Google ads getting creepier

[gregrocker]

I've been advising those seeking to Clean up factory bloatware or Clean Reinstall Windows 7 to avoid any installed Google apps and especially Google Updater as these are pernicious spyware which track your searches and paste ads everywhere you go based on what you search.

And it's getting creepier: After mentioning in an email yesterday that I am going to use a gift card at Olive Garden for two separate lunches, I have been getting big display ads next to my inbox from Olive Garden. Creepier yet is that the items displayed are for the amount of half my gift card which is what I told the giver I plan to spend at lunch.

You don't have to be paranoid to see that this is some of the creepiest Big Brother activity the web has to offer. They apparently can now parse your text to find out what you're planning then paste ads based on your day-to-day plans.

I've got no installed Google apps, no Google pages (including Youtube) which I remain signed into that I'm aware, so supposedly they shouldn't be able to track me unless they've planted a cookie. I clean the cookies and the ads remain, everywhere I go, ads for what I've been searching or even discussing.

Since we know they scan the forums in real time, I wonder if they draw their bead on me here and have associated me with my other email and searches.

 

[richc46]

Thank you for the information, Greg.

I like to travel and often search for motels, restaurants etc at the location that I plan to visit. Very often, I begin to get spam from that location for restaurants, motels and attractions. I hope that the readers of this thread take our warnings seriously and exercise utmost caution when using the net.

 

[z3r010]

While ad blocking discussion is against forum rules, opting out of "Interest based ads" is not.

If you want to stop all of the ad agency's showing you ads relevant to content that you have been viewing anywhere on the Internet then you can opt out here - Network Advertising Initiative

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks, John. It seems I have cookies from most of those agencies even though I've just cleaned them this morning. I think I'll opt out of Google to see what happens.

I've never blocked ads as I actually don't mind ads as the price paid for free services, and the software has slowed others' browsers and systems to the point I won't support it. But I get creeped out by the tracking getting into my business so intimately it's apparently now reading my email.

 

[z3r010]

Google also serves ads from many 3rd party agency's that also use interest based ads, I think you would need to opt out of the entire list for them to stop.

Also remember that the opt out is a cookie, so it's only good until you do a clean out.

 

[richc46]

Thanks for the information, I will give it a try, now.

 

[gregrocker]

Same here, and thanks again!

(Hi Rich!)

 

[stve]

I keep cookies under control by deleting them when closing my browser & I also have refuse all third party cookies set.
Opera, Chrome & Firefox also allow you to block cookies completely on individual sites.
Cookie control in IE 9 seems a bit primitive by comparison.

Anyone interested in controlling cookies & privacy online should visit
http://www.thefilterbubble.com/10-things-you-can-do

 

[Jacee]

Google also serves ads from many 3rd party agency's that also use interest based ads, I think you would need to opt out of the entire list for them to stop.

Also remember that the opt out is a cookie, so it's only good until you do a clean out.

I use CookieWall ... you can choose how you keep cookies in the app's add/remove section. You would be surprised how many cookies will pop up from just one link!

Network Downloads : CookieWall /// AnalogX

 

[BrightBlessings]

I use CookieWall ... you can choose how you keep cookies in the app's add/remove section. You would be surprised how many cookies will pop up from just one link!

Network Downloads : CookieWall /// AnalogX

Been looking for something like this. Thank you.

 

[Jacee]

Read how to use it! It's a great little application.

 

[BrightBlessings]

Read how to use it! It's a great little application.

Always do with anything new to me, less dramas that way.

 

[nithig]

Excellent thread ... I'm using CCleaner to ID what cookies are present (have blocked google updater) , applied the Network Advertsising Initiative and now read the other links. Thanks all ... it is becoming rather underhand; as Gregrocker said it's one thing to have ads to fund free content but quite another to have data miners snuck under the fence.

 

[stve]

As bad as it is on PC's its probably worse on smart phones.
Your Smartphone Is Spying on You - Yahoo! News
Carrier IQ references discovered in Apple's iOS | The Verge

 

[z3r010]

For those of you that still have a google cookie, you can see from the following link what interests and even what sex they think you are based on your browsing habits - Google Ads Preferences

 

[stve]

DuckDuckGo is a good alternative search engine that does not track you.

https://duckduckgo.com/privacy.html
https://duckduckgo.com/goodies.html
Google tracks you. We don't. An illustrated guide.
Escape your search engine Filter Bubble!

 

[M1GU31]

doesn't bother me this what google tells me

 

[seekermeister]

For one that want to use Google, but more privately, there is Scroogle Scraper:

Scroogle Scraper

It's very good, when it works. When it doesn't work, it is because Google has blocked it.

 

[HammerHead]

Cookie Wall

Jaycee.......... I'll share with you. Seen your post on cookie wall and Tried it out. I had Norton Utilities loaded also. Norton can't run when Cookie Wall is in memory. Norton must be trying to call home for a cookie and can't get it. No big loss. I like cookie wall. I deleted and reinstalled Norton Utilities a couple of times. I reloaded a couple of images from my stash. It boiled down to if I killed Cookie Wall, Norton Utilities would run. Norton Utilities is redundant with cleanups in Win plus there is always CCleaner. But there may be some other apps that clash.

 

[gregrocker]

Great, :devil2:
Cookie Monsters at war!