Big brother is listening

Algorithms link your profile with friends, family, colleagues.
Anyone of those could be searching for something that you never have.
Because of your close tech proximity to these contacts the adds will link to you.
Don’t forget what apps are for. They are not for your convenience, they collect data. They are also a battery drain.

I’ve always clicked accept cookies but will reject in future. Funnily enough I don’t get many ads targeting me, I notice if they do and it’s not often
Perhaps Big Brother has looked at my bank statement and knows I’m not worth watching!

My IT skills are weak .
But I've known about cookies for 20 years and that's what you've created .

I always reject cookies when I can, and find the "legitimate interest" thing very annoying. Does anyone know what it actually means? I don't like the thought of anyone having a legitimate interest in what I am doing or looking at, unless I have told them that they have it. There seems to be a list of "vendors" (of what?) on some sites, all claiming this legitimate interest.

I also use DuckDuckGo as my default search engine, but according to Safari, Google still seems to be trying to track me. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Just to repeat so no-one misses this:
The Secrets of Your Phone: They Don't Want You to Know
Weds (tonight) Channel 5 at 7pm

Exploring the claims that smartphones and tech companies are listening in on their users and collecting a vast amount of personal data.

What good timing!

Apparently it’s still listens when the tv is switched off

I don't have a smart speaker or TV, but since I recommended diabetic socks to a friend during a mobile phone conversation adverts keep appearing on my laptop.

On the landline, a friend was telling me about a visit to a garden centre 12 miles away that neither of us had ever visited before. For two days following, I had posts on my Facebook feed from the self same nursery. Did not even know it existed before.

There's a program on today at 7pm on channel 5 titled The secrets of your phone they don't want you to know. It could be an interesting watch and might even prove or dispell the notion that we are being listened to and if so, how.

Just been responding to the thread about the tragic incident in Cleveland. Immediately adverts for funeral plans came up beside the thread and the reply I am - It has just happened again, an advert for funeral plans has popped up beside this post - writing.

Harris27

My sister was trying to unknot a gold necklace. She must of googled it because she got all these ideas on her iPad as if she’d been looking for a gold necklace. She’d only checked it on her phone?

As an aside - if the necklace is fastened after it is taken off, it is less likely to get tangled. Being in a joined loop means the ends don't get themselves into knots as they would if they were loose.

My sister was trying to unknot a gold necklace. She must of googled it because she got all these ideas on her iPad as if she’d been looking for a gold necklace. She’d only checked it on her phone?

There is an algorithm where you’re being timed as to how long you look at a product. Ie, if you look at a product for longer than say 4 seconds you’re interested.

A couple of days ago I said something and the moment I stopped speaking my phone answered me. It was unbelievably scary 😨.

Do you think if we kept saying that we no longer wanted something that the ads would hear and follow this up? Would it work if we said that we would leave certain social media if they did not stop inundating us with adverts and articles on dementia, would it work?

It's the thought reading that spooks me!

However a previous poster reminded me that several years ago I was reading a Thomas Hardy novel and came upon a word Id never seen before (preternatural) and thereafter it was popping up everywhere! Fiction and factual. It has just come on my predictive text and I'll swear I've never used it before.

@Bluebelle I'm sorry Bluebelle they are 100% listening to you

nanna8

I have ad blockers but still they know what I am looking at. They have ways of circumnavigating things I think. Spooky beasts.

Me too, and I spent ages going through every setting on FB turning off everything that could spy on me. I did the same on my phone, in both cases following instructions from YouTube. When I look, they are definitely off. But as others have said, it is clear that when I search for, or discuss something I get ads, reels and 'you might like' recommendations based on it.

I recently remarked to my OH that the dog, who has a matronly figure, looked like a Thelwell pony. This was a face-to-face conversation. Next time I picked up my phone it had an ad for model Thelwell ponies! We do not have Alexa or anything similar. I am now afraid to open my mouth!

I have ad blockers but still they know what I am looking at. They have ways of circumnavigating things I think. Spooky beasts.

I have my Tai Chi class listed on my calendar , so I get ads for Tai Chi aps

Install an adblocker, e.g. Adblock Plus (free to download)
Reject all cookies or if it won't let you, don't use the site.
Look out for "Legitimate Interest" as well and "object" to those.
Access sites through your browser (preferably not Google!) rather than install apps.

Much appreciated.

greyfur16

So what are some simple , practical steps I can take please?

Follow the instructions in this video.

www.google.com/search?q=how+can+i+stop+being+targeted+when+i+serch+somthing&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bd5389f8,vid:tqwIy88Aw44,st:0

So what are some simple , practical steps I can take please?