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.As others have said, we are far from the first site to do it but I understand that it can be a little surprising when you first notice it.
There is nothing sinister about it though, it works because we get some of our adverts from large ad networks which also supply a lot of other sites. They collect no personal information but can recognise when the same computer has connected to them via two different sites. For example, you go to the Halfords website looking for a socket set and they see computer id XXYYZZ asking for adverts to display. Then when you come to PH later they see that computer id XXYYZZ is asking for adverts again and they go "Ah-ha, he was looking to buy a socket set earlier, let's show him socket set adverts!". Simple but effective.
Personally, I like it; I'd rather have adverts targeted to things I am interested in than the random ones which would be filling that space otherwise.
If you do want to kill it though, there are a couple of ways. Firstly, deleting your cookies will kill any adverts currently showing which is useful if there is something specific you want to get rid of but don't mind it being on most of the time. To kill it permanently though, you need to opt-out but this can be done easily via http://www.youronlinechoices.com (which also has a lot more information about this kind of advertising - if you are interested)
There is nothing sinister about it though, it works because we get some of our adverts from large ad networks which also supply a lot of other sites. They collect no personal information but can recognise when the same computer has connected to them via two different sites. For example, you go to the Halfords website looking for a socket set and they see computer id XXYYZZ asking for adverts to display. Then when you come to PH later they see that computer id XXYYZZ is asking for adverts again and they go "Ah-ha, he was looking to buy a socket set earlier, let's show him socket set adverts!". Simple but effective.
Personally, I like it; I'd rather have adverts targeted to things I am interested in than the random ones which would be filling that space otherwise.
If you do want to kill it though, there are a couple of ways. Firstly, deleting your cookies will kill any adverts currently showing which is useful if there is something specific you want to get rid of but don't mind it being on most of the time. To kill it permanently though, you need to opt-out but this can be done easily via http://www.youronlinechoices.com (which also has a lot more information about this kind of advertising - if you are interested)
I got an insurance quote from one of the annoying advert comparison websites recently. Later, browsing an unrelated website banners appeared with the quote for the car stating they were still valid. When I clicked the ad (I know but I couldn't resist!), it landed me on a page welcoming me by name. Can't help but think I wouldn't want that happening if for example I was using a shared computer.
davidspooner said:
I got an insurance quote from one of the annoying advert comparison websites recently. Later, browsing an unrelated website banners appeared with the quote for the car stating they were still valid. When I clicked the ad (I know but I couldn't resist!), it landed me on a page welcoming me by name. Can't help but think I wouldn't want that happening if for example I was using a shared computer.
I appreciate your concerns, but if you are ever using a shared computer for this sort of thing then either of the techniques I posted above will work to kill it. Alternatively, using your browsers incognito mode will do the same trick.Forums | Website Feedback | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff