joe_padavano

Yesterday I booked a hotel room on line for my trip to L.A. next week. Today the banner ad on Classicoldsmobile is an ad for Embassy Suites asking me if I want to book a hotel room in El Segundo? Well, as it turns out, I checked the Embassy Suites site before booking elsewhere. Obviously the website is mining Google Chrome history for personal information.

MDchanic

It's probably accessing marketing cookies left by the hotel company -

If Embassy Suites sets a cookie with your search information when you visit their site, and allows access to that cookie by specific marketing companies, then when you log on to CO, DoubleClick or a similar banner ad provider checks for cookies that are accessible to it, finds the cookie from the hotel search, and selects an ad to display in that space on CO.

It's all for your benefit, of course...

- Eric

don71

Yep, you'll get ads targeted at you after searching specific things. Like "laptops" or "PC s" or automobiles etc, as you have found out.

Its not just this site. So don't think you're are alone. Its the nature of the wonderful web, no matter what you are interested in, or what sites you explore. Its pretty much all of it.

jensenracing77

i have had the same thing here.

stevengerard

yep, and unfortunately sometimes it makes searching even harder now-a-days as sometimes one wants more of a random search result and you can't get it as Google tries to anticipate your results based on history. It makes searching for odd car parts impossible sometimes.

MDchanic

So THAT's why I keep getting results for Nevada bordellos...



- Eric

Lady72nRob71

Firefox has a 'do not track' addon not sure if your google one has this ability...

BILL DEMMER

i never see ads...
firefox with adblock plus.


bill

Lady72nRob71

And if you think that kind of tracking is bad, there is this...
http://consumerist.com/2012/12/04/ve...-you-with-ads/
Geez...

MDchanic

And, of course, the NSA would request access to all those feeds as a "courtesy," and stockpile all the data (which isn't "intercepted," by their definition, unless a human being actually looks at it), "just in case."

Don't wear the same socks twice, or you'll get an e-mail from Big Brother.

"Geez" ain't the word.

- Eric

Lady72nRob71

All the reason to ban anything with cameras in my house...

MDchanic

Or at least keep a roll of electrical tape handy.

Intragration

I didn't follow the link, so I don't know what it says, but I work in IT and FWIW, word is that Chrome is the worst browser as far as privacy and tracking. Firefox would be the "independent", if you like that sort of thing, no idea how it rates on privacy. I use IE for the same reason I use cast iron heads.

MDchanic

Because you like it slow, heavy, and inefficient?



- Eric

Lady72nRob71

Well, google IS an advertiser, so I can see why...
One of the reasons I chose firefox. I have enjoyed it and can live with the few quirks it has.

BIGJERR

Cookies= Tracking?

Intragration

Ha ha exactly! I know, I know, I'm a dinosaur. I have no argument. I haven't gone extinct yet. And yes Bigjerr, cookies to some extent are for tracking. But they are also used to store things locally for various websites so that you get a consistent experience.

442

Joe, is there anything Olds related going on in LA next week? I will also be in LA next week.

Richard.

Nunyadam Biz

Verizon wants to listen in as well..
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2...r-set-top-box/

garys 68

Next time try search cheaper motels.
They dont offer complimentary continental breakfasts, pillow mints, or cookies

Lady72nRob71

Looks to be the same devices as I referred to in the post above.
Such devices will not make it into my house if they become that snoopy.
I do not have cable or satelite anyway and at this rate I may never get them. Nothing good on for the $$...

MDchanic

Any way I could get you to explain that to my wife?

- Eric

GAOldsman

I recommend AdBlock Plus and Do Not Track Plus from Firefox

This is what is tracking you from here from "Do Not Track Plus" Firefox add-on


2 ad networks tracking you: 2 blocked

6 companies tracking you: 6 blocked

• eXelate [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here
• Google Analytics [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here
• Doubleclick [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here
• Comscore Beacon [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here
• Kontera ContentLink [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here
• VigLink [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here

GAOldsman

Also


3 social networks tracking you: 3 blocked
[IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/social.png[/IMG]

• [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/tweet.PNG[/IMG] Twitter Badge [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here
• [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/plusone.PNG[/IMG] Google +1 [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here
• [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/like.PNG[/IMG] Facebook Connect [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Blocked here

And



2 ad networks tracking you: 2 blocked
[IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/adnetworks.png[/IMG]
Advertising opt-out cookies are ON. [IMG]chrome://DoNotTrackPlus/content/images/accept.gif[/IMG] Turn OFF

