The inconvenience of convenience

[LVLAaron]

You can turn off the voice command/listening function on your smart phone, to keep the ads at bay.

Also, clear history after closing the browser on a site and going to the next one.

Try to use the cellular data function to go online, turn off the wi-fi and Bluetooth settings.

Keep your software updates up to date. And, if you use cellular data to download the update, you may find your wi-fi and Bluetooth have been turned on….

None of that actually stops data collection. It may affect how they show you an advertisement, but that doesn't mean they aren't collecting the data.

 

[gdbleb]

None of that actually stops data collection. It may affect how they show you an advertisement, but that doesn't mean they aren't collecting the data.

Exactly. For an increasing number of services on the web "You are not the customer. You are the product".

 

[divingin]

I'm 40... and deep in the tech industry my whole career. I have zero "smart" things in my home. Be more like me.

63 here. My first computer (that I owned) was an IBM clone 286 machine. Been working in either electronics or computers since the early 80's; I do own a laptop, but no other computer. No smart devices. I do spend too much time on my phone though.