Look at a pair of shoes once and they seem to follow you across every app and website for a week. That is ad tracking at work, quietly building a profile of what you do online. The good news is you can turn much of it off. Our GetMyPassword team explains how ad tracking works and the practical steps to limit it.
How advertisers track you
Ad networks follow you in two main ways. On your phone, apps share an advertising ID — a code that ties your activity across different apps to one profile. On the web, third-party cookies and trackers embedded in pages report which sites you visit back to the same networks. Stitched together, this builds a surprisingly detailed picture of your interests, habits and location.
Limit tracking on your phone
- iPhone: in Privacy settings, turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track” so apps cannot follow you, and disable personalized ads.
- Android: in Settings, open Ads and delete or reset your advertising ID, and turn off ad personalization.
- Review app permissions and switch off location for apps that do not need it.
Limit tracking in your browser
In your browser, block third-party cookies and turn on any built-in tracking protection. A browser that blocks trackers by default, or a reputable tracker-blocking extension, cuts off much of the cross-site following. Clearing cookies now and then resets the profile advertisers have built, and using private windows for casual browsing keeps less of a trail.
You cannot become completely invisible to advertisers, but resetting your advertising ID and blocking third-party trackers takes you from an open book to a closed one. A few minutes of settings buys back a lot of privacy.
Privacy and security go together
Limiting tracking shrinks the profile that data brokers and advertisers hold on you, which also means less information for scammers to misuse. Pair that privacy hygiene with strong account security: a unique password from our password generator for every account and two-factor authentication, so the data about you stays both smaller and safer.
Frequently asked questions
What is ad tracking?
It is how ad networks follow your activity to build a profile of your interests, using an advertising ID that links your apps and third-party cookies and trackers that report the sites you visit. That profile is used to target ads at you.
How do I stop ads from following me?
On your phone, reset or delete your advertising ID and turn off ad personalization and cross-app tracking. In your browser, block third-party cookies, enable tracking protection, and clear cookies periodically to reset your profile.
Does limiting ad tracking improve security?
Indirectly, yes. Less tracking means a smaller profile held by advertisers and data brokers, which is less information for scammers to misuse. Combine it with strong unique passwords and two-factor authentication for real protection.