• eXelate Media
• Dedicated Networks

Erinyes

Ghostery is a good privacy tool, as well. Here's what it reports (and blocks) on this page:

DoubleClick
ad.doubleclick.net/adj/classicOldsmobile.tmus/category;category=New_User_Forums__Site_Related__S ite_Suggestions;topic=CO%20tracking%20personal%20i nformation;kw=top;dcopt=ist;abr=!webtv;tile=1;sz=7 28x90;ord='%20+%20ord%20+%20'?

ad.doubleclick.net/adj/classicOldsmobile.tmus/category;category=New_User_Forums__Site_Related__S ite_Suggestions;topic=CO%20tracking%20personal%20i nformation;kw=bottom;abr=!webtv;tile=4;sz=728x90;o rd='%20+%20ord%20+%20'?

eXelate
loadus.exelator.com/load/?p=258&g=045&c=28632

Facebook Connect
connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1

Google +1
apis.google.com/js/plusone.js

Google Analytics
ww.google-analytics.com/ga.js

InternetBrands
pxl.ibpxl.com/v2.js

Kontera ContentLink
kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/KonaLibInline.js

Reddit
ww.reddit.com/static/spreddit1.gif

ww.reddit.com/static/spreddit1.gif

Twitter Button
platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

VigLink
cdn.viglink.com/api/vglnk.js

joe_padavano

Not that I'm aware of. I have a series of meetings for a program that I'm working.

joe_padavano

I like to tell workers that I still drive a car with a carburetor, so when the EMP comes, my car will still run. A co-worker finally called me on it, pointing out that my car (the 84) still has HEI (the CCC system is long gone). Well, the 62 still has points in it for now.

redoldsman

I recently purchased some Stewart Warner gauges on ebay. Yesterday I get an email for Amazon offering Stewart Warner gauges. Coincidence? I think not. To me, it is very scary.

70W-32

But its what the sheeple want.

At least thats how they spin it. It enhances your web experience, its intuitive, does your thinking for you.

MDchanic

Thinking? 8-|

- Eric

rustyroger

Let's not forget it's the adverts that keep this site free to use, you can add adblockers if you want, most of us don't bother and put up with the ads instead.

Roger.

11971four4two

http://www.abine.com/how-donottrackme-works/

Boldsmobile

Roger, i would prefer to pay and not see the ads. As i type this i have some stupid as that says congratulations i am the 100,000th visitor. Click here to win. It is flashing like the old Pokemon Show and is about to send me into a seizure.

MDchanic

So use an ad blocker, as already mentioned.

- Eric

Octania

It's all good...
I bought a DeWalt power tool thru Amazon.
Next visit, all manner of DeWalt power tools presented to me for my perusal.

DUH

I already bought what I needed. Out of money. Not buying more.

A better idea might be related products like drive bits, after you bought the big item.

starfire

My thoughts exactly. What really cracks me up is a few weeks after I bought a brand new Chevy Cruze, I got a mailing (snail mail) from Chevy addressing me as a new Cruze owner and suggesting that I buy a new Chevy. Like I could afford another car right after buying one. Sheesh.

oldcutlass

Wait.... I've been the 100,000th visitor for weeks. The problem with the targeted adds is even though you opt out, or block them, you are still going to get an add there even if it's not targeted.

Boldsmobile

Thanks for pointing out the obvious, what is the obvious solution when you can't install an adblocker?

ThePackRat

Any particular reason why you can't install one ?.

Also (not directing this at you personally) :

While you can't even begin to really fight off ads without some sort of adblocker ...

People's could at least spare themselves some of the TRACKING drama if they would simply CLEAN THEIR WEB BROWSERS INCLUDING ALL COOKIES on a regular basis.

Yes some cookies are in fact needed & NECESSARY ... but many simply exist for the sole purpose of SPYING on you.

The convenience of saving what one feels are legit cookies ...

So one can spare themselves a whopping 5 seconds from having to log back in to sites they visit regularly doesn't help either.

I'm sure the trackers bury stuff in those so-called "legit" cookies as well.

Just say NO ..... to letting things pile up in your web browser.

Educate yourself as to the best settings - when to clean/not to clean etc etc.

RetroRanger

Ill guess IPAD or MAC so no adblocker my ipad is convienient to surf w but a PITA to get anything done with