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Personal Info Appearing In Banner Ads??

Big-TDI-Guy

Big-TDI-Guy

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jan 11, 2007
2,606
13
I searched - and couldn't find anything on this.

When I log-in to MR now - I get bombarded with my Amazon Purchases / Recommendations. It's not cool, because I never authorized Amazon to share my info with anyone else. Yet - things that I KNOW are not coincidence - are popping up all over MR. Who else is buying RF activated relays, Banco De Gaia CDs, D40s, 15W Solar Panels and 7A Charge controllers on this sight??? I find that exceptionally hard to swallow.

Is this the first version of spyware on my Mac - or is Amazon / MR / Google logging my IP and targeting me?

Considering I opted out of marketing, sharing of info - it's a tad upsetting, and even more concerning. (not so much at MR - but with Amazon)

Is this happening to anyone else?

I plan on becoming a "contributor" soon - so it's not that aspect bothering me - just the fact this info is being shared in spite of me not agreeing to it. (and actually requesting that it NOT be shared)
 
I think you're onto something.

I get Amazon ad's offering me Pearl Jam CD's. I've been recently looking for a PJ shirt, and have quite a bit of their music in iTunes.
 
I haven't noticed anything like this. Maybe you should post in the Mac Rumors Feedback Forum and see if arn picks up on it.
 
For me its the recommended books under my amazon account.

I dont remember authorizing either amazon or macrumors to do this though.
 
MR has nothing to do with this. They belong to an ad service that serves ads. Log the offensive ads and post it here. Arn has frequently stopped ads in the past.
 
I don't find it offensive - just concerning, considering Amazon was not supposed to share this info.

I'm going to contact Amazon and ask them what is up.
 
If it's an Amazon ad, they aren't sharing your info with anyone else.
 
here is the saw stuff


it wont go away


Click the privacy thing at the bottom on the box

1. What was I looking at?

The Amazon.com content that you were viewing is a type of link used by Amazon.com Associate websites to enable Amazon.com to deliver content directly to your browser.

Typically, when you look at a Web page, the words and pictures you see actually come from several sources. Your browser software assembles the pieces and displays them as a single page. On the Associate website you were visiting, most of the content you saw was transmitted from server computers used by the site's operator. However, the placement you just clicked on was different--we sent it to you directly from Amazon.com.
2. What is an Amazon.com Associate?

An Amazon Associate is a website owner who places links to the Amazon.com website on his or her site and earns referral fees through sales of Amazon.com products. (To find out more about the Amazon Associates program, click here.) The website that displayed this link to you is an Amazon.com Associate.
3. What information about me does Amazon.com receive and retain through this link?

Your browser automatically sends any Amazon cookies on your computer to our server when you view this type of Amazon.com link on an Associate website. (For more information about how Amazon uses cookies, see our Privacy Notice.)

We may use your Amazon.com cookie to determine whether you are a recognized Amazon visitor and to offer personalized content (such as product recommendations) and special offers.

In addition, we keep a record of your visits to Amazon Associate webpages that have Amazon.com content links on them. Among other things, we use this information to better personalize your web experience and improve our Amazon services. The information we collect is subject to the Amazon.com Privacy Notice.
4. What choices do I have about the automatic information you collect about me?

If you do not want us to keep a record of the Amazon Associate websites you visit, you may opt-out of such information collection by clicking here. After you opt-out, we will no longer collect or use this information. However, all previously collected information will be retained by our systems to better personalize your web experience and improve our Amazon services.

Of course, if you choose to click through to the Amazon.com site, we, like most websites, will receive and store your clickstream to, through, and from our site. For more information about the automatic information we collect, please read our Privacy Notice.
5. Does Amazon.com share with third parties any information this service collects about me?

No. No personal information we may collect about customers who view, click, or purchase through Associate links is shared with third parties, including Associates, except as described by the Privacy Notice governing the Amazon.com website.
6. Are products listed on Amazon.com Associate websites through this linking service the same as the personalized recommendations I receive when visiting Amazon.com?

They can be. The products you see listed when visiting an Amazon Associate's site can be based on a variety of factors, such as that site's topics and sales history or your browsing history on Associate websites and Amazon.com. We might also show you items based on your own personal purchase history at Amazon.com. The Associate website hosting this Amazon.com link does not have access to these "personalized" recommendations.
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It's not to do with MacRumors.

