How does this happen - ads showing up?

[mac_in_tosh]

So a couple of days ago I was home searching the internet on my MacBook Pro for certain images to use for a project. Some of the images I found using Google Images took me to Shutterstock.com when I clicked on Visit Page. Later that day, I was home on my iPod Touch playing a game that occasionally puts up ads and lo and behold there is a Shutterstock.com ad showing the types of images I was looking at earlier.

I was not logged into anything like Google, Yahoo, YouTube, etc. on either system. The only thing in common was the WiFi used. So how does my iPod know what I was doing on the MB Pro?

 

[Darth.Titan]

Whatever service providing the ads logged your IP address.

 

[Gregg2]

So how does my iPod know what I was doing on the MB Pro?

Just how do you sync your devices? Are you on iCloud?

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Just how do you sync your devices? Are you on iCloud?

I do not intentionally sync them. I don't use iCloud.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Whatever service providing the ads logged your IP address.

I'm on FIOS. Would that service be Verizon?

 

[Darth.Titan]

I'm on FIOS. Would that service be Verizon?

No, it would be whatever ad service your game uses getting the info from Google probably.

You mentioned a Google search that took you to Shutterstock. When you clicked that link Google said, "Hey, [mac_in_tosh's IP address] likes Shutterstock!"

Then you launched your game, and their ad system (probably Google ads) said, "Hey, it's [mac_in_tosh's IP address] ! Let's serve him up some of those sweet Shutterstock ads. We know he likes those!"

An oversimplification to be sure, but that's basically what's happening. Nothing to be afraid of.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Thanks Darth.Titan. That makes sense now.