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Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,606
Registered: ‎06-27-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet

[ Edited ]

 

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This tracking is a result of cookies downloaded to your computer when you visit sites and also "remote images" which appear and notify the sender as soon as you open an email message.

 

 

Some ways you can limit tracking, if you want:

 

 

--Use a search engine which protects your privacy, like DuckDuckGo.

 

 

--Install browser addons/extensions like AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, Ghostery, BetterPrivacy, NoScript, etc.  (And disable pop-ups.)

 

 

--Disable remote image loading in your email account (however, this will cause many of your messages to show limited content) or not opening marketing email messages. 

 

 

--Clear cookies/cache/website data frequently (I do this at least once a day) and running a utiliy to remove "supercookies" (flash cookies, uber cookies).

 

 

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Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,051
Registered: ‎08-05-2011

Re: Being followed on the Internet

[ Edited ]

I place my computer on the "Private Browsing" when I am on my computer.    If I forget to place my computer on Private Browsing a site I visit will send me a email.  

Which I think is an invasion to my private areas on my computer.   Should be outlawed. 

 

Any site that does that to me I place their emails on automatic go in the trash.  I never see their emails.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,056
Registered: ‎01-30-2015

Re: Being followed on the Internet

This is S O P on the Internet...no need to be surprised... This is how business is done these days...

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,186
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet

I know that. Every time I check the weather map on weather.com it has all kinds of ads for stuff from places I have been shopping or just looking. After all that we receive emails for things we had been looking at? LOL!!! Quit following me it's annoying. It's none of your business what I'm doing on the internet. LOL!!!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,606
Registered: ‎06-27-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet

[ Edited ]

@onewhiteSparrow wrote:

I place my computer on the "Private Browsing" when I am on my computer.    If I forget to place my computer on Private Browsing a site I visit will send me a email.  

Which I think is an invasion to my private areas on my computer.   Should be outlawed. 


 

 

Private browsing basically affects the browsing history and auto-fill info.  It doesn't protect you from all cookies or other tracking the way other options can.

 

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova
Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,186
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet


@onewhiteSparrow wrote:

I place my computer on the "Private Browsing" when I am on my computer.    If I forget to place my computer on Private Browsing a site I visit will send me a email.  

Which I think is an invasion to my private areas on my computer.   Should be outlawed. 

 

Any site that does that to me I place their emails on automatic go in the trash.  I never see their emals.


 

As far as I know all Private Browsing does is disable your browsing history & cache. That won't keep these place from seeing where you are shopping or what you are doing.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,606
Registered: ‎06-27-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet


@Nightowlz wrote:

@onewhiteSparrow wrote:

I place my computer on the "Private Browsing" when I am on my computer.    If I forget to place my computer on Private Browsing a site I visit will send me a email.  

Which I think is an invasion to my private areas on my computer.   Should be outlawed. 

 

Any site that does that to me I place their emails on automatic go in the trash.  I never see their emals.


 

As far as I know all Private Browsing does is disable your browsing history & cache. That won't keep these place from seeing where you are shopping or what you are doing.


 

Exactly, @Nightowlz.  It varies depending upon the browser, but it's basically there to block the history so another person can't see what sites you've visited.  On some browsers it blocks some cookies, but it's very limited and not good protection.

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova
Honored Contributor
Posts: 46,850
Registered: ‎08-23-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet

Ladies, you need to DELETE THE COOKIES on your computer ... on a regular basis.

 

I clear my browsing history about twice a week and then go through the cookies and delete everything I don't want.

 

For example, I want my bank and credit card companies to recognize me, so I don't have to re-enter everything every single time I go on.    However, there's a lot of tracking cookies, and I always delete them.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,383
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet

They can't email you if you don't give them your email address.   

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,960
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Being followed on the Internet

I asked my daughter about this before, she said it is called retargeting ads, and very common.