It's Scary How Our Online Movements Are Tracked
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
January 15, 2013 3:29pm CST
There is probably a technical way of dealing with this but all I have is a Click N' Clean feature to delete my browsing history. That is, if I remember to click the button before I go to bed.
Anyway, yesterday someone on MyLot had put a discussion on about the film 'Charlotte's Web' and I responded to it, saying that I'd watched the ORIGINAL film in 1973 at the cinema with my Mum.
When I went on Ebay today what did I find?
RECOMMENDATIONS!
Which included, 'CHARLOTTE'S WEB!'
Oh my, I was shocked. I am under no illusion that our every move is tracked but this was so blatant!
Do you ever come across this? Amazon does it too and I'm SICK of Google bringing up shopping searches for them, as though no other sites/shops exist...AND I have a local search too.
I'm starting to really hate Google but the alternatives are even worse!!
Anyway, yesterday someone on MyLot had put a discussion on about the film 'Charlotte's Web' and I responded to it, saying that I'd watched the ORIGINAL film in 1973 at the cinema with my Mum.
When I went on Ebay today what did I find?
RECOMMENDATIONS!
Which included, 'CHARLOTTE'S WEB!'
Oh my, I was shocked. I am under no illusion that our every move is tracked but this was so blatant!
Do you ever come across this? Amazon does it too and I'm SICK of Google bringing up shopping searches for them, as though no other sites/shops exist...AND I have a local search too.
I'm starting to really hate Google but the alternatives are even worse!!3 people like this
7 responses
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
15 Jan 13
I make great use of the exceptions list and allow only specific cookies. All cookies are removed from my browser and computer before I go to any other site.
Adblock has subscriptions to tracker blocking lists. I'm really not sure how well it actually works, but I use it either because it's still useful in blocking other annoyances.
No script is also supposed to stop them, but some websites have found a way that forces you to allow their trackers.
The excuse I've heard is they need to be able to get an accurate count of who visits their site. Okay, but why does it also need to know about the other sites I'm using? Some of these people think we're stupid. I've been on sites that have not one but 2 , 3, or more trackers. Talk about some stalkers. .
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
17 Jan 13
It can be a pain in the butt if you don't know what scripts to let through. Of course you'd allow the webpage which usually shows up at the bottom of the list (website.com), but that's not always enough to get things to function properly.
The biggest annoyance is when you have to visit a site and end up having to allow the scripts globally because you've allowed everything and it still doesn't.
There are some pros to having it though like blocking pop ups that sneak by the popup blockers, it stops not all, but some kinds of malware attack. If you are one who watches episodes of your favorite shows on line, you might have come across the sites that force you to do offers before being give access to the video. NoScript will bypass this.
A little info about scripts http://www.ntchosting.com/script.html#What_is_a_script
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8273)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 13
I think you are right about this cookie tracking thing, Janey.
I typed in 'cupkitties' and ended up here. Amazing! 
I typed in 'cupkitties' and ended up here. Amazing! 
@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
16 Jan 13
As if I am not paranoid enough! Today for example I went to log into one of my mailers and I find someone else is logged on and in my account at the same time and they are sending a mailer out in their name and promoting their site! Trouble is I don't know how this is happening, I have deleted the account, but what if they have hacked into my other accounts. You do hear of all these stories about hackers gettin into your account. I try to get into the habit of clearing my cache etc. I do find however Firefox seems less secure than the other browsers available.
@BarBaraPrz (51823)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
15 Jan 13
I do my searching through myLot and so far I haven't run into too many "recommendations" but then, I'm not usually searching for products, just information.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
20 Jan 13
y'know,i'd noticed that too.it's quite jarring.
there has to be a cookie somewhere in the browser cache.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
16 Jan 13
It is a fact that every word that you type and every website that you visit is recorded and will be so for many years. Facebook, E Bay and others associate certain words with products in an attempt to get you to buy their goods. When you go onto the Internet you wave goodbye to your freedoms unfortunately. Proceed with care!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jan 13
Yes, I've been using Ebay a lot more lately as I've been trying to sell certain items on there..and I've noticed more of this tracking going on. It's always happened with Amazon. I even get emails from them telling me about stuff I might be interested in, based on previous searches on the site.
I'm boycotting them at the moment though.
@Orson_Kart (8273)
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 13
I haven't experienced that, but if I dare to look at things on Amazon, I then get inundated with "suggestions" to buy from them, which is either the item I was looking at or something related. Annoying to say the least.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Jan 13
Once you buy from them it's even worse as they send emails based on 'previous searches.' I know I could just unsubscribe but I don't, therefore it's my fault lol.
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
15 Jan 13
I watch the show 'Person of Interest' all the time. It's one of those shows on TV starring Jim Caviezel. The show's premise is that somebody developed a (computer) machine which tracks everything we do. It can predict when we can be in danger.
Anyway, some of the stuff in the show sounds really realistic. And things like these, were it can track our movements online is pretty much staple for the show.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jan 13
The thing is, so many of us are choosing to live this way, rather than to go out into the outside world and explore what that has to offer us instead. I predict rickets will be on the increase (as it is already in the young) as people are not getting enough Vitamin D as they're not going outside enough. The answer so far? More of the vitamin in cereals, which kids aren't eating anyway 'cos their parents cannot be bothered (in some cases) to give 'em breakfast!
