Blockchain
Blockchain software program firm ConsenSys clarified that it plans to solely retailer and retain consumer IP addresses and pockets information for as much as seven days. That is an try and reassure customers that their private info is being dealt with securely, after it noticed a backlash when it first stated it was gathering such information.
“We retain and delete consumer information comparable to IP handle and pockets handle pursuant to our information retention coverage. We’re engaged on narrowing retention to 7 days and we are going to append these retention insurance policies to our privateness coverage in an upcoming replace,” it stated in a press release.
Final month, ConsenSys up to date its privateness coverage, stating that it collects IP addresses and pockets addresses of MetaMask customers after they use the infrastructure service Infura, which can be owned by ConsenSys. Infura is the default means for MetaMask customers to hook up with the Ethereum blockchain.
This instantly sparked privateness considerations. The principle one being {that a} mixture of on-chain information, like blockchain addresses and transactions, and off-chain information, like IP addresses, may be capable of determine people and cut back the quantity of privateness obtainable on the community.
ConsenSys additionally stated that it intends to restrict information assortment to on-chain transactions, not when customers merely verify their account balances. This would cut back the quantity of occasions this information is collected.
ConsenSys added that it’s going to make it simpler for customers so as to add a third-party RPC supplier in a future replace to provide customers extra selections. This is able to make it simpler for customers to make use of various companies to Infura and keep away from ConsenSys’s information assortment.