How does Google Adds know so much?

[milov]

It's starting to feel very Orwellian around here.

My arthritic big toe (very painful) has turned into a bunion (much less painful, thankyou bunion).

I have never 'googled' bunion.

Yet Google Adds has started hitting me with treatments for bunions.

What's going on?

Did my podiatrist rat me out?

Is Siri eavesdropping on me?

[locutus49]

If you order bunion medicine from Amazon or any other online store, Google has got you. I bought a shirt from an online store and now I see ads for that store on every website I visit. Orwellian indeed.

[AzPaul]

I seriously doubt you're being spied on.

Get some rest, Milov, you look tired.

[brandrea]

Your digital footprint is everywhere.

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Your digital footprint is everywhere.

Or digital bunion in this case.

[teqp]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Your digital footprint is everywhere.

nice one.

[jw0n]

Well, every time you're online, you leave a digital footprint. From your browser, to Facebook, to almost just about any big website you visit; you leave a trail. So let's say you search on Google for "bunion", and then you see Facebook ads for "bunion remedies" ... well, now you know why. It doesn't even have to be Google. It can be through chat on FB messenger, or something targeted over email. Or your Chrome browser, etc etc.

[milov]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

I seriously doubt you're being spied on.

Get some rest, Milov, you look tired.

Not helping!

[locutus49]

Just don't order embarrassing medicine, porn, or other such items online, or ads may haunt you for a long time, on every platform.

Originally Posted by milov

Not helping!

[CamSLC]

You leave a tag or a tracker or "cookies" whenever you visit a website or make an inquiry online. They're embedded in almost every site. It's your little online trail that populates relevant content to try and target market or improve the user experience.

There are extensions you can add to your browser that, for lack of a more detailed explanation, kinda erase your digital trail and can make your online experience more streamlined because you're not carrying as much digital baggage. Ghostery is pretty functional for this, and you can use their internal tracking system if you actually want to be targeted by ads.

[subtona]

That is a scary question and the true answer is nothing short terrifying.

[greggsiam]

What CamSLC said. Plus you can use uBlock Origin in FF or Chrome to block ads and try to reduce some tracking cookies. I install it first in all my browsers.

If you use Facebook, it is pretty nasty when it comes to tracking. As long as you are logged into FB, it will track cookies no matter what you do.

And yes, Siri, Echo, FB and all the rest are listening all the time.

[bdex75]

I don’t have Facebook for this reason. I have no reason to believe IG or LinkedIn are any better but it is scary stuff. I still get notices on other sites that “my Facebook friend” is on here or there etc. again, creepy.

The digital exhaust we all throw off is incredible. It makes us very predictable.


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[Chewbacca]

it is weird.

i googled blow up doll and got an ad for drones, rolex, and ikea.

its nuts i tells ya! nuts!

[cop414]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

it is weird.

i googled blow up doll and got an ad for drones, rolex, and ikea.

its nuts i tells ya! nuts!

Hahahaha, probably ads for professional electricians too!

[GradyPhilpott]

Tracking cookies.

https://www.symantec.com/security_re...080217-3524-99

[swils8610]

It’s not weird. It’s google. The wealth of info that google has on any person is beyond shocking. Google analytics has statistics and tracking info on anything. They change the algorithm constantly so people can’t figure it out. We buy keywords, spend money on SEO and SEM monthly. Then there is geo fencing which it really scary. Buying keywords on our competitors is a constant. The money spent is insane. Google controls the world.


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[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

it is weird.

i googled blow up doll and got an ad for drones, rolex, and ikea.

its nuts i tells ya! nuts!

No TUMI?

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by cop414

Hahahaha, probably ads for professional electricians too!

just got a IBEW ad.

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

No TUMI?

the night is young...

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

the night is young...

[greggsiam]

Originally Posted by swils8610

It’s not weird. It’s google. The wealth of info that google has on any person is beyond shocking. Google analytics has statistics and tracking info on anything. They change the algorithm constantly so people can’t figure it out. We buy keywords, spend money on SEO and SEM monthly. Then there is geo fencing which it really scary. Buying keywords on our competitors is a constant. The money spent is insane. Google controls the world.

Exactly

Also the advertising profiles for all us consumers is tracked across all devices and merchants and make incredibly accurate predictions. They don't need to listen to anything anymore, they can track or predict it. After all, Google became a billion dollar company from ad revenue.

I still have no idea how they "predicted" your bunion.

[GradyPhilpott]

Anytime I do a search on my phone, I get the "appropriate" ads on my computer.

Of course, I have a Gmail account attached to my Android phone (I forget why, but some features demand it or they don't work. I never use it.), which ensures that I get tracked across platforms.

I don't have a problem with this.

[Xiph0s]

They [Google] have a central cookie storage system that starts tracking various things about you. How it works is...different products utilize 'google ad words' which is a series of scripts that runs on each website (for instance). That shared code is able to identify you across multiple platforms using IP, browser version, hardware etc. They have an insane amount of data on you. The kicker is...companies can buy this information for better targeting.

[Mickyfin]

You can change the tracking settings in Google setting, its not quite straightforward, but there are tutorials on how to do it so Google doesn't track your every move.

[htc8p]

they spy on you using your cellphone camera, examine your health verbally and non verbally.

in the wrong hands it can be dangerous....very dangerous...

[Fredrik]

Most people I know uses adblocking(uBlock origin), ghostery(block everything), https everywhere and cookie auto-delete. You should probably also configure your browser to only accept cookies from a few select web sites where you need cookies.

This is not being paranoid, this is keeping your private information private. Note also that using any kind of social media is not a way of keeping your private information private. Use signal if you want a nice encrypted messenger app.

[gettocard]

So why do I get buxom russian ladies that want to date me ? I don’t recall purchasing a Realdoll from amazon..

[Magwitch]

Originally Posted by gettocard

So why do I get buxom russian ladies that want to date me ? I don’t recall purchasing a Realdoll from amazon..

My name is Svetlana and I vant to date you. When can vee meet?

All seriousness aside, if you carry a smart phone (which I proudly don't) you are tracked all the time and "THEY" know where you are and where you go. It's twue, it's twue!

[rdmlondon]

I find this even more intrusive and creepy.

I visited a takeout restaurant, played with twitter on my phone while waiting.

Next day Google maps asks me if I will answer a few questions on said takeaway. Never used Google or Google maps in or to get to the restaurant.

This I find beyond the pale.

Big Brother is indeed watching.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by rdmlondon

I find this even more intrusive and creepy.

I visited a takeout restaurant, played with twitter on my phone while waiting.

Next day Google maps asks me if I will answer a few questions on said takeaway. Never used Google or Google maps in or to get to the restaurant.

This I find beyond the pale.

Big Brother is indeed watching.

You need to turn off location services. Then check your privacy settings. Most people default to “I have nothing worth hiding”.