Websites want more than just your attention
The webpages you
visit can betray your privacy by prying information out of your devices
When you visit virtually any website, chances are
that the company behind that website is learning more about you. This is so
they can show you more relevant advertising or your information to other
companies who want your money. Here are eight ways websites use to pry
information out of your devices, usually without your knowledge:
1 Tracking your browsing history
The moment you land on a website that wants your
data, it’s going to start swiping your browsing and search history usually
without your knowledge. This is then used for marketing products and services
that are relevant to your online behaviour. It’s creepy, which is why you
should use a VPN where possible.
2 Super cookies
If a cookie keeps track of your site visits and
activity, then a ‘super cookie’ is one that tucks itself away from the main
cookie database. Websites use these super cookies to monitor the routines of
those who are smart enough to remove their browsing history and cache. Super
cookies are sneaky pastries that peer into the data of your other web browsers
as well.
3 Ditching anonymity
Everyone thinks they are anonymous on the internet —
and they are to a certain extent. The fact is, your real name is irrelevant to
advertisers, which is why they refer to you as a number that they have assigned
to you internally. Using this number, they can find out how much you are
willing to spend, and on what.
4 Selling your personal information
Whenever you purchase something at a store and are
asked to provide your email and/or postal address, you run the risk of that
company selling off your personal information to advertisers — it’s why you
sometimes get unsolicited emails in your inbox from senders you have never
heard of.
5 Browser fingerprinting
Your browser configuration is unique. The version you
are running, along with the plugins you have installed and their specific
versions, make it easy for sites to identify who you are through a process
called browser fingerprinting. Companies use the data, in addition to your
screen resolution, installed fonts, time zone and more, to collect information
about you.
6 Device-based pricing
There’s evidence to suggest that the prices of
products and services can increase or decrease depending on the device you are
using to shop online.
7 Social media tracking scripts
When you use a social network like Facebook or
Twitter, you are agreeing to let those companies do pretty much whatever they
want with your personal data. That includes data collected by tracking scripts
found outside of the networks themselves.
8 Browser user agent
Every time you open a website, your browser sends a
line of text to the web server, identifying both your browser and operating
system. Essentially, your browser is telling the website whether you are using
Safari on an iOS device, Chrome on Windows 10 and so on. This information can
also be used to generate targeted ads and the website can determine whether to
tailor its ads to a mobile device or a desktop.
techradar.com
ET27MAR18
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