🔒 Cookies, Trackers and Ads: What They Know About You
Every time you browse the internet, you leave behind a digital footprint. Websites, advertisers, and companies collect information about you in ways you might not even realize. In this article, we'll take a simple look at how this tracking happens, what data is collected, and what you can do to protect yourself.
📋 Article Contents
- 🍪 What are Cookies and How do they work?
- 👁️ What Are Trackers and How Do They Track You?
- 📊 How Your Data Is Used
- 🎯 How Targeted Ads Work
- 🔍 What They Really Know About You
- 🛡️ How to Protect Your Privacy
- ⚙️ Privacy Settings in your Browser
- 🚫 How to Block Cookies and Trackers
- 📱 Protection on your Mobile
- ✅ Best Practices for Safe Browsing
🍪 What are Cookies and How do they work?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Think of them as little notes that the website leaves on your device to remember you the next time you visit.
Why do cookies exist? They are created to make your browsing experience easier and more personal. For example, they allow an online store to remember what you have put in your cart, or a website to remember that you are logged in to your account.
Example: When you log in to your email and select "Remember me", a cookie is stored on your device so you don't have to re-enter your password every time.
There are different types of cookies:
- Necessary cookies: Without them the website would not function properly (e.g. the shopping cart).
- Preference cookies: They remember your choices, such as language or font size.
- Statistics cookies: They record how you use the website to improve it.
- Advertising cookies: They track your movements to show you more "relevant" ads.
Important: Today, many websites are required to inform you and ask for your consent before storing cookies, in accordance with data protection regulations (GDPR).
👁️ What Are Trackers and How Do They Track You?
Trackers are small pieces of code that monitor your online behavior. Think of them as invisible observers recording your every move.
How do they work; When you visit a website, codes from third-party companies (such as major social media platforms or advertising networks) are often loaded. These codes record:
- Which pages do you visit and how long do you stay on them?
- What points do you click on?
- What are you looking for on the internet?
- What device are you accessing from (computer, mobile, tablet).
- Where you are geographically located (via your IP address or location).
Caution: The average website can have 10-20 different trackers from different companies. This means that your single visit is recorded by many different sources, which combine your data to create a more complete profile.
📊 How Your Data Is Used
The information collected about you doesn't just sit there unused. Companies use it in a variety of ways that affect your daily online experience:
1. Create a profile: From all the data they collect, they create a digital profile about you. This profile includes your interests, your habits, your financial situation, and many other details that characterize you.
2. Sale to third parties: Many companies sell or share this data with other businesses, so your information may end up with companies you don't even know exist.
3. Service improvement: Some data is used to improve services. For example, YouTube learns what videos you like so it can recommend more relevant and interesting content to you.
4. Targeted advertising: The most common use is to show you ads that match your interests. That's why you see ads for shoes right after you search for shoes!
🎯 How Targeted Ads Work
Targeted ads are ads that are tailored specifically to you based on your online behavior. They work in a very smart and organized way:
The script: Let's say you're looking for a bike. You visit 3-4 online stores, read reviews, see prices. You decide to think about it and close the browser.
What happened behind the scenes? The trackers recorded your interest in bikes. Now, the advertising companies know that you are a potential customer. The next day, wherever you go online, you will see ads for bikes!
Did you know that: Companies pay more money to show you ads when you've shown interest in a product. This is called "remarketing" and is considered one of the most effective techniques in online advertising.
Targeted ads aren't just based on what you're searching for right now. They take into account:
- Your age and gender (estimate, not always accurate).
- Your general interests.
- The time of day you usually shop.
- The device you are using (computer, mobile, tablet).
- Your location, so they can show you local offers.
🔍 What They Really Know About You
The answer is: more than you might think. Let's look at some examples:
Personal information: Name, email, age, gender, location. If you've signed up for services, they may even have your phone number or address.
Browsing habits: Which websites you visit, how often, at what time, and for how long. They can know if you prefer to read news in the morning or evening.
Interests and hobbies: From your searches and the pages you visit, they understand what you're interested in. If you read about running, guitar lessons, or recipes, that's recorded.
Financial situation: From your online purchases, they can estimate your income. If you're looking for luxury products or deals, this gives them an idea of your wallet.
Social relations: Social networks know who your friends are, your family, where you go and what you do. All of this information is combined to form a complete picture of who you are.
Think about this: If you bought a pregnancy test online, that information could be shared with advertisers. Suddenly you'll start seeing ads for baby products before you even tell your family! This shows how quickly your personal choices can be turned into targeted ads.
🛡️ How to Protect Your Privacy
The good news is that you can take steps to protect your personal data. Let's see what you can do in practice:
1. Use private browsing mode: All browsers have this feature. In Chrome it's called "Incognito," in Firefox "Private Window," in Safari "Private Browsing." In this mode, no cookies are stored and your history is deleted as soon as you close the window. Be careful though: it doesn't make you completely invisible, it just limits the traces on your device.
2. Regularly delete cookies and history: Make it a habit to clear your cookies and history every week or month. This makes it harder for trackers to do their job and reduces the amount of data they have about you.
3. Use a privacy-friendly browser: Browsers like Firefox or Brave have built-in protection against trackers and ads. You can try them if you want more security.
4. Don't log in everywhere with your Google or Facebook account: When you use these accounts to log in to other websites, you give them even more information about you. It's best to create separate accounts where necessary.
⚙️ Privacy Settings in your Browser
All modern browsers have settings that help you protect your privacy. Here's what you can enable:
In Google Chrome:
- Go to Settings → Privacy and security.
- Enable "Send a 'Do Not Track' request".
- Under Cookies, select "Block third-party cookies" (these are cookies that come from other companies).
