How 'they' find and target you....

[Joe Bob]

Did a Google search on a specific product and service......next day my FB page has ads for the same sites I visited.

I also got spam from sites today using my screen name.

Wonder if there is some way to block this invasion.....?

[livi]

I have noticed that too. At first, extremely stupid, I was so surprised. How could the computer know I am interested in that stuff??

Better make sure not to order anything naughty.. having their ads plastered all over the screen as soon as you log on. Not very job/wife friendly.

[stomachmonkey]

It's called retargeting.

You can block it but someone announced a cookieless retargeting platform earlier this year.

Don't know how you would block that one as it relies on predictive behaviour.

Kind of how Target knows that a woman is pregnant.

[pete3799]

Happens right here on pelican now.

[Joe Bob]

How are they mining the email addresses? I can see PMs but my screen name and email?

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

How are they mining the email addresses? I can see PMs but my screen name and email?

they don't need your email address.

do you guys seriously not know this stuff? google and has been doing this for years, its very easy. google logs your search terms, and on websites that adds are placed on them (often times by google), they go back into your search criteria and post adds related to that.

its not an invasion of anything, merely a record keeping of what you have already expressed interest in on the web.

[RWebb]

spam me and you lose a customer

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

How are they mining the email addresses? I can see PMs but my screen name and email?

You would need to check the privacy policy of every site that you have ever given that information. They likely have a clause that they do not sell your info but they do share with their partners/affiliates.

Say you gave Site A your email address. Site A sets a cookie that contains your email so it can "welcome" you and facilitate logging in when you return.

You visit site B. Site B is an affiliate, "partner", of Site A. Site A shares your data, the cookie, with its affiliate, Site B.

Site B sends you email.

Even simpler if you have gmail and stay logged in.

[intakexhaust]

I go for a swim most every day and have never mentioned (until just today) or searched online, but now I get these banner ads like this. Inviting but why do they bother?

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

I go for a swim most every day and have never mentioned (until just today) or searched online, but now I get these banner ads like this. Inviting but why do they bother?

If you have your own pool, did you search for pool items such as chlorine or filter systems? That could do it. If not, then they simply read your mind....

This is why I clear out my cookies and temp internet files often. Clear them out, and you get less targetted advertising. But instead, you get the "Looking for singles" spam all over the place. rolleyes

-Z-man.

[pksystems]

The Restriced Sites tab in the Security section of IE is your friend (if you use IE)

I have a big blank section at the top of this page.

Works good on other sites that want you to pay to have less (but still some) banners

*.ad.doubleclick.net
*.googleads.g.doubleclick.net

etc...

[Outback Porsche]

There's a way to filter/block it (don't know how yet);

[Hugh R]

Was in Toronto, check flights to Toronto appear, same with Dish network, ladders, you name it.

edit: why am I getting pop up banners on movers. Is there something that I don't know?

[RWebb]

not safe in a brick store:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/business/attention-shopper-stores-are-tracking-your-cell.html?hpw

[sammyg2]

The "web search engine that shall not be named" is pure evil.
Use duckduckgo for an anonymous search engine that won't steal your info or try to sell it or you.
https://duckduckgo.com/

[Zeke]

I get ads for things I've already purchased. That's a waste of time and bandwidth. I cleared out my cache not too long ago, passwords and all. Took a little while for the ads to catch up. BUT CL kept all my searches. So I guess some info is going to stay there in your HD.

Using the incognito window in Chrome works.

[Danimal16]

I have installed AdBlock on my Mac and it really cut these ads down. Sometimes I turn it off to see how much junk it is killing.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I get ads for things I've already purchased. That's a waste of time and bandwidth. I cleared out my cache not too long ago, passwords and all. Took a little while for the ads to catch up. BUT CL kept all my searches. So I guess some info is going to stay there in your HD.

Using the incognito window in Chrome works.

Picked up vent shades for the Yukon from AutoAnything.com.

Got their catalog in the mail last week. Cool.

Got their email yesterday, shocks and sway bar package caught my eye so I clicked on it for a closer look.

Today got a targeted email about that exact set.

Unsubscribed.

I don't mind getting correspondence from places, I do mind when it makes me feel like i'm in the store being followed around by a pushy salesman.

[dan88911]

I always clear my history.

[ForBell]

I search on DuckDuckGo...the owner does not hold info, therefore, he has none to give or sell.