Browser trackers are like little digital spies hiding in websites.
They quietly gather information about what you do online. As you visit different websites, these trackers record your actions and interests. Think of them as curious onlookers trying to understand your online behavior. Some websites sell your private data. This is why you get spam, unwanted mail and, even more important, how your personal information could end up on the dark web.
How Do They Work?
When you’re tracked online, a tracker, such as a cookie, is inserted into the code of the website you’re visiting. When you visit different websites, these trackers record your actions and interests. They create a digital fingerprint of your online identity, which includes details about your computer and browser settings. Advertisers then use this fingerprint to show you ads they think you’ll find interesting.
It is believed that your data is shared with as many as 70 third parties when a website has embedded trackers. Furthermore, Google has trackers on more than half of all online traffic.
The two main reasons why you’re tracked online are…
ANALYTICS: Admins like to know how you interact with their website. This may help them position buttons better on certain pages, see what websites users came from previously, etc.
ADVERTISING: Tracking is a valuable opportunity for most website owners. Especially if they’re able to target you with online ads for similar products or remind you to buy something they’ve seen you look at elsewhere.
What information do trackers collect about me?
If you thought trackers only tracked what you were browsing online, think again. Whatever you were browsing is also linked to your IP address, which is linked to your network and can be used to find your approximate location.
Here are some of the things websites and trackers know about you:
YOUR BROWSING HABITS: Trackers keep records of what websites you visit, what ads you click on and what you purchase.
YOUR IP ADDRESS: An IP address is a number assigned to your de- vice. It can recognize you when you return to sites you’ve already visited and give access to your location.
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION: Any information that you give a website like your name, age, gender, and address can be stored and used to create a profile on you.
How to Block Trackers and Ads
Regain some sense of privacy and stop trackers from getting their hands on your confidential information.
USE AD AND TRACKER BLOCKERS: Ads help to collect information about you. You can download an Ad and/or tracker blocker as a browser plug-in.
MANAGE COOKIES: Regularly review and clear cookies and configure your browser to restrict third-party cookies.
USE A PRIVATE SEARCH ENGINE: Google tracks nearly half of all internet traffic in the world. Luckily, others have created alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo and MetaGer that don’t track users and let you browse anonymously.
BROWSE IN INCOGNITO/PRIVATE WINDOW: Use private browsing modes to prevent your history, cookies, and data from being stored.
MIND WHAT YOU SHARE: Be cautious about sharing sensitive information online, especially on sites you’re unfamiliar with or have unclear privacy policies.
USE A VPN: Enhance privacy with a VPN, encrypting your connection and masking your IP address.
Tracking isn’t a necessity
By growing indifferent to online tracking, we’re in danger of creating a culture where it’s OK for our information, including every move and habit to be monitored and used. This means that huge amounts of our data are left dormant in databases all over the world, presenting very lucrative opportunities for hackers and cybercriminals.
You deserve to feel safe online
Whether you’re browsing, working, or gaming…You need to Protect Your Privacy! We’ve got you covered with IDShield!
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Article written by Leslie Udy of Legal Shield and ID Shield.
For coverage information or questions on how to make the LegalShield & IDShield Protection available for your employees contact:
LESLIE UDY | LegalShield / IDShield
Executive Director | Group Benefits / Identity Theft Risk Specialist
PHONE | (801) 830-3629
EMAIL | leslieudy.legalshield@gmail.com
