Google (strange)

[dar1437]

A mate in work doesn't have WiFi and not much PAYG data, so i enabled my phone as a hotspot, so i could update his apps from the play store for him. (Switched off hotspot and put my phone back in my car)
Not long after, we were talking about an old series called Vegas, but couldn't remember the actors name. So he googled it on his phone, and it was Robert Uric.
After work, i opened Google on my phone to look up something, and under the search field at the top of the list is Robert Uric? Very odd

 

[Spectre]

They have all sorts of algorithms for mapping what devices you have used and whatnot.

Someone at work took his work laptop home a few times, didn't search for anything electronic related at home or log into Google using it but was on the internet. Then he started getting very specific adverts on his home tablet.

The only thing we could think of was Google knows his work PC and work laptop are related, and since his laptop went to his house and was on the internet it is related to his tablet.

 

[dar1437]

I do hope my work mate doesn't get any suggestions relating to my Friday night porn sessions.

 

[Spectre]

I do hope my work mate doesn't get any suggestions relating to my Friday night porn sessions.

Stuff like that has happened LOL. I read a post somewhere where someone was complaining about the porn ads, not realising they are directed depending on his browsing .

 

[mickmc68]

Have a read

Google's 'secret web tracking pages' explained

 

[Spectre]

Have a read

Google's 'secret web tracking pages' explained

I saw that yesterday too.

Do people still think I'm odd taking the same amount out of the same cash machine each week and buying most things in cash? So-called "Big Data" is very valuable, so I try to limit what can be gleaned about me.

Myself and the colleague I mentioned above both started getting posh letters inviting us to investment seminars at big local country houses. After thinking about it we concluded it was probably Natwest selling information to someone, as we both recently had decent amounts in current accounts. His due to a house sale.

 

[trevortron]

I saw that yesterday too.

Do people still think I'm odd taking the same amount out of the same cash machine each week and buying most things in cash? So-called "Big Data" is very valuable, so I try to limit what can be gleaned about me.

Myself and the colleague I mentioned above both started getting posh letters inviting us to investment seminars at big local country houses. After thinking about it we concluded it was probably Natwest selling information to someone, as we both recently had decent amounts in current accounts. His due to a house sale.

I often slightly mis-spell my name (adding a related letter for instance) when registering with websites to see which ones sell the data to spammers. The worst offender so far is change.org.
I did have a similar experience to your Natwest one a good few years ago. I can't remember the offender (may have been HBOS), but they vehemently denied passing data on. I let my opinion be known (never having knowingly given them permission to share) and things did go quiet after that.

 

[Spectre]

I often slightly mis-spell my name (adding a related letter for instance) when registering with websites to see which ones sell the data to spammers. The worst offender so far is change.org.
I did have a similar experience to your Natwest one a good few years ago. I can't remember the offender (may have been HBOS), but they vehemently denied passing data on. I let my opinion be known (never having knowingly given them permission to share) and things did go quiet after that.

I haven't caught anyone by using my domain email address technique yet, but maybe they test for that and don't bother spamming, also good.

My colleague doesn't have a Natwest savings account but I do, and we reckon they sum your accounts, and above a level you start to get spammed. He temporarily dumped a portion of a house sale into his current account and within a week, or so, a letter arrived. Invites to a big country house where they have you captive for a few hours to pour drink down your neck and hammer you with investment schemes... Possibility of free drink? Why didn't I go to one of these? I think I got a couple of Porche dealership letters too.

 

[dar1437]

I haven't caught anyone by using my domain email address technique yet, but maybe they test for that and don't bother spamming, also good.

My colleague doesn't have a Natwest savings account but I do, and we reckon they sum your accounts, and above a level you start to get spammed. He temporarily dumped a portion of a house sale into his current account and within a week, or so, a letter arrived. Invites to a big country house where they have you captive for a few hours to pour drink down your neck and hammer you with investment schemes... Possibility of free drink? Why didn't I go to one of these? I think I got a couple of Porche dealership letters too.

Take the Porsche for a test drive, up to the country house, for some free ale.