Advertisers collect vast amounts of data about you and your online behavior, but there are steps you can take to limit tracking and protect your privacy. According to independent expert Olga Sviridova, advertisers primarily use data collected from mobile applications, cookies, and Wi-Fi signals, rather than eavesdropping on conversations.

Mobile applications collect technical information, including device model, location, and unique identifiers (IDFA for iOS and AAID for Android) which advertisers use to track users and offer personalized advertising. Cookies track your online activity, such as website visits and shopping cart contents. Browser fingerprinting, a newer method, creates a “snapshot” of your device’s configuration and installed applications.

Wi-Fi signals can also reveal your location and associations with other people. Your phone constantly searches for available networks, broadcasting its presence to nearby services. This data can be used to target you with location-based advertising and infer relationships with others who are nearby. Social media activity, including your friends’ posts and interactions, also contributes to your online profile.

To protect yourself, adjust your privacy settings and limit app permissions. Disable location services and camera access for apps that don’t require them. Configure your browser to block third-party cookies and consider using a private browsing mode. Hide your MAC address on your smartphone to make it more difficult to track your location. While complete anonymity is difficult, following these recommendations can significantly reduce the amount of data collected about you.