Ads on AB page...

[Jemisa]

I shop a lot at M&S on-line & I've noticed lately when I've ordered something up comes an ad for M&S with pics of all the stuff I've ordered.
Does anyone else get these ads on their AB page?. M&S or otherwise?

jem

[craft1948]

Yes your browsing history does follow you around a bit..............

[owdhamer]

Mrs owd says so

[starone]

Yes. definitely. I get pictures of houses all the time, because I am hoping to move and consequently look at the houses for sale, especially in the district where I am hoping to move.

[Jemisa]

Oooo! starbuckone, are you moving to Southend, Pop in for tea.

jem

[starone]

Is that in London, jem? I am terrible with Geography, even local stuff. Although I have lived in Bristol all my life my husband used to say if we moved outside of the district we lived I would be lost. When we were out he would say which way shall I turn and if I said right he would turn left, and vice versa. Usually he was right too.

[Buenchico]

It's called 'cross-site tracking'. When you visit one website the fact that you've been there is passed on to lots of other (advertising) sites.

This is the first of 5 pages of a lengthy article but simply scanning through it should show you just how much information about your browsing habits is shared across the web:
http://www.informit.c...rticle.aspx?p=1250497

Chris

[starone]

Good god (small g) everybody knows my business - well they do anyway, but still. . .
Is that how they discover naughty viewing Chris? and are my card details really safe when I buy?

[shooty]

try ad-blocker. it seems to speed up the internet aswell

[Jemisa]

Hello Chris, Wow! I had a look but most of it went over my head. I don't mind really but I was curious.

Starbuckone, No, we're about 35 miles from london on the coast.
You'll find London is V/expensive.

jem

[Buenchico]

SB1:
The system doesn't work by 'taking'. (So your card details are safe).

It works by 'giving'. When Jemisa visits the M&S page a very small data package (called a 'cookie') is left on her computer. When she comes here on AB the system sees that she's got an M&S cookie on her computer, and delivers appropriate advertising.

Chris

[starone]

No, jem, when I eventually sell this house, which at the moment seems to be a long way off, I hope to move to Nailsea, nearer my daughter - but not with her - no way. A loving daughter but not to be lived with.

[DTCwordfan]

I keep getting your lingerie ads, Jem......

[chi-chi66]

I once looked for a pair of shoes I had seen in New Look, for ever after I am getting New Look shoe adverts.

[chi-chi66]

Starbuckone.....I lived in Bishopston many years ago 1966 for a few years before I married and moved to Cheshire. My daughter and I have been down a couple of times in the past few years to show her around. I think I was the one who needed a guide, how its changed, especially shopping centre and by the water, wish I'd never left!!!

[Buenchico]

JWale:
Please see my post above regarding the difference between 'taking' and 'giving' data.

Cross-site tracking only 'gives' data (by adding a cookie to someone's computer). Spyware is completely different in that it 'takes' data from a computer (e.g. by recording the keystrokes used to enter credit card details).

[Buenchico]

Adware usually refers to 'mini-programs' which find their way onto a computer. (Malwarebytes AntiMalware can normally get rid of them). The data used by cross-site scripting is 'inert' and can't cause similar problems. (If it didn't exist, and generate income, sites like AB simply wouldn't survive; it's what pays for them!)