Every click, search, and interaction that we do online is certain to leave a digital footprint. These data are collected and analyzed by advertisers to be used on various online platforms.
Ever searched for a product once and noticed how it started to appear as an ad for every social media platform you visited? That is the wonder of targeted advertising.
Targeted ads are endlessly in pursuit of our digital footprint to constantly feed us consumer products that are aligned with our interests. This type of advertising is powering all online experiences and businesses online.
While it is convenient to get personalized ads on our accounts, there are still concerns about individual privacy. Some users are even wary that their devices are listening to their conversations, which can cause panic.
If you want to experience a simpler online life away from targeted ads, here are some tips that will help you block ads and secure your online data like a pro:
Use Ad Blockers
Installing an ad-blocker browser extension or software will help prevent ads from being displayed on websites. Several YouTube viewers used to enjoy having ad-blockers before it was banned by the platform to boost its Premium service.
On the other hand, it is still safe to use ad blockers since they can block tracking scripts and cookies that are often used by advertisers to collect data from any website.
Adjust Privacy Settings
Every social media platform has their specific privacy settings. Some of these can be adjusted to limit the amount of personal information that you will authorize to be shared with advertisers. Some websites notify users about the scale of the shared data.
Some browsers offer opt-out options for their users. Recently, several companies have started to adopt this practice as issues regarding targeted ads have started to attract the attention of internet regulators.
Explore Private Browsers
Several private or incognito browsers offer user protection against targeted ads. These web browsers often promise end-to-end encryption for their services and prevent any cookies or history from being stored.
Although using private browsers does not make anyone invisible online, it can still mitigate the amount of information that you unconsciously share with advertisers as you browse.
You can also consider privacy-focused search engines, email providers, and messaging apps. These apps must not be reliant on advertising for revenue, most of the time they require payment but a small amount is nothing for a promise of data privacy.
Regularly Clear Cookies, Cache
As an individual, you must regularly check your browser cookies and cache. You can set a routine or schedule on when you will clear them, along with your browsing history to remove any tracking data that was stored on your device.
This will help reduce the accuracy of the targeted ads. Moreover, it will prevent advertisers from using specific information based on your online activities.
Limit Data Sharing Online
Overall, you should be more cautious about sharing personal information online. Social media companies and several websites often work together with third-party advertisers.
Make sure to stay informed on any changes to privacy policies and data breaches to ensure that you are still safe online.
Related Article : Is Your Private Browser Really Private? 5 Key Indicators to Check
