Targeted adverts on the internet can seem invasive and leave you feeling you are being followed. Here's how to reduce them.
On a computer
Use Incognito mode (also known as Private Browsing) when shopping online so that cookies (the little bits of data left on your computer when you visit web pages) aren't saved on your device.
Even if you use Incognito mode, clear your cookies regularly. Head to your browser's Settings menu, tap on Advanced and look for the section marked 'Clear browsing data'.
On smartphones and tablets
Mobile apps use AdvertisingIDs rather than cookies to track what you do online. Resetting this is equivalent to clearing cookies.
Open the Settings menu, then on an iPhone select Privacy, followed by Advertising, then press Reset Advertising Identifier. Also ensure that Limit Ad Tracking is switched on.
On an Android smartphone, choose Google from the Settings menu, then Ads and Reset Advertising ID. Also ensure that Opt-out of interest-based ads or Opt out of Ads Personalisation are switched on.
If your apps can access features like the microphone or your contacts (and they don't need them to function), they may be using them to sell information on you to advertisers. Revoke these permissions in the Settings menu.
On an iPhone, select Privacy followed by the feature, such as the Microphone, then use the slider to revoke the app's access.
On an Android device, choose Apps, Permissions and again select the specific feature and use the slide device.
Google and Facebook
Google and Facebook let you turn off ad personalisation so that your online activity and information shared with these services is not used to personalise adverts. On Facebook, open the Settings menu, then choose Settings from the Settings and Privacy section. Tap Ads, the Ad Settings. For Google, visit myaccount.google.com/data-and-personalization to do this.
Don't stay signed in when using Chrome and other Google services. This helps reduce your online footprint.
Source: In Good Housekeeping, Nov. 2019.
