Amazon, Facebook ads and privacy

[Calx]

This is bugging me and on the run up to Christmas is going to spoil some surprises.

I’ve noticed for a while that when the kids search on amazon on their iPads in safari it doesn’t take long for adverts on my Facebook on my pc to show what they were looking at.
I put this down to the face that although they aren’t logged into my account they do have amazon prime video installed. So there was some information sharing going on. However this week my mother visited. She hopped on my WiFi and suddenly Facebook is recommending me old granny shoes from Marks and Spencer’s. My mums favourite clothing store.

Any idea how to stop this before Christmas surprises get ruined?

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

perhaps its ad targeting by ip address?

 

[backwoodsman]

Privacy Badger blocks tracking cookies in your PC's browser. I don't know what to suggest for iPads.

https://www.eff.org/privacybadger

 

[Markverhyden]

On iOS you are limited in what you can do compared to desktops. The simplest thing would be to install any number of Tor clients on the iPads. You can then disable Safari, putting a password on it, so they cannot activate it again. You can try other "privacy" browser options but I'm not so sure how well they work.

 

[HCHTech]

Any idea how to stop this before Christmas surprises get ruined?

Well....the surprise would be ruined only if the kidlings knew about the whole ad nonsense. YOUR surprise(s) could certainly be ruined, however - assuming the kids are buying your loot online.

I'll bet the scenario from The Minority Report where the billboards talk to the protagonist is not that far off. "Good morning, Mr. Smith, how are those khaki trousers working out? We have a sale today on matching polos!" I'm sure they could do it right now but for the creepy factor holding them back.

 

[Krynn72]

Force everyone to use incognito mode :/

Does safari on iOS have a "Send a Do Not Track request" option?

 

[goldmercury]

Use TOR

 

[nlinecomputers]

https://www.amazon.com/adprefs Tell amazon to stop doing it.

 

[nlinecomputers]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202075050

 

[johnrobert]

Look on the positive side you would be getting them what they want
I have had too many useless Christmas gifts, how many fancy mechanical wine bottle openers do you need

 

[Calx]

So I phoned Amazon.. they basically said you need to clear your browser cookies and history after you have been to the site.. So I replied ok, you want me to do this across 12 devices, every time someone in the household goes on Amazon? Err yes was the reply.

So helpful! LOL!

 

[NJW]

I have been known to go looking for stuff on Amazon on Madame's laptop, just to provide some hints ...

 

[Calx]

I have been known to go looking for stuff on Amazon on Madame's laptop, just to provide some hints ...

Well now it would seem you can just use any computer in the house and it will pass the hints on.. my husband prefers a more direct approach.. wish list! Next step for me is to get him to buy the stuff himself then I will wrap it up!

 

[NJW]

Next step for me is to get him to buy the stuff himself then I will wrap it up!

Good move!

Well now it would seem you can just use any computer in the house and it will pass the hints on..

Are you sharing an Amazon account, or is the only link your public IP address?

 

[Calx]

Good move!


Are you sharing an Amazon account, or is the only link your public IP address?

Bit of both, we have amazon family set up, the kids use the account for Prime video and have that app on their ipads. That seems to be enough for it to track what they do on safari. I think it is linked to ip.

But who knows and they don't care.

 

[NJW]

we have amazon family set up

Right. Enough said.

 

[LordIntruder]

Beside the fact that "facebook" and "privacy" is an oxymoron and I bet you don't want to stop using facebook: visit your neighbour to buy your xmas gifts.