Pulling the Curtains on Your Electronic Window
Everyone wants to be liked. We want others to appreciate who we are, what we do, and what we’ve accomplished. We want them to want to get to know us and to learn what makes us tick. It’s basic human nature.
Today is your lucky day! There are more people than you can possibly imagine who want to know everything about you and are willing to pay for this information. They’re just not willing to pay you. And you’ll never actually meet them, either.
Have you ever noticed that immediately after shopping online for area rugs, you start to see rug ads in the margins of the web pages you visit or in the ads that appear in your Facebook timeline? Spyware and trackers are used by many companies as a marketing tool. It’s a form of adware that tracks your internet browsing habits and uses this data to deliver in-page ads targeted specifically to you.
Today is your lucky day! There are more people than you can possibly imagine who want to know everything about you and are willing to pay for this information. They’re just not willing to pay you. And you’ll never actually meet them, either.
Have you ever noticed that immediately after shopping online for area rugs, you start to see rug ads in the margins of the web pages you visit or in the ads that appear in your Facebook timeline? Spyware and trackers are used by many companies as a marketing tool. It’s a form of adware that tracks your internet browsing habits and uses this data to deliver in-page ads targeted specifically to you.
Though we all want to feel special and hope that others find us interesting, this is not what most of us have in mind. If this type of interest in your browsing habits feels intrusive, there are some software programs that can help you close the curtains on the window to your world.
Ghostery ( ghostery.com ) is a free browser add-on tool that enables you to decide which companies you trust and which ones to block. For instance, if you are an Amazon customer and don’t mind them collecting some information on you to help make your shopping experience more personalized, you can add them to your approved list. Ghostery offers a version for every internet browser you might use.
Another option is the Purify app available free for download in the iTunes store. This app is specifically for iOS systems and can double your browsing speed while cutting your data usage by as much as half. Just like Ghostery, Purify allows you to add companies to your personal approved list, referred to as “whitelisted” sites. You can also set up preferences by file types.
Tracking your internet browsing habits is not always a bad thing. Some sites use this information to recognize you each time you visit. This can save time on sites you visit frequently. The bottom line is, you need to determine how concerned you are about electronic privacy. These apps enable you to choose how much information you share and with whom you share it.
For more help understanding and blocking spyware, adware, and trackers, contact CranstonIT at 888-813-5558 or support@cranstonit.com.
Ghostery ( ghostery.com ) is a free browser add-on tool that enables you to decide which companies you trust and which ones to block. For instance, if you are an Amazon customer and don’t mind them collecting some information on you to help make your shopping experience more personalized, you can add them to your approved list. Ghostery offers a version for every internet browser you might use.
Another option is the Purify app available free for download in the iTunes store. This app is specifically for iOS systems and can double your browsing speed while cutting your data usage by as much as half. Just like Ghostery, Purify allows you to add companies to your personal approved list, referred to as “whitelisted” sites. You can also set up preferences by file types.
Tracking your internet browsing habits is not always a bad thing. Some sites use this information to recognize you each time you visit. This can save time on sites you visit frequently. The bottom line is, you need to determine how concerned you are about electronic privacy. These apps enable you to choose how much information you share and with whom you share it.
For more help understanding and blocking spyware, adware, and trackers, contact CranstonIT at 888-813-5558 or support@cranstonit.com.