Are you worried that using the internet could be costing your privacy because websites track you?
Whether you love online shopping or you’re an amateur gamer, it’s entirely possible that the websites you use could be storing your data. Most sites track (or ask to track) aspects of your online behavior, including your browsing habits and the type of products you usually want to buy.
This influences your internet experience in various ways, which we’ve discussed below.
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What is online website tracking?
Your cell phone and your computer are both responsible for elements of data collection. Most users are totally unaware of just how much information is collected—and sometimes this can happen behind the scenes.
On a surface level, background tracking impacts the targeted ads that you see on your browser. But there’s more going on than you can visibly notice too. Just a few commonplace tracking methods include:
- Cookies are very small files of text, stored by your device to remember information about how you used a website. Next time you click on that site, your computer will personalize the experience. They help to deliver recommended offers, for example. You can choose to opt out.
- Browser fingerprinting is a technique where websites will combine and collect different aspects of the settings on your browser and device. This helps to identify who you are and how you user certain websites.
- IP tracking is where websites will identify and collect the IP address of your device. It’s an automated process and usually legal too, but there are a few ways you can stop it happening.
Why does online privacy matter?
No matter how you use the internet, it’s worth keeping yourself and your personal information safe.
Excessive website tracking and data collection could potentially carry very serious consequences, including your data being sold to unknown third parties. In the worst-case scenario, this could lead to identity theft and cybercrime.
And while it may not be dangerous, once a website gets to know your shopping habits, you might miss out on the best deals. That’s because pricing algorithms change according to demand and search history.
How to Track Your Data Benefits Companies
Tracking user data mostly depends on companies’ ability to run better and increase profitability. Here is a deeper view of the ways companies use the information they acquire:
Personalized User Experience
Companies want every contact to seem customized to certain consumers. Analyzing your behavior—that of the sites you visit, the objects you look for, and your search terms—helps you to encounter something more interesting and relevant. As follows:
- E-commerce Platforms: Based on your browsing past, they suggest goods like what you have seen or bought.
- Streaming Services: Platforms like Netflix or Spotify examine your watching or listening habits to recommend series, movies, or playlists you might like.
While this personalizing makes your stay on these sites more fun, privacy issues inevitably follow.
Marketing with Targeting
Data monitoring helps the advertising sector as much as it does others. Advertisers may create more likely to grab your attention advertising by gathering data such your age, location, tastes, even the time you spend on certain websites. Examples consist of:
- Social Media Advertising: Facebook and Instagram examine your interactions to create advertising that fits your interests.
- Search Engine Marketing: Using your search history and surfing habits, Google shows adverts relevant to your searches.
Targeted advertising may seem invasive, particularly if advertisements appear to know too much about you, even when it could help you find items or services of interest.
Market Information and Corporate Development
Monitoring helps businesses thoroughly understand customer behavior, preferences, and trends. This material is priceless for:
- Product Development: Businesses seeing market shortages create fresh goods or services to satisfy demand.
- Competitive Edge: Knowing customer behavior helps businesses improve their plans and beat rivals.
An online store may, for example, see that consumers leave their baskets because of expensive delivery charges and then start offering free shipping.
Strategy of Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic pricing means changing the cost of products and services depending on demand, geography, or browsing behavior. For instance:
- Airlines Tickets: The price may frequently be affected by your location and the number of times you have searched for a certain trip.
- Ride-Sharing Services: Ride-sharing companies like Uber apply surge pricing using real-time data during moments of great demand.
This approach increases revenues for companies, but it might seem exploitative for customers who wind up paying more because of their browsing activity.
How can I browse anonymously?
There are a few ways to keep yourself safe.
Ideally, you should download a VPN for Windows or an iOS-compatible equivalent: this allows you to shield your IP address and other device data from all websites. It’s one of the easiest tools to use for upgrading your privacy.
Here are three top tips for maintaining good levels of personal online security:
- Clear your cookies regularly
- Adjust your browser settings to limit data sharing
- Block trackers and pop-ups wherever possible
Anti-virus and VPN browser extensions will do the most to keep your browsing experience private and secure, especially when websites track your activity. With that, you can shop and play with total peace of mind.
