I’ve been using Overcast (on IOS) for years and for the most part love it, but having explored the privacy reports in its settings, I’m wondering if there is any way to actually do something about all the trackers podcasts are using these days.

I’ve tried blocking the specific trackers with AdGuard DNS, but when I do that, the podcast refuses to play at all.

Using a VPN helps to obscure some of the gross invasively personal dynamic ads, but is pretending I’m in Amsterdam really the best I can do? Doesn’t feel like it’s actually addressing the problem :/

    • smay@lemmy.smay.devEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      Overcast itself is fine to my knowledge but it doesn’t do anything on its own to protect your IP from getting to the podcast hosting servers, which do all sorts of creepy shit. The only real solution would be to tunnel your downloads through some kind of VPN or centralized download service, and those aren’t services Overcast provides so you’d have to do it yourself.

    • gojiOPEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Oh I didn’t mean to imply otherwise - Overcast is awesome.

      I guess I worded my question poorly. I’m more asking if there’s any way to block trackers without blocking the entire podcast.

      The stream/download just hangs, or errors out because it “cannot connect to creep.noteventhehost.fm” or whatever - just won’t load at all until I unblock and it’s able to do its dirty work.

      Not sure if this is even within the capabilities of a client… I’m starting to think not, and that I’ve asked a stupid question lol

      • MasterBlaster@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 year ago

        Host lost blockers should be all you need for tnsumer VN covers IP safety. I use AdAway with Magisk to get whole phone protection. I use AntennaPod and never have problems with unplayable podcasts.