We all know about ads, right? Those things that pop-up on our social media feed that happen to be quite similar to what we were searching for on a shopping website or app. Maybe even ads are similar to what you were just talking about with a friend moments before. That’s because ad services on your smart devices (phones, computers, hubs, assistants, tvs, and more) are always learning about you. This data is often collected and transmitted to discover your likes and wants. The telemetry is used to provide ads with a higher conversion rate as it’s not a random product, but rather something you searched for, talked about, or wanted. While not all ad services can be turned on as it impacts the bottom line for many smart device manufactures, who generally make money from selling data on devices you use, it can often be limited.
Areas you should look in for ad services, analytics, and telemetry settings and then TURN OFF:
- Apple phone settings
- Google/Android phone settings
- Email account settings
- Windows account settings
- Apple computer account settings
- Browser settings
- App settings (on installed applications)
- Automobile settings (yes, your vehicle collects data too!)
Every app, every browser, every program, every smart device will generally have a settings area. In that settings area, look for “privacy” or “ads” and turn off ad measurement, ad telemetry, optional data sharing, and other data collection settings or services that are not required for safe and proper use.
Worried about your digital privacy? Check out some quick tips here.
Want to learn even more? Look at our full collection of guides and tips here.