Websites store cookies on your computer, which can log any kind of information the website may need to recall in the future if you visit again.

When you look at something on Amazon, say, microphones, Amazon will store this information in a cookie on your computer. Whenever you visit a website with an Amazon advert on it, the advert is in fact coming from Amazon's servers, not the website's. The servers look at the cookies on your computer, and display an advert which matches what you've been looking at.

Disconcerting when it happens to you, but after you realise exactly how it works, there's nothing worrying about it at all. Your information isn't being given out or leaked anywhere. ;)
 
Just delete the cookies, I do it regularly. And don't accept ad cookies.
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
When I log-in to MR now - I get bombarded with my Amazon Purchases / Recommendations. It's not cool, because I never authorized Amazon to share my info with anyone else.
Click to expand...

Sorry about the confusion, but as stated above, Amazon is not sharing your information with anyone or MacRumors.

It's essentially the same as you going to Amazon.com and them showing you stuff you might be interested in.

Instead of browsing Amazon, the small ad is a window to Amazon who knows who you are and then posts the relevant information. It happens transparently, and we have no access to your information. And when someone else browses the site they see info for them.

we might not keep it around anyhow...
arn
 
Arn, it has nothing to do with you guys - rather it's Amazon. As I *thought* I had opted out of this.

I understand what you're saying, and trust me, this is the lesser of the evils. (pop ups, X42 Webcam, Male Enhancement, Look Younger, ect...)

I've updated my preferences with Amazon, and will wipe my cookies at the end of the day.

I still have plenty of love for MR. Don't worry. ;)
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
Arn, it has nothing to do with you guys - rather it's Amazon. As I *thought* I had opted out of this.

I understand what you're saying, and trust me, this is the lesser of the evils. (pop ups, X42 Webcam, Male Enhancement, Look Younger, ect...)

I've updated my preferences with Amazon, and will wipe my cookies at the end of the day.

I still have plenty of love for MR. Don't worry. ;)
Click to expand...

I'd say it's beacuse you never signed out of you Amazon account. When ever a person doesn't sign out of amazon properly and the person revisits the website, Amazon automatically has recommendations for you. I'd guess is the same thing although being mirrored by MR.

Just delete your cookies and it shall go away... until you log again into Amazon.
 
Well, a good example is a real one.

Two years ago, I got a friend of mine a Christmas present - an anime he wanted, via Amazon. Neither one of us knew it at the time - but it was a disturbing incest Anime... Did I mention, it was disturbing?

So - in spite of "clearing" my purchase history, ect... If someone else were to use my computer. (and this happens) I don't want banner ads of "If you liked XXXX - also consider: Keeping it in the family, Volume 7 / Daddy's Big Boy / Predator - The Sexual One.... Get the idea?

I don't have any shameful purchases (aside from Leopard) - but at the same time, I don't want this to follow me around.
 
Big-TDI-Guy said:
Well, a good example is a real one.
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Have you tried the Improve Your Recommendations section of your Account, and simply checked the "Do not use for recommendations"?

Picture 1.jpg

</stupid question>

That's what I do for books, I have little or no interest in, that I order for my girlfriend or others...
 
Yeah, I'd really like it if Amazon would stop this. I keep getting ads for Joy Division and other artists I like... But Arn is right, It's just like seeing the recommendations window on Amazon on MacRumors.
 
Meh. 'tis easier to just demi-up. ;)

Seriously though, that is a bit creepy. :eek:
 
cornopaez said:
I'd say it's beacuse you never signed out of you Amazon account.
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Dumb question. :eek: How do you log out of amazon.com? The only way I know is to click the link before the question mark in this line:
Hello, Doctor Q. We have recommendations for you. (Not Doctor Q?)​
Is there a more straightforward way?
 
Doctor Q said:
Is there a more straightforward way?
Click to expand...
Nah, that seems to be the official way to do it:

Signing Out

If you are using a public terminal, you will want to log off, or sign out, before you leave the computer. Here's how:
  1. Click the link near the top of the home page that says "If you're not (your name), click here."
  2. On the next page, leave the e-mail and password spaces blank and click the Amazon.com tab at the top of the page.
Click to expand...
What's wrong with a good old fashioned log out/sign out button...? :rolleyes:
 
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