Linda recently called my national radio show with a question that my inbox has flooded. It is clear that many of you have experienced a similar creepy moment.
“I was shopping at Walmart yesterday, looked at kitchen knives. I called my friend and told her where I was in the store. I didn’t buy the blades. Today I received one E -Mail ads The knives I looked at! How did that happen? I never looked online knives. “
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I hear you, “Kim, her phone listened!” The answer is not that simple, but I can explain what is really going on.
Your digital path
Even if Linda never searched for knives online, her smartphone was busy collecting data. Your phone will follow your location, not only via GPS, but Also WiFi and Bluetooth signals.
A woman is depicted texting on her phone. (Istock)
If you have connected to the WiFi of a store or with Bluetooth, Walmart and other retailers can follow your movements. They know where you stand in the store. They also know that you did not buy the blades.
Retailers sell this information to advertising networks that then collaborate with data brokers to get your e -mail address. Bingo. Linda received an e -mail from the Knife Company. I bet she will also start seeing online advertisements for knives and related items.
But wait, there is more
Facebook, Instagram, Google and Weather apps follow your location even when you are performed in the background. If you have granted them location access, they know where you are and use that information later to serve you advertisements.
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You will be secretly followed by 3 settings on your phone
Throw ai in the mix
There is a good chance that Linda will now receive e -mailpitchen and see advertisements on social media for new cutlery, charcuterie -boards and cooking lessons. This is How AI-driven Advertisement works. It costs one interest (kitchen knives) and expands it in related categories.
How you can protect your privacy
There is a lot that you cannot check in this entire tracking hoop. That makes it even more important to do what you can do.
The Google logo will be displayed on 2 September 2015 at Google’s head office in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty images)
Delete your digital bread crumbs
Don’t logged in on GoogleFacebook, Amazon, etc. while you are shopping. The easiest way is to open a new incognito or private window that is independent of the accounts in which you are signed.
Here you can read as standard how you can start your browser in the Incognito mode:
- Drag the Chrome icon on a PC from your start menu to the desktop to make a shortcut. Then right -click and select Show more options > Features. There you can see the URL string under “Target”. Add -incognito Until the end.
- Click on Safari for Mac, click Institutions > Generally > Safari opens with a private window.
- For Android, tap and hold the browser icon and then select Open on private tab.
- Hold on iPhone and hold the icon of your browser and choose New private tab (for Safari) or Search incognito (for Chrome).
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I advise you to regularly erase cookies on your phone. If you’ve never done that Here are the steps.
Management location follow
- Switch out location tracking for retail apps in the settings of your phone.
- Switch Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off when it is not used.
- Avoid public WiFi, because retailers use it to register your visit.
A close-up shot from a woman who uses a laptop while working from home. (Istock)
Adjust your advertisement settings
- Visit Google AD settings Turn off AD personalization.
- Update Advertising approval on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon and the rest.
View app -permissions
- Switch off the microphone access for apps such as Facebook and Google.
- Limit the background -app -tracking in the settings of your phone.
It is a creepy feeling when things like this happens. Remember that this combination of retailers, advertisers and data brokers are trying to spend money.
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