What Are The Common Techniques of Ad Tracking? Ad tracking means if companies use cookies and other tracking methods to track your online habits, behavior and preferences to show you more relevant ads. With this, companies sell their stuff on a large scale. So, Webroot team wants to aware their user about ad tracking. If the user wants to prevent themselves then they must install Webroot antivirus in their device through webroot.com/safe. In this blog, you will read about Ad Tracking.
Common Ad Tracking Use: Webroot.com/safe
Methods
Which
Websites
1. Cookies: Cookies is the common method of ad tracking as it record your online activity and just save it in your browser. It collects all the information what you do on the web like you go from one site to another site. These cookies collect extremely rich data about your interest and behavior. And companies put a code into your browser to collect cookies and also many sites use third-party cookies. With the help of these cookies, companies came to know your interest and they offer you goods and sell their stuff through ads. 2. URL Trackers:
Basically, Tracking URLs are the links which has little strings of code on the end and it tracks your behavior when you click on them. They are just like cookies, but it is not hidden in scripts, they are out in the open. These trackers run along your browser’s address bar. In case, you navigate to a site after you click on a tracking URL, then all the activity you do on that site will be collected by person who set up the URL. 3. Tracking Pixels: Tracking pixels are the tiny dots which stuck into emails and websites to detect the content. It is not saved in your browser, but the data of the pixel is sent directly to a company’s server. It has the complete information of your IP address, if you have opened an email, download of any attachments etc. Pixels are invisible and you can’t block them. Reasons Why companies Track You: Advertisements are the major source of income for big industries, like Facebook advertisements make most of the income. Websites, apps and other advertising companies install ad trackers so that they can advertise their apps more effectively. More data the company will collect, more money they will make. Benefits of Ad Tracking: 1. Relevance: Through tracking, advertisers will show you ads according to your geographical location and your habits. Ad tracking will give the information about a product you actually want to buy, and also about the sales offers near you. The ads which you are dealing with ads are relevant and interesting. 2. Convenience: Ad tracking will help the app developers so that they can improve their products and also making easier for you to use. Through this, Google make accurate routes on their maps and gives you updated traffic conditions by tracking people through GPS.
Drawbacks of Ad Tracking: 1. Privacy Invasion: Ad tracking gives right to the unknown companies to spy on you. Through this, companies view the products in which you are interested, and sometimes they examine your medical history or your dating life. 2. 2. Loss of time: As companies show you more “relevant” ads, you keep on scrolling, clicking, and browsing for a long time. Because of this, people spend lot of time in front of screens, mostly on social media or other addictive apps. Your average screen time keeps on rising regularly. 3. Loss of Money: Because of ad tracking, companies show you those products which empty your wallet. If you buy something useful then it is
fine, but most of the people end up buying things which they actually don’t need it.
Hence, it is advised that you should install Webroot antivirus via www.webroot.com/safe which will provide you secure browsing so that you can freely browse on the web. And for more privacy, it has Webroot Wi-Fi and VPN which will encrypt your data and hide your IP Address.