How Do I Stop This Tracking

[emmie]

every time log into a site, say for example John Lewis, Marks & Spencer
there is a box which says what items i have viewed before, so it's kind of tracking me, is this google? me, computer. How do i stop it, i don't have any kind of account with these places, but it's happening whenever i view an item. Does this make sense?

[albaqwerty]

As you know, I'm not a techie, it might have something to do with cookies (whatever they are)
Try clearing your history

[emmie]

cleared history, do this each day, i am wondering if it's something to do with google, but really not sure.

[humbersloop]

it's cookies that are causing this em

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie

depending on your browser, find a version of Do Not Track that helps stop it

[emeritus]

Some information here

http://www.which.co.uk/campaigns/technology/online-privacy-who-knows-your-secrets/tracking-and-targeted-advertising/

[emmie]

i updated the firefox to 19.0 recently, have good security from Kaspersky, so will have to look into it..

[bibblebub]

If you are using Firefox and there are only a few sites for which you wish to remain logged in whenever you revisit the site then Self-Destructing Cookies is an excellent add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/self-destructing-cookies - within seconds, it will delete all tracking cookies and all those for sites that you only visit occasionally.

[emmie]

gone into firefox, already have the privacy box, do not track ticked, if i clear all the cookies it says are lodged on my computer, will that help?

[emmie]

have added that self destruct cookie link, see what happens...
never know whether i do the right thing, that works, not a techie either...
x

[emmie]

can someone explain in laymen's terms what exactly do cookies do, are they harmful ?

[chelle7272]

Emeritus link is good. It contains another link to opt out which may be worth trying.

[bibblebub]

They are small data files held on your computer by the browser and contain information about the site you are viewing e.g. if you visit a tv listing site that allows you to re-order the channel list then that new order will be saved to a cookie so that the next time you visit the site the channels are displayed in the order that you chose rather than the default. Such cookies will also be created when you log into a site. Such cookies are specific to the site that you are visiting, tracking cookies are not.

[bibblebub]

(sorry for the outbreak of 'sorry')

[bibblebub]

(i meant 'such' - it's going to be one of those days)

[eastern]

I think cookies are basically pieces of data exchanged between your computer and the host computer giving your details such as IP address etc, that way they can track you. Problem is if you turn off cookies it can make your PC really slow and unresponsive, so the previous programmes may be a way of curtailing them. You will notice on AB that if you have been on, say a web site for glasses, you will suddenly be bombarded with ad's for Specsavers etc, that's cookies doing their job. I'm afraid the only way to stop these things tracking you is to stop using your PC.

[Maydup]

I can't explain about cookies em as I'm not a techi, but I will tell you what I think I understand.

Cookies place a small amount of data on your computer which speed things up when you use websites. A good example is when you buy something, the cookie keeps the information of each stage of the purchase on your pc so when you go back and forward it isn't reloading every page from the host server. This is what gives you the speed in the transaction.

Of course this happens when you browse too and offers you the info again and again. I used to feel the same irritation as you until I decided to ignore it. If I were to delete my cookies every day or every hour, then I wouldn't be able to access sites without logging in every time or make use of he benefits of cookies.

You will be asked if you accept cookies from every site you visit and you can always say no, but then you won't be able to buy.

Remember, there is no human being watching you, its only bits of data left over from your browsing and I don't see it as harmful.

[bibblebub]

You will be asked if you accept cookies from every site you visit and you can always say no, but then you won't be able to buy

every time you log into a site you are effectively saying 'yes' to them storing cookies

[Maydup]

The law was changed last year, and consent is now required before cookies are tracked. It is opt out rather than opt in but any site which doesn't ask the question is in effect illegal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18194235

[emmie]

thank you, now have a little pop up box which tells me how many cookies have been zapped and from where, wonder how i can stop this little pop up box doing it so often, as it's quite distracting..

[Old_Geezer]

Cookies hold information that a website might be interested in. Often used to give you a better experience at the website that created it on your PC. However one can get more intusive ones that track you across websites. You can run software to remove those. Try downloading superantispyware as one example. It is unusual to find folk concerned at a shop site's 'viewed items' though. Most find that a private convenience/better experience. But if concerned delete the M&S cookie.

[Old_Geezer]

That consent thing is just annoying sincve the nag screen comes up each visit if you don't tick to allow it. It doesn't target the specific cookies of concern, it is a blunderbus approach that makes things less pleasant with no real indication as to whether you should be wary of any particular cookie. It seems to be something those without knowledge of consequences passed in good faith but IMO got wrong.