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AIBU?

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Original poster

I read an email about my broadband contract now bombarded

36 replies

MMfanalltheway · 03/03/2021 02:06

I had to go into my emails and search for my broadband provider's name within my email account and found the email which shows that I have a further 4 months left in contract with provider - that's all that I was checking. All done silently by searching within my own emails.

Now? I'm being bombarded with advertisements for broadband.
All within 2 hours.

I'm trying to think of how they could know that I'm interested in switching provider.

When you search for something within your email is that recorded by cookies? If so, I'm pretty pissed off.

OP posts:
Pulledamonica · 03/03/2021 02:08

"bombarded"? Aren't the adverts usually there just for different stuff?

jimmyhill · 03/03/2021 02:09

When you search for something within your email is that recorded by cookies? If so, I'm pretty pissed off

Yes it is.

Is your email service free of charge? If so, you've just discovered how they're able to offer it for free.

Original poster
MMfanalltheway · 03/03/2021 02:10

@Pulledamonica

"bombarded"? Aren't the adverts usually there just for different stuff?
No, it's on my FB. I use a browser for MN which doesn't allow ads.
OP posts:
Original poster
MMfanalltheway · 03/03/2021 02:11

@jimmyhill

When you search for something within your email is that recorded by cookies? If so, I'm pretty pissed off

Yes it is.

Is your email service free of charge? If so, you've just discovered how they're able to offer it for free.

Isn't every email free of charge?
OP posts:
Original poster
MMfanalltheway · 03/03/2021 02:12

When you search on a search engine, I get that. But I was searching for emails within my email account. That's what I'm not happy about.

OP posts:
Original poster
MMfanalltheway · 03/03/2021 02:14

So lets say I search Plusnet within my emails. I then go onto FB and every single ad is for a broadband provider. That's too much.

OP posts:
Pulledamonica · 03/03/2021 02:17

They're called tracking cookies for a reason

Original poster
MMfanalltheway · 03/03/2021 02:18

@Pulledamonica

They're called tracking cookies for a reason
So they record what you search for within your own email? Is that even fucking legal?
OP posts:
Original poster
MMfanalltheway · 03/03/2021 02:19

@Pulledamonica

They're called tracking cookies for a reason
Please try not to be so condescending.
OP posts:
Pulledamonica · 03/03/2021 02:34

I'm not being condescending.

Unhomme · 03/03/2021 07:31

Which email package do you use?

picklemewalnuts · 03/03/2021 08:06

I really don't think most people would realise their email searches are tracked.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/03/2021 08:08

Yes it's normal and legal.

It's in all the terms and conditions nobody bothers to read. All your online movement is linked and tracked.

You can use incognito browsers if you're worried, or block all cookies.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 03/03/2021 08:22

just clear cookies and browsing data?

In chrome:
Go into settings (three vertical dots, top right hand quarter)
More tools
Clear browsing data

I think it's a good idea to do it regularly, although I mostly only do it when pop ups get irritating.

EveLe · 03/03/2021 08:30

I don’t think it’s your search that’s been tracked, just the fact that you’ve opened an email from them. They is tracking inside emails that lets senders see what your reading, for targeted responses.

There’s an article on BBC that explains it better:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56071437

EveLe · 03/03/2021 08:32

There is not they is!

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 03/03/2021 08:33

[quote EveLe]I don’t think it’s your search that’s been tracked, just the fact that you’ve opened an email from them. They is tracking inside emails that lets senders see what your reading, for targeted responses.

There’s an article on BBC that explains it better:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56071437[/quote]
That doesn't seem to make sense, why would opening an email from supplier A mean you'd get bombarded with adverts from suppliers B,C,D and Z?

PattyPan · 03/03/2021 08:44

Not all email services are free. You can pay for privacy focused ones where this won’t happen. Why don’t you have an adblocker though?

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/03/2021 08:51

That doesn't seem to make sense, why would opening an email from supplier A mean you'd get bombarded with adverts from suppliers B,C,D and Z?

Because when you then open an advert from supplier B with a lovely offer, supplier A can try and persuade you to say with an even lovelier offer!

Happens all the time.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/03/2021 08:52

It's also why I have an Adblock on 24/7 and only switch it off for sites that require it, which is maybe one or two a week.

TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe · 03/03/2021 08:53

Emails are basically web pages. They have cookies and tracking pixels in them. If you open several emails about broadband in a short space of time, this suggests to advertising companies that you are interested in broadband, hence they target you with adverts when you go on to browse websites.

If you want a private email service you need to pay. Free ones, Google for instance, scan the text of your emails to find keywords they can use to find out your interests.

Every time you open a new website and get the cookies pop-up, do you individually go through the list and untick everything, or do you just click "OK" and move on?

If you want to improve your privacy:
a) use paid for encrypted email
b) use a VPN
c) use private browsers, better yet use Tor

Privacy = money though. You have to decide for yourself whether it is worth the cost.

Hereward1332 · 03/03/2021 08:55

If I have to see adverts, I would rather see ones vaguely relevant.

mainsfed · 03/03/2021 08:55

@sunflowersandbuttercups

You can use incognito browsers if you're worried, or block all cookies.

I don't think Incognito prevents your history being tracked, at least that's what I read in the t&cs.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 03/03/2021 08:57

@sunflowersandbuttercups

That doesn't seem to make sense, why would opening an email from supplier A mean you'd get bombarded with adverts from suppliers B,C,D and Z?

Because when you then open an advert from supplier B with a lovely offer, supplier A can try and persuade you to say with an even lovelier offer!

Happens all the time.

I'm not understanding obviously, the OP hasn't clicked on an advert, a pp was suggesting that if you open an email from your current suppliers somehow competitors know that and bombard you with adverts.

I'm asking how the competitors know that you're opened the original email. I'm not naive about tracking on the internet but can't see how that can happen.

TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe · 03/03/2021 08:57

That doesn't seem to make sense, why would opening an email from supplier A mean you'd get bombarded with adverts from suppliers B,C,D and Z?

  1. You open your email. Your action is logged by your email provider.
  2. Your email provider informs an ad agency what sort of topics you've been reading emails about.
  3. The ad agency targets you with adverts for that topic when you visit a site that uses their agency.

Obviously these things are instant and automatic, the moment you open the email your advertising profile is updated.