ConsenSys, the firm backing the crypto wallet MetaMask, stated on Tuesday that it will issue several updates while considering the consumer recoil related to data collection operations. The firm elaborated on the importance of sharing user IP-related information about MetaMask with Infura. Infura is a remote procedure call (RPC) service developed by ConsenSys for writing and reading data on the Ethereum blockchain.
ConsenSys to Update MetaMask to Cope with Privacy Recoil
In the previous month, a modification in the wording to the user agreement of ConsenSys disclosed a piece of shocking news. As per it, the data related to the consumer transactions is by default shared by MetaMask with Infura in addition to the rest of the IP addresses. The crypto community was outraged by noticing this, with some consumers voicing their apprehensions over the privacy of the transaction data.
After that, a statement was issued by ConsenSys, clarifying that the platform would just record the IP address and wallet-related information of the transactions. As per it, this would be done when the consumers of MetaMask would broadcast transfers via the RPC endpoints of Infura. In the words of Dan Finlay (the co-founder of MetaMask), the firm started recording as well as sharing the transaction data (associated with IPs) with Infura back in 2018.
According to the co-founder, the purpose behind this was to oversee the pending transactions as well as to avoid network overload. When customers got knowledge about this in the previous month, several considered it a violation of the privacy-centred approach of Ethereum. He then mentioned that the platform will put an end to logging information related to customer IPs straightly alongside the transaction data thereof to Infura.
Nonetheless, he asserted that this would put the company in more trouble in the case of tracing the transfer operation back to particular clients. In this respect, ConsenSys declared to offer some updates to the interface of MetaMask. As the firm puts it, an exclusive settings page will be rolled out by it to allow the latest consumers to select RPC providers while onboarding as well as selecting 3rd-party services.
Company Cautions Users against Infura-Bypassing Substitutes
While discussing the concerns related to the non-Infura RPCs as they got 2nd-class management on ConsenSys, the firm stated that it formerly warned the customers against unknown or rogue RPC risks. It stated that the consumers may require taking additional precautions if they intend to retain their privacy via bypassing Infura. However, it cautioned, the respective substitutes may not offer actual privacy.
