Institute, we’re dedicated to shielding your privacy from trackers like e2c22.gcp.gvt2.com. Here’s how to fight back:

• Block Trackers: Use Privacy Auditor’s paid service to stop scripts from this domain. Check your browser extensions for tracker blocking.
• Use a VPN: Hide your IP with a VPN like Mullvad to prevent location tracking.
• Switch to Privacy Browsers: Browse with Firefox (strict tracking protection) or Tor for anonymity.
• Disable JavaScript: Block tracking scripts by turning off JavaScript in browser settings or with tools like NoScript, though some sites may break.
• Clear Cookies: Regularly delete tracking cookies to disrupt cross-site monitoring.

Combine these steps for stronger defense. A VPN alone won’t stop data collection, but it’s a vital tool alongside Privacy Auditor’s services.

Sources

Our information is based on the following:

• Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
• Google Transparency Report: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview
• Netify AI Hostname Info for e2c22.gcp.gvt2.com: https://www.netify.ai/resources/hostnames/e2c22.gcp.gvt2.com

This is a legal disclaimer. All information is provided for educational purposes only.