This has freaked me out

Diddums · 23 Sep 2024 at 12:06

I use an app called Microphone Block, which is free for 20 hours of the day. Only downloaded it a few days ago but we'll see how it fares.

m4rmite · 23 Sep 2024 at 12:40

Worth a watch if you think you're being followed on your phone.

You'll see a screen shot from these very forums as well.

Jono8 · 23 Sep 2024 at 15:55

Diddums said:
I use an app called Microphone Block, which is free for 20 hours of the day.

Does it listen in for the other 4 hours to sell your private conversations to advertisers?

Diddums · 23 Sep 2024 at 16:03

Jono8 said:
Does it listen in for the other 4 hours to sell your private conversations to advertisers?

Dunno, although it gets really good reviews. Might pay for the premium version and have 24h protection.

Werewolf · 23 Sep 2024 at 16:49

SexyGreyFox said:
This morning I went shopping with the wife and she said she had got to pop into Argos to pick something up.
Thirty minutes later I had an email from Argos telling me latest offers.
It could have been a massive coincidence but I've never had them off Argos before.

Did she reserve the items?

IIRC Argos pre tick the "we'll ~~spam~~ send you loads of emails with offers" box on their reservations page etc.

SexyGreyFox · 23 Sep 2024 at 17:11

Werewolf said:
Did she reserve the items?

IIRC Argos pre tick the "we'll ~~spam~~ send you loads of emails with offers" box on their reservations page etc.

Yes but I got the emails, not her and she has her own account with them where I don't.

mid_gen · 23 Sep 2024 at 17:51

SexyGreyFox said:
Yes but I got the emails, not her and she has her own account with them where I don't.

Advertising profiles are well aware of relationships. Very easy to identify when people are living together and going to the same places.

SexyGreyFox · 23 Sep 2024 at 17:57

mid_gen said:
Advertising profiles are well aware of relationships. Very easy to identify when people are living together and going to the same places.

I have no doubt

SexyGreyFox · Friday at 08:20

Last night I mentioned Jelly Babies and got this email.
I can 100% confirm I have never typed the words into Google or looked them up.

Scuzi · Friday at 08:53

SexyGreyFox said:
Last night I mentioned Jelly Babies and got this email.
I can 100% confirm I have never typed the words into Google or looked them up.

I bet whoever you mentioned them to looked them up.

Amazon have just ruined your surprise.

SexyGreyFox · Friday at 13:47

Scuzi said:
I bet whoever you mentioned them to looked them up.

Amazon have just ruined your surprise.

My Brother in Law wouldn't give a toss

Koalaboy · Friday at 13:57

Have you ever checked your NHS email on your personal phone ?

SexyGreyFox · Friday at 14:00

Koalaboy said:
Have you ever checked your NHS email on your personal phone ?

I actually installed Outlook about 3 months ago for the first time, this stuff has been going on for years with my phones (plural) listening.

Koalaboy · Friday at 14:02

SexyGreyFox said:
I actually installed Outlook about 3 months ago for the first time, this stuff has been going on for years with my phones (plural) listening.

Ad profiling isn't usually done using listening, as much as people would like to believe. It's more about the cookies and just a single 'crossing' in many ways (especially as so many sites also have Google cookies alongside their own).

But who knows. Maybe you're a person of interest.

pepp77 · Friday at 14:09

Was on a work meeting on Wednesday and one guy mentioned he was going to Amsterdam this weekend. Since then I have received emails from TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Expedia providing me info on Amsterdams best hotels, and great offers.

Koalaboy · Friday at 14:12

pepp77 said:
Was on a work meeting on Wednesday and one guy mentioned he was going to Amsterdam this weekend. Since then I have received emails from TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Expedia providing me info on Amsterdams best hotels, and great offers.

What if he decided to go to Amsterdam due to advertising emails...

Feek · Friday at 14:16

Feek said:
Well yes, this is well known. Do you have Facebook or WhatsApp installed on your phone? Do you have the microphone enabled for either of them?

If you never use them for calls, go into your privacy settings and stop them having access to the microphone.

It's worth checking the privacy settings anyway and seeing what apps have access to the mic. If there's any that you don't think should, then block them.

@SexyGreyFox

Did you ever bother to do this?

m4rmite · Friday at 15:50

Interestingly I never get ads showcasing just fans.
Sorry... only.
Can't even rely on the ads :confused: