Opera - Why am I being followed?!

Hamster · 23 Dec 2011 at 11:16

The last nail in the coffin was an email from Halfords giving me more information on a product that I was looking at on their website yesterday without being logged in.

I'm also clicking on various webpages and products I have been looking at earlier on other websites are appearing on the side as adverts.

This happens a lot and I feel it's too intrusive. I use Opera so does anyone know any add-ons that will either sweep up after me once I've left a website or make my IP anonymous?

Mark M · 23 Dec 2011 at 11:20

Amazon do this too and I use IE & Chrome. I believe it is the site using cookies to track what you have viewed and target you specifically with ads and emails. Only way to stop it that I can think of is to clear your cookies all the time?

KIA · 23 Dec 2011 at 13:13

Welcome to the world of cookies. Disabling third-party cookies will help. Consider making your browser delete cookies on exit.

Hamster · 23 Dec 2011 at 18:31

Thanks Mark and KIA

I've now changed cookie settings in Opera. Hopefully I'll see less of this rubbish!!

opethdisciple · 23 Dec 2011 at 18:35

Doesnt Opera have a 'Do Not Track' feature in the options?

I know Firefox and Chrome have it.

But its up to the website to implement it, rather than the user request it.

Hamster · 23 Dec 2011 at 18:53

These are the cookie options in Opera:

#Chri5# · 23 Dec 2011 at 20:39

You can find a whole raft of information about tracking cookies and advertising here:

http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices

Hamster · 23 Dec 2011 at 20:48

#Chri5# said:
You can find a whole raft of information about tracking cookies and advertising here:

http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices

Thanks. I'm getting the '3rd Party Cookies Not Enabled' message when I load up that page which sounds like a good thing! Are there actually any advantages to having those cookies enabled?

KIA · 23 Dec 2011 at 21:29

Hamster said:
Are there actually any advantages to having those cookies enabled?

Only if you use convoluted email services such as Hotmail, at least that used to be the case back in the day. Nothing to worry about.

Hamster · 23 Dec 2011 at 21:47

KIA said:
Only if you use convoluted email services such as Hotmail, at least that used to be the case back in the day. Nothing to worry about.

Thanks. I use gmail and the only time I log in via the web is if I want to change settings or I'm on holiday which isn't as often as I'd like these days!!

KIA · 24 Dec 2011 at 10:04

I use Gmail too. I have had third-party cookies disabled for years and haven't had a single issue.