- Enable "Safe Browsing" to protect against suspicious websites.
In Mozilla Firefox:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Choose "Strict" protection (blocks most trackers).
- Turn on "Do Not Track".
- Set cookies to automatically delete when you close the browser.
In Safari (Mac/iPhone):
- Settings → Safari → Privacy.
- Enable "Prevent cross-site tracking."
- Enable "Hide IP address from trackers".
- Block all cookies (caution: may make it difficult to use some websites).
Advice: Try different settings to find the right balance between protection and ease of use. Some websites don't work properly if you block all cookies, so it's a good idea to experiment until you find what works for you.
🚫 How to Block Cookies and Trackers
There are special programs (extensions/add-ons) that automatically block trackers and unwanted cookies. Let's look at the most well-known and reliable ones:
uBlock Origin: A free program that blocks ads and trackers. It's lightweight, doesn't slow down your browser, and is updated frequently. Available for Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers.
Privacy Badgers: Created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (an organization that protects online rights), it automatically learns which trackers are tracking you and blocks them without you having to make any settings.
Ghostery: It shows you which trackers are on each page and lets you choose which ones you want to block. So you're in control.
DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials: In addition to the search engine that doesn't track you, DuckDuckGo also offers an extension that blocks trackers and shows you a "privacy rating" for each website.
How do I install an extension?
- Open your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, etc.).
- Search for the program you want.
- Click "Add" or "Install".
- The program will appear next to the address bar and you will be able to enable/disable it.
Caution: Don't install too many extensions because they can slow down your browser. Choose 1-2 reliable ones that meet your needs.
📱 Protection on your Mobile
Your mobile phone is even more vulnerable than your computer because it follows you everywhere. The apps you have installed can collect a lot of information about you. Here's what you can do:
On iPhone (iOS):
- Go to Settings → Privacy.
- Enable "Restrict Tracking" (in older versions).
- In Safari, turn on "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking."
- When you install an app, it will ask you if you allow it to track you – choose "No".
- Check which apps have access to your location and limit them only where necessary.
On Android:
- Go to Settings → Privacy.
- In Google settings, turn off "Personalized advertising" (this reduces targeted ads).
- Use Firefox or Brave instead of Chrome on mobile for more protection.
- Check the permissions of each application (Settings → Applications → Permissions) and disable any that are not needed.
- Turn off Google's "Location History" to stop your location from being constantly recorded.
Important: Many free apps make money by selling your data. Always read the privacy policy before installing an app and only grant the permissions that are truly necessary.
Which apps collect the most data?
In general, social media apps (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) and many free gaming apps collect the most data. If you want more protection, limit their use or open them in the browser instead of the app.
✅ Best Practices for Safe Browsing
In addition to the settings above, there are some simple habits that will help you protect your privacy:
1. Use different emails for different purposes: Have one email for important things (banking, work) and another for newsletter subscriptions and offers. That way, if the second one is "sold" to advertisers, your main email won't be affected.
2. Don't click on all "Accept Cookies": When a website asks you about cookies, look for the "Settings" or "Preferences" button. There you can reject advertising cookies and keep only the necessary ones.
3. Disconnect when you're done: Don't stay logged in to websites you don't use often. Log out, especially on shared computers.
4. Read the privacy policy: Yes, it's long and boring, but at least see what information they collect and whether they share it with third parties. If a website asks for too much data, think about whether it's worth using.
5. Use search engines that respect privacy: Instead of Google, try DuckDuckGo, Startpage, or Brave Search. These engines don't store your searches and don't create profiles for you.
6. Update your browser and applications regularly: Updates often include security fixes. An old browser is more vulnerable to attacks.
7. Be careful with public WiFi connections: When connecting to a public WiFi (cafe, airport), do not make sensitive transactions such as banking.
Additional protection: If you want even more security, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN encrypts your connection and hides your real location. So, even if you're on public WiFi, your data remains safe. There are free and paid options, with the latter usually offering better speeds and more countries to connect to.
🔐 Epilogue: The Balance Between Convenience and Privacy
The internet has become an integral part of our lives. Most of the services we use every day are free because we pay with our personal data. It is not bad to use these services, but it is important to do so with knowledge and conscience.
There's no need to get overly suspicious about privacy. The key is to understand what's going on and be in control. Every little bit of protection you take is a step in the right direction and makes you a safer user.
Remember: Your data is yours. You decide what you want to share and with whom. Companies have an obligation to respect that choice, but you need to know how to protect yourself.
Start today: Pick 2-3 things from this article and implement them immediately. For example: install an ad blocker, set your browser to block trackers, and try DuckDuckGo for your searches. Little by little, you'll create better habits that will protect you every day.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Some of the most common questions users have about online privacy:
1. What is a VPN and why should I use it?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that encrypts your connection and hides your real location. This way you are better protected when using public WiFi and websites cannot easily track you.
2. Should I block all cookies?
Not essential. Necessary cookies help websites function properly (e.g. shopping cart). It is best to block only advertising and tracking cookies, keeping the essential ones so that you do not have problems using them.
3. Which apps collect the most data?
Social media apps (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) and many free gaming apps tend to collect the most data. If you want more protection, limit their use or open them in the browser instead of the app.
4. Is it safe to use public WiFi?
Public WiFi (cafes, airports) are not always secure. Avoid making sensitive transactions (e.g. banking) and prefer to use a VPN for extra protection.
📢 Technology is constantly evolving and new ways of tracking are emerging. At the same time, however, more tools are being created to protect yourself. Stay informed, read, ask, and don't be afraid to make the right choices for your privacy. The internet can be a wonderful place full of opportunities and knowledge, as long as you know how to protect yourself. Happy and safe browsing!
Loading comments...