General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,287 posts)

30. If such things concern you, shut off your phone when it

Sun Oct 20, 2013, 04:44 PM

Oct 2013

might be tracked. I can't really see the reason for your concern, but if it exists, you can control when your phone is on and trackable. Seems basic to me. I don't carry a phone most of the time. When I do, it's off, unless I need to use it. If I get calls, they'll be on my voice mail when I turn it back on.

I just can't go through life worrying about what retail stores are doing when I shop in them. Who cares. I'm there to buy something. When I find it, I'll take it to the check stand and leave. Retail strategies don't interest me, although I hate it when they rearrange stores I visit often. It slows me down.

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How stores use your phone�s WiFi to track your shopping habits [View all] dkf Oct 2013 OP

the strip mine your data AND you have to pay THEM for the privilege. whatta system lol nt msongs Oct 2013 #1

A good reminder to turn off the wifi when out and about. Brickbat Oct 2013 #2

I always try to remember to do that, to save battery charge. drm604 Oct 2013 #38

I only turn on Wi-Fi when I'm using it LTR Oct 2013 #56

Want not to be tracked like an elk? enlightenment Oct 2013 #3

But then no one can call you. What is the point? Unless you only need an emergency phone. nt Logical Oct 2013 #12

Well, I guess I see phones as a tool for me to use. enlightenment Oct 2013 #15

LOL, ok. I use them so people can call me if they need me. And I answer them. And talk. nt Logical Oct 2013 #20

There we differ. enlightenment Oct 2013 #32

My husband says this regularly. phylny Oct 2013 #45

Sounds fair to me. enlightenment Oct 2013 #47

:) Well, he was shocked that I didn't answer it, phylny Oct 2013 #49

It's simple to just disable the wifi temporarily TroglodyteScholar Oct 2013 #51

I agree with that! n-t Logical Oct 2013 #52

I use a dumbphone and it's turned OFF 90% of the time. No problemo. hobbit709 Oct 2013 #4

Turn your WiFi off frazzled Oct 2013 #5

Yup the ad following freaked me out early on. dkf Oct 2013 #8

I use AdBlock. Don't see ads unless I want to see them . . . Journeyman Oct 2013 #10

That blocks ads on web pages like TPM and the google search page? dkf Oct 2013 #13

Everywhere. AND you can turn it off for individual websites, or universally pause it . . . Journeyman Oct 2013 #25

I use Firefox, SheilaT Oct 2013 #41

I've never run across that before, Sheila. . . Journeyman Oct 2013 #43

Thanks. SheilaT Oct 2013 #44

I use Firefox, and honestly, phylny Oct 2013 #46

That's interesting. SheilaT Oct 2013 #48

I think so too, phylny Oct 2013 #50

Every so often I need to let experts SheilaT Oct 2013 #53

Ghostery is a good add-on too LTR Oct 2013 #54

Ghostery is awesome. reflection Oct 2013 #55

That MAC address will trace back to the phone origin seveneyes Oct 2013 #6

If its a short shopping list, leave the phone in your car DJ13 Oct 2013 #7

My $600 phone in the car? dkf Oct 2013 #9

I suppose, but they don't know who it is who owns the phone MineralMan Oct 2013 #11

Well that puts a new spin on loyalty cards. dkf Oct 2013 #14

They don't need wifi to track my purchases. MineralMan Oct 2013 #17

They can sell all that info to centralize and target specific ad strategies. dkf Oct 2013 #22

No doubt. Who cares? MineralMan Oct 2013 #27

Well if you follow my posts I am still surprised by the extent of the intrusion... dkf Oct 2013 #29

Unless. of course, your "pay as you go phone" is registered to a bogus name. Zorra Oct 2013 #21

We have stores with Jenoch Oct 2013 #35

Of course, this used to be done with cameras, and human beings watching you shop. Robb Oct 2013 #16

Precisely. MineralMan Oct 2013 #18

But your MAC address is your MAC address. dkf Oct 2013 #19

Soon cameras will use your face anyway. No big deal. n-t Logical Oct 2013 #23

Lol so comforting!!! Thanks a lot you guys. dkf Oct 2013 #24

Sorry! :-) We can always wear a disguise! Logical Oct 2013 #26

Burka. :) dkf Oct 2013 #28

That would work!! n-t Logical Oct 2013 #31

I don't use cash and when I shop my fabric shuts down all the scanners: NYC_SKP Oct 2013 #36

If such things concern you, shut off your phone when it MineralMan Oct 2013 #30

It bothers me because I am addicted to technology yet don't like the feeling of intrusion. dkf Oct 2013 #37

Most phones.. sendero Oct 2013 #33

Ios 7 makes it much easier. dkf Oct 2013 #39

They are not using mine. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #34

Stores have always studied shoppers habits, now they have an easier more accurate way of finding out Raine Oct 2013 #40

This certainly is another reason to have a stupid phone, as I SheilaT Oct 2013 #42