I’ve seen this topic brought up here on SVTP and on other sites several times over the last few months. It usually starts with someone saying they noticed ads about something they were thinking about or looking at. How would Google/Facebook/The Interwebs know? Are my phone/computer/other devises spying on me? In short, yes they are.
We’ve known for a long time that Google and other sites track your internet usage in order better serve ads to you that you’re more likely to respond to. However, technology has moved passed tracking cookies and into the realm of downright creepiness. That brings me to an experience I had last weekend.
I was sitting in the living room talking to my Mother about of all things, drywall. This is not a topic I spend much time thinking about, but I was telling her about a friend describing how he prevents nail-pops from showing up after installing new dry wall. That’s basically the entire conversation, boring stuff.
But then I hopped on my laptop to upload a video from the 2019 NAIAS in Detroit to the SVTP YouTube Channel. I only ever use the SVTP to post and watch automotive related content. However, right there in my ‘Recommended Videos’ filed was one on how to fix Nail Pops in Drywall. WFT!!! So I thought about it for a minute, and realized while talking to my Mom earlier my iPhone had been sitting on a table about 10 feet away.
One of these things is not like the others.
I went over to the device and started looking through my setting to see just what Apps had access to the internal microphone. Sitting there among a few others was the YouTube App in the ‘on’ position. So Google had been listening during my entire conversation. In fact, it had always been listening. How do you think they know how to target you so well?
Bet you didn't know your conversations were so interesting.
I’ve heard rumors that Facebook and other companies have software designed to tract your eye movement as you scroll through pages. This allows them to determine just how much attention you are paying to certain things on the screen. What Apps have access to your camera? Are they always watching? If these companies can so easily watch/listen to you, who else could be doing the same? Just something to think about.
We’ve known for a long time that Google and other sites track your internet usage in order better serve ads to you that you’re more likely to respond to. However, technology has moved passed tracking cookies and into the realm of downright creepiness. That brings me to an experience I had last weekend.
I was sitting in the living room talking to my Mother about of all things, drywall. This is not a topic I spend much time thinking about, but I was telling her about a friend describing how he prevents nail-pops from showing up after installing new dry wall. That’s basically the entire conversation, boring stuff.
But then I hopped on my laptop to upload a video from the 2019 NAIAS in Detroit to the SVTP YouTube Channel. I only ever use the SVTP to post and watch automotive related content. However, right there in my ‘Recommended Videos’ filed was one on how to fix Nail Pops in Drywall. WFT!!! So I thought about it for a minute, and realized while talking to my Mom earlier my iPhone had been sitting on a table about 10 feet away.
One of these things is not like the others.
Bet you didn't know your conversations were so interesting.
I’ve heard rumors that Facebook and other companies have software designed to tract your eye movement as you scroll through pages. This allows them to determine just how much attention you are paying to certain things on the screen. What Apps have access to your camera? Are they always watching? If these companies can so easily watch/listen to you, who else could be doing the same? Just something to think about.
