How Your Internet Data Is Being Tracked With Every Move You Make Online

Do you know that all your online activities are recorded and stored as Metadata to be analyzed and used?

Amazing isn’t it that the surfing data that was originally collected to improve browsing experience is now used to target people by marketing agencies to push advertisements. Google displays ads on the websites based on the metadata collected from your online browsing activities.

To understand this better, look at this page on Quora where someone who visited his Mom for a week and is now getting ads based on the products used by his Mom. The most interesting fact here is that the person did not order or search for those products while staying there and yet got Twitter ads about his Mom’s toothpaste.

Another similar case occurred where a wife started getting ads of what her husband was browsing. And some of the surprises that the husband had planned were not exactly a surprise for her as she stated that she had a hunch about the same. This was no hunch, no sixth sense, or any sort of supernatural phenomenon that occurred here. It was just the forces of Google, Metadata, Location, and IP Address at work.

Internet Data Tracking: Oh My God! I Don’t Know Anything About This.

Now that you have a basic idea about Internet Data Tracking, it is important to know that it is impossible not to be tracked if you are online. But using a VPN service, ad blockers, Private browsers, and search engines and enabling certain options can reduce your chances of being tracked and noted for every click you make online.

You can, of course, stop going online and sell your electronic gadgets and devices to become ‘Mr/Mrs. Untrackable’ but then you would not be able to live in the urban jungle that we are so used to. Modern cities and living styles cannot survive without the internet so instead of focusing on how not to be tracked, let us focus on how to reduce it.

How To Reduce Internet Data Tracking On Your Devices?

Here are a few points that you can consider to reduce Internet Data Tracking:

Consider using a virtual private network (VPN).

A VPN encrypts your surfing activities and can even change the geolocation of your IP address. Consider employing one to elude internet trackers as well.

Use less common and private search engines.

Some browsers are designed to secure your personal information and swear off data tracking to do so — but you may have to pay to utilize these private search engines. Startpage and DuckDuckGo are two popular examples.

Block trackers with tracker blockers.

Browser plug-ins known as tracker blockers are designed to prevent internet trackers from collecting information about you. Privacy Badger and Ghostery* are two popular examples.

Make use of an ad blocker.

Ad blockers, another browser add-on, perform exactly what their name implies: they block adverts. While this will not prevent your data from being gathered, it will prohibit you from receiving targeted adverts as a result of website tracking. One important free ad-blocker is StopAll Ads.

Act as if you’re not there.

When you surf in a window, your browser should not save any cookies. Nonetheless, because your IP address is required, it will be visible to every site you visit.

The Final Word On How Your Internet Data Is Being Tracked With Every Move You Make Online.

Before I conclude this post let me tell you that unless you are online on the internet via, ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, or whatever technology you use, you can always be tracked. It is not only online shopping, movie streaming, social media, and surfing websites that track your movements but also connecting your devices just for updates can result in your IP address and location being tracked.

Here are answers to a couple of questions that are quite commonly asked.

Is it legal to track Internet data?

Yes, it is! In the United States, there is no government consumer tracking regulation; nevertheless, the Federal Trade Commission’s Behavioral Advertising Principles require that websites explain data collecting policies that are used to develop targeted marketing.

Should I worry about Internet Data Tracking?

Honestly, No! Unless you are paying your taxes and doing something that is against the laws of your country, there is nothing to be worried about by certain organizations collecting your data. The only issue would be the advertisements that would tempt you to purchase things even if you don’t require them. For that, I would say you can use ad-blocker extensions or develop a really powerful self-control attitude.

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