Experts say that advertisers gather vast amounts of data about you and your connections without eavesdropping, and you can take steps to limit this data collection. This information is used to create targeted advertising.

Mobile applications are primary data collectors, gathering technical details like device model, location, and network information, as well as unique identifiers (IDFA for iOS, AAID for Android) used for tracking. Even seemingly harmless apps collect significant user data. Cookies are another tool used to track browsing history and online behavior. While browsers increasingly block tracking cookies, newer methods like browser fingerprinting are emerging.

Behavioral analysis studies online activity, predicting user preferences by comparing behavior with similar users. This allows marketers to identify potential customers through “look-alike” methods. Wi-Fi tracking is also employed to monitor location and proximity to other devices.

You can partially protect your privacy by adjusting privacy settings, limiting app permissions for photos and geolocation, and disabling contextual advertising in your smartphone settings. Browsers offer privacy settings to block third-party cookies. Hiding your MAC address (using “Set private MAC address” on iOS or “Random MAC address” on Android) also helps prevent location tracking by generating a new address each time you connect to a network.

While complete anonymity is difficult, following these recommendations can significantly reduce your digital footprint.