Hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data, including SSNs. What does this mean for you? Plus, dynamic pricing at grocery stores, Google’s new game-changing updates, and Ford’s latest ‘do not drive’ alert.
Money-saving tool you need before you start holiday shopping
Have you ever had the strange feeling of being watched when you’re browsing online? Well, the truth is you are. Shopping sites track you.
In some cases, you may see prices for certain things go up every time you check. A rental car might be $50 per day the first time you check prices, but it bumps up to $55 when you go back to book it. The same thing happens with hotels and airline tickets.
This common practice isn’t just disturbing. It can also cost you money. But there is a way to fight back, and we’ll show you how. Plus, we’ll tell you all about Kim’s personal and most trusted VPN service, ExpressVPN.
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Are targeted ads costing you money?
Not long ago, targeted advertising creeped people out. They couldn’t understand why Facebook knew what they had just bought on Amazon. The truth is personalized ads are the result of a very impersonal process.
Your details are crunched bits of data that make marketing more efficient. Interest-based advertising uses information gathered through your browser. Special algorithms analyze your visits over time and across different websites. This helps predict your preferences and shows you ads that are more likely to be of interest to you.
Sometimes, all this tracking can overwhelm the average customer. While the process is basically automatic and unmanned, such ads can feel like an invasion of privacy. It can also feel unfair when suddenly prices start jumping up, but it’s all part of a process known as “dynamic pricing.”
Dynamic pricing is when companies sell the same product at different prices to different groups of people at different times.
It’s a very complicated process that could end up driving prices up on stuff you’re looking to buy. Being tracked online plays a role in it, and you want to avoid this. The good news is you can.
Using a VPN can help save money
A virtual private network, or VPN, is a layer of protection between your devices and the internet. It hides your IP address and your location and encrypts your data. When you’re not at home and using public Wi-Fi, a VPN provides a critical layer of security.
COVID-19 is driving up prices online - here's how to save
One of the most radical changes caused by COVID-19 has been the startling increase in online shopping versus buying from brick-and-mortar stores. This change was already well underway pre-pandemic, but like with many cultural trends we took for granted, the sudden lockdown of businesses rapidly accelerated the process.
Why, Wendy’s, why? Just when you thought burger prices were sacred, Wendy’s says, “Hold my Frosty.” CEO Kirk Tanner says they’re spending $20 million on digital menus for “dynamic pricing.” You know it as surge pricing — like Uber, but for your burgers and fries. I’m surprised because Wendy’s doesn’t cut corners.
Update the Target App now or you may pay more than you need to
We recently told you about Walgreen’s “smart coolers” that monitor customers to customize their targeted ads.
Love it or hate it, it’s just another way physical stores leverage technology to enhance their profitability. And with the threat of online shopping at an all-time high, they are looking for all the help they can.