slipstream.skyscanner.net: Skyscanner’s Invasive Travel Tracker

Skyscanner’s slipstream.skyscanner.net domain tracks your activity on their travel search platform. It logs your searches and interactions to build profiles for ads and analytics, at the cost of your privacy. Let’s dive into its intrusive practices and how to stop them.

What Is slipstream.skyscanner.net?

This subdomain is part of Skyscanner’s tracking system, used to monitor user behavior on their site and app. It captures detailed data on travel preferences, often without clear consent. As Privacy Auditors, we’re alarmed by how travel platforms exploit personal search data.

Data It Collects

When you search on Skyscanner, this tracker captures:

• IP Address: Ties your activity to a network or location.
• Search Queries: Logs details of flights, hotels, or destinations searched.
• User Behavior: Tracks clicks, viewed deals, and booking actions.
• Session ID: Connects all actions in a single visit for analysis.
• Page URL: Records specific search results or booking pages.
• Referrer URL: Tracks where you came from, like an ad or referral.
• Browser Type: Captures browser details for profiling.
• Operating System: Identifies your OS, such as Android or Windows.
• Device Type: Detects if you’re on a phone, tablet, or computer.
• Timestamps: Marks every action with precise timing.

This builds a detailed map of your travel plans, open to misuse.

Who Gets Your Data?

Skyscanner shares this information with:

• Marketing Team: Uses data for tailored travel offers and advertisements.
• Third-party Ad Network: Targets ads based on your search behavior.
• Legal Authority: Complies with data requests under applicable laws.

How to Protect Yourself

Privacy Auditors are dedicated to helping you safeguard your data:

• Block Trackers: Use Privacy Auditor’s paid service to stop slipstream.skyscanner.net scripts. Verify browser extension settings.
• Hide with a VPN: Mask your IP with a VPN like Mullvad to avoid location tracking.
• Use Privacy Browsers: Switch to Firefox with strict protection or Tor Browser.
• Disable JavaScript: Turn off JavaScript to block trackers, though functionality may suffer.
• Clear Cookies: Regularly delete cookies to disrupt tracking.

Layer these defenses to minimize Skyscanner’s invasive tracking.

Sources

• Skyscanner Privacy Policy: https://www.skyscanner.com/privacypolicy

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