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Retailers have so many ways to track you – Here’s how to fight back
If you have an internet connection, companies are racing to gather every bit of data they can on what you might buy — and they’re getting increasingly sophisticated about it.
How do they do it? Let’s dive into how retail tracking works and, more importantly, what you can do about it.
The tactics are relentless
🩵 Loyalty programs aren’t just about rewards; they’re about data. Every purchase, every preference and every visit is tracked — all for a discount.
📲 Mobile apps dive deeper. Enable location tracking, and retailers know exactly when you’re in their store, creating “coincidental” coupons tailored to your movements.
📶 Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth beacons are silent observers. Connect to free in-store Wi‑Fi, and you’re exchanging privacy for convenience. Bluetooth beacons go further, mapping your path throughout the store, step by step.
💸 Point-of-sale systems log every transaction. Your purchase history is stored and linked to your email address or phone number — valuable information that companies use to market directly to you.
🎦 Surveillance cameras do more than prevent theft. AI-powered cameras analyze your behavior and habits, transforming your every move into actionable data for retailers.
We love to blame the digital age for targeted ads, but by the time the internet came around, retailers already had a ton of consumer data. It did help them step up their game, though.
Take back your (purchasing) power
Tracking may feel inevitable, but there are effective ways to reclaim your privacy.
- Uninstall retail apps and limit loyalty cards. Can’t part with them? At least disable location permissions. Your favorite stores don’t need to know where you are every second.
- Switch off Bluetooth when you’re not using it. Those sneaky location-tracking beacons can’t track what they can’t find.
- Use a VPN. This hides your IP address from retailers — and don’t forget to install it on your phone! My choice is ExpressVPN.*
Opt out of targeted ads
Most major retailers allow you to opt out of targeted ads, but the Digital Advertising Alliance has an opt-out tool to manage your preferences across multiple platforms.
You can also turn off ad personalization on both Android and iPhone devices. Keep in mind that for Android, though, your steps may vary based on your make and model.
For Android:
- Go to the Settings app, scroll down and select Google.
- Under Manage your Google Account, go to the Data & privacy tab.
- Scroll down to Ad settings and tap on it.
- Toggle off Ad personalization to stop Google from using your data to personalize ads.
For iPhone:
- Launch the Settings app, scroll down and tap on Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to the bottom and choose Apple Advertising.
- Toggle off Personalized Ads to stop Apple from using your data for ad personalization.
🏁 And here you thought all you had to worry about was finding a good parking spot. Btw, if you always lose your car, your maps apps can keep track of where you parked.
Don’t get left behind – Stay tech ahead
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
- National radio show: Find your local station or listen to the podcast
- Daily newsletter: Join 575,000 people who read The Current (free!)
- Watch: On Kim’s YouTube channel
- Podcast: “Kim Komando Today” – Listen wherever you get podcasts
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