Other RPC providers, such as Alchemy, Moralis, and QuickNode, have also stated that they collect personal information from users, such as IP addresses. This appears to be an unspoken rule among RPC providers.
RPC for or against users?
Just a day after Wu Blockchain tweeted on the ConsenSys update to their privacy policy that assesses users’ IP address and Ethereum Wallet, the Chinese reporter retweeting the ConsenSys post revealed that other Remote Procedure Call (RPC) providers are also involved in collecting users’ IP addresses as it is stated in their privacy policy.
And just as ConsenSys users were not thrilled about the news, these PRC providers’ users were not having it. Due to the current crypto climate, there seems to be a growing distrust of platforms in the crypto community. However, looking at this move for or against users might not be the best approach to these changes in the crypto world.
Perhaps a good way to look at it is who this change benefits most and why it is significant to prioritize this question in issues like this.
It’s no news that big companies and tech giants have profited from leveraging people’s data to sell to advertising agencies. Bringing this thought into the crypto world, especially the advertisement part, might not add up. However, it’s either one or the other. Are these tech giants’ policies created to benefit their million users worldwide, or are they created to benefit the tech giants, pumping more benefits in for them? The case seems to be the latter because If it benefits the users more, in what way then?
It’s, therefore, no news when users begin to distrust these platforms and form several conspiracy theories around them because they understand these platforms are not out for their users but are more about their own pockets. The fall of the FTX enterprise and many other failed projects many have staked an arm on has brought a worldwide shift in how people perceive organizations and their operations. Despite the continuous assurance of transparency, people are developing cold feet in decision-making regarding crypto.
There could be a way out for users
Since the current privacy policy updates from tech giants have left users responsible for their protection and security, users should learn important ways to protect themselves during these times.
A tweet from Ethereum advocate Anthony Sassano went viral when ConsenSys posted their privacy policy update, where he explained ways users can protect their wallet address by switching RPC providers.
By going to ethereumnodes.com, users will easily find plenty of good RPC alternatives.
Another way out, proposed as the best alternative, though it requires more effort, is if users can use their full node as an RPC.
The last way is already common, but it doesn’t go without being stated. The use of a VPN. VPN is used to obfuscate users’ location and ensure users’ IP address is secure. However, though VPN can disrupt location data collection, it cannot for wallet addresses.
Source: https://crypto.news/alchemy-joins-consensys-and-infura-in-collecting-users-private-information/