You must have discovered that there are some ads that always pop up on any site you are on, that’s if you are one that loves staying on the internet for long. This popping up of ads is known as retargeting and can be put in check if you dislike the thought that you are being supervised and trailed.
What is Retargeting?
Retargeting can be best presented in the two instances below:
When you log into a website to shop for either a car or a new pair of shoes. Perhaps you see some designs you like, but you decide to leave that particular website and continue searching for better options. Before you say jack, ads of the same items are up all over the internet; on Facebook, or on a blog you like to visit.
Or you want to purchase a gift for a family member and settle for a camera. The ideal format is to log into some camera websites, pick the best for them and log out. However, you will find out that from the moment you make the transaction, you begin to see ads for cameras popping up just everywhere you go on the internet.
Judging from these regular episodes, we have simply concluded that retargeting has two sides. A lot of brands make use of retargeting to aid their clients in noticing new items and discovering juicy deals that will suit them. However, when retargeting is poorly carried out, it provides you with goods and services which you may not have interest in, and this can turn out to be annoying as time goes on. The worst part of this scenario is that you get a feeling that you are being monitored, and it is a very big usurpation of one’s seclusion. You have the right to do so many things without looking over your back for fear of being monitored.
How Does Retargeting Work?
Based on the fact that every user of the internet views an average estimate of 1,700 banners monthly, it is little wonder that most organizations strive to be unique so as to get you to notice them. This is where retargeting comes to play, as it is obviously the most effectual way to get your attention and hold your interest. Simply put, as a form of online advertising, retargeting makes use of little bits of codes that find their way into your web browser the first time you log into the site (these are popularly known as cookies).
The cookies enable these organizations to trail your pattern of browsing; they follow your trend, trace you to other websites and throw their ads in your face. It can then be inferred that showing interest in a particular item makes you susceptible to retargeting, as the manufacturers tend to buy ads from retargeting companies to exhibit the specific item on various sites on the internet. Retargeting is not really accepted by most internet users, despite its claim of good client experience and relevance. While this is very intelligible as no one will like to be monitored, the good news is that retargeting can be checked.
Just as you cannot vanish totally from the radar of advertising agencies, various means exist through which they can still come in contact with you. Fortunately, there are some steps that have been put in place to aid in managing the things you see on the internet. Outlined below are useful methods you can use to ensure that advertising agencies and browsers have difficulties in monitoring your online activities:
- Clear up your browser data – Although the options for dissimilar browsers vary, it will be easier for you to find either the History or Privacy tabs. You have to bear in mind that this act will clear out every history, not sparing saved passwords and sites that you visit often. Therefore, it is imperative that you bookmark the pages you wish to save and go back to subsequently, before clearing the history tab.
- Disenable and readjust cookies – While you have the ability to set up your browser to not admit subordinate cookies, it might be difficult for you to have access to websites that need you to sign in. Therefore, your best shot will be to set your browser to erase cookies each time you are done with a browsing session.
- Swap to private mode – When you open an anonymous or private window on your web browser, it makes sure that your visited pages, cookies and searches are not saved after the anonymous windows are closed. The downturn of anonymous browsing is that your details can be accessed by your employer, subordinates and ISP that can track your IP address.
- Make use of browser extensions – There are browser extensions that are very important for blocking cookies and shields you from malevolent monitoring and advertising. These include anti-trackers like Privacy Badger and Disconnect. Another tool that comes in handy to secure your browser from subordinate monitoring, and allows you to stop banner ads from popping up wherever you go, is Adblock Plus.
- Make use of a secure browser – Go for a browser that gathers the minimum possible data, and does not give access to subordinate monitors, to lower the rate at which your details leak out. There are well-known browsers such as Tor and Brave, which are effective in shielding their users from the internet monitors.
Generally, downloading a Virtual Private Network (VPN) of high quality is your best shot at securing your web browser history from online monitors. Are you searching for the most appropriate browser to protect your online activities from being tracked? TorGuard is ideal for you. With it, you can access any restricted website on the internet. In addition to protecting your browsing sessions, it has a lot of features designed for your privacy and security online. These include data encryption, anonymous browsing, malware protection, and Wi-Fi security.
