Overview
The Vendor Auto-Reject System is a revolutionary privacy feature that automatically blocks ALL vendor tracking, analytics, and data collection when you install new apps. No user prompts, no manual configuration - complete automation with defence-in-depth blocking at both the consent level and network level.
GhostFirewall automatically blocks tracking, analytics, and data collection when you install new apps. No user prompts, no manual configuration - complete automation with defence-in-depth blocking at both the consent level and network level.
Blocked Vendors
The following vendors are automatically blocked on ALL app installations:
| Vendor | Type | Data Collected | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Tracking/Analytics | Usage patterns, location, device info | BLOCKED |
| Facebook SDK | Social Integration | User profile, friends, behaviour | BLOCKED |
| Google Firebase | Cloud Services | App usage, crash data, analytics | BLOCKED |
| Crashlytics | Crash Reporting | Device info, app state, logs | BLOCKED |
| Google AdMob | Advertising | Ad targeting, viewing habits | BLOCKED |
| Unity Ads | Gaming Ads | Gaming behaviour, IAP history | BLOCKED |
Defense-in-Depth Architecture
Unlike traditional consent systems that rely on a single point of failure, GhostFirewall implements multiple layers of blocking:
Layer 1: Consent Database
- Database stores rejection records
- All vendors marked as
consent_status: "rejected" - Flag:
auto_rejected: true - Audit trail maintained for compliance
Layer 2: Firewall Rules
- Network blocking rules created for each vendor
- Rules applied at VPN level
- Flag:
firewall_blocked: true - Persistent across app restarts
Layer 3: DNS Blocking
- GhostFirewall VPN intercepts all DNS queries
- Vendor domains are blocked at the DNS level
- No data leaves your device
- Works even if app tries to bypass consent
Layer 4: Network Traffic Blocking
- IP-based blocking for vendor servers
- TCP/UDP packet filtering
- Blocks even if vendor uses direct IP addresses
GhostFirewall uses a secure backend service for vendor data and firewall rule coordination. All communication is encrypted and internal to your device network.
Privacy Benefits
- ✅ Zero Data Leakage: Vendors receive NO information about you
- ✅ No User Tracking: Cannot build behavioural profiles
- ✅ No Fingerprinting: Device info never leaves your phone
- ✅ No Location Tracking: GPS data stays local
- ✅ No Ad Targeting: Cannot serve personalized ads
- ✅ No Analytics: App usage patterns remain private
Performance Impact
- ✅ Battery Life: Improved (no background vendor services)
- ✅ Data Usage: Reduced (no vendor network requests)
- ✅ App Speed: Faster (no vendor SDK initialization)
- ✅ Storage: Saved (no vendor data cached)
Verifying Blocking
Blocking statistics are available through the GhostFirewall dashboard interface. Statistics include total vendors blocked, active firewall rules, and total blocked requests.
Technical Implementation
Android Integration
- Android Service: Backend API communication
- Content Blocker: DNS/packet filtering integration
- App Activity: Initialization on app startup
Blocking Priority
Vendor consent checks run at priority 2.5 in the blocking chain:
- Malware domains (priority 1)
- Gambling sites (priority 2)
- Vendor consent (priority 2.5) ← NEW
- Ad domains (priority 3)
- Content filters (priority 4)
Future Enhancements
- 🔄 Offline vendor cache (reduce backend dependency)
- 📊 Per-app vendor statistics dashboard
- 🌐 Custom vendor definitions (user-defined blocking)
- 🔔 Real-time blocking notifications
- 📈 Historical trend analysis