Advertisers log your activity using small text files called cookies, which are downloaded to your computer to record your browsing history and your interaction with websites. These logs are used to build a personal profile, enabling advertisers to determine which products and services you’re most likely to purchase, and to market these products directly to you.
Time saving features such as auto-fill forms, shopping carts, and saved passwords often won’t function without the use of cookies. And if you use Facebook’s “Like” buttons, Facebook must set cookies to keep track of who you are.
But tracking often happens without your knowledge or consent, and that’s not acceptable to many web users. You should be the one who decides if, when and how your browsing data will be used.
Search engines can record your personal searches and link them to your real identity. Non-secure connections and invisible requests for your private data can leave you exposed to security and privacy threats originating from companies, governments and criminals.
You might download an app, granting it permission to login with Facebook, and allowing it to access your personal data, friends list, and to post to your timeline. Even if you later remove the app, it may still have access to your profile.
Visiting a single website can initiate dozens of hidden trackers from multiple third-party sources such as social-networking sites and advertisers. Privacy advocates are working to help raise awareness of the extent of online tracking, and browser developers are now implementing features and plugins that allow users to monitor (in real time) what tracking is taking place behind the scenes.
Various tools and methods are available to help protect your information and identity from these trackers. For more information on how to manage and secure your online presence, please contact us on 1300 880 636.
