Verizon Wireless Lets Customers Opt Out of Tracking 'Perma-Cookies'

[m0dest]

Disable your ad blocker

Folks, just a heads up. The opt-out section in the screenshot of this blog post is the wrong section. You are looking for the "Relevant Mobile Advertising" section beneath it.

You need to disable any ad blockers for the opt out section to be visible. They chose to use the ".contentAds" class name for the opt-out UI, which is hidden by EasyList, which is the database used by almost every ad blocker there is. If you have an ad blocker enabled, the "Relevant Mobile Advertising" section is empty with no opt-out beneath it.

 

[pa-geographer]

Doesn't work for me -- account access error

I'm getting an account access error when I try to opt out.. See the attached jpeg. I'm logging in using the same user ID and password that I use on my iPad. Clicking the big red button just recycles the page but otherwise does nothing. No email either.

I've tried using Safari and Firefox both with Add-ons/extensions enabled and disabled. This is the first time I've ever tried to log in via the VZW website. I otherwise manage the mobile account entirely from my iPad. Anyone else having this issue??

 

[C DM]

I'm getting an account access error when I try to opt out.. See the attached jpeg. I'm logging in using the same user ID and password that I use on my iPad. Clicking the big red button just recycles the page but otherwise does nothing. No email either.

I've tried using Safari and Firefox both with Add-ons/extensions enabled and disabled. This is the first time I've ever tried to log in via the VZW website. I otherwise manage the mobile account entirely from my iPad. Anyone else having this issue??

Sounds like the account you have allows you to do various things but not everything.

 

[CraigB1960]

Good info! I was not aware until reading this...just opt-out for both my phones.

 

[John.B]

I guess I had already opted out, Kenneth White's website doesn't report a Broadcast UID and shows Do Not Track is "Enabled" from my iPhone.

I'm still at a loss to determine why anyone at Verizon thought this was a good idea. I just wish the AT&T and T-Mobile networks weren't so crappy where I live and travel. :-(

ETA: Logging into VerizonWireless.com via the above link from my iPhone gives me the classic: "Safari cannot open the page because too many redirects occurred." I had to login separately, then go to the link, and I still get a "Restricted Account Access" messsage telling me my current role is "Account Member", not "Account Owner". Nice, Verizon, real nice...

 

[Ambush083]

@MacRumors, Thanks for posting this. I went ahead and opt'ed out of EVERYTHING.

 

[puckhead193]

now to remember my password..

 

[Ciclismo]

Pardon my language, but what a bunch of *******s.

Crap like this should be "opt in" not "opt out" because the bulk of the population isn't tech savvy enough to even know about this, let alone figure out how to opt out.

 

[Tech198]

I don't my any of this...

It only exists to track users, so "opt-in", "opt-out" doesn't really matter cos they do what they want.

By opting out, (if that even works), It only (like most advertising) gives you the appearance of making the user happy..... Under the hood, i bet Verizon is up to no good at something else, since they have you anyway.

Why would they just 'let u go' ? They have you.

Another way would be to "opt in" but companies reckon they are dong us all a favor. Well,, i'll do them a favor to by proving them fake info at sign up Net gain,,,, they can go nuts if they want.

 

[bushido]

a bit off topic but what I found interesting is that if u request and download all your Facebook data on the website you can even see what ads and promoted likes you may have clicked on in the past. creepy but interesting

 

[scottwaugh]

I believe the setting was there before, and I already opted out some time ago, so not quite sure what changed now in relation to it--is it that they applied that already existing setting to something more than what it used to apply to?

More than likely Verizon's infrastructure had this tracking designed in as something that could not be turned off (not a bug, its a feature) - it took them this long to redesign, code, test and rollout the ability to turn it off (although they almost surely watch everything you do coming through your mobile "pipe" and log it).

It's important to remember that the U.S. government passed a law, a couple of years after 9/11, that gave the big telecoms blanket immunity for providing all kinds of what would be unlawful tracking information and data on their users phone/online activities of the U.S. citizenry in general - Verizon and AT&T have worked (and presumably continue to) as close partners with the NSA.

 

[C DM]

I guess I had already opted out, Kenneth White's website doesn't report a Broadcast UID and shows Do Not Track is "Enabled" from my iPhone.

I'm still at a loss to determine why anyone at Verizon thought this was a good idea. I just wish the AT&T and T-Mobile networks weren't so crappy where I live and travel. :-(

ETA: Logging into VerizonWireless.com via the above link from my iPhone gives me the classic: "Safari cannot open the page because too many redirects occurred." I had to login separately, then go to the link, and I still get a "Restricted Account Access" messsage telling me my current role is "Account Member", not "Account Owner". Nice, Verizon, real nice...

So are you actually the account owner?

----------

Pardon my language, but what a bunch of *******s.

Crap like this should be "opt in" not "opt out" because the bulk of the population isn't tech savvy enough to even know about this, let alone figure out how to opt out.

While I definitely agree, when things are opt-in then no one really does it which makes it pretty much useless to the company.

----------

I don't my any of this...

It only exists to track users, so "opt-in", "opt-out" doesn't really matter cos they do what they want.

By opting out, (if that even works), It only (like most advertising) gives you the appearance of making the user happy..... Under the hood, i bet Verizon is up to no good at something else, since they have you anyway.

Why would they just 'let u go' ? They have you.

Another way would be to "opt in" but companies reckon they are dong us all a favor. Well,, i'll do them a favor to by proving them fake info at sign up Net gain,,,, they can go nuts if they want.

Well, that can apply to anything. How do we trust a bank with our money. How do we trust doctors with our health information. Etc, etc, etc.

 

[AFPoster]

Thanks for the post. Removed myself and all numbers from all 3 options.

 

[kdarling]

It really is sad how infested the web has become with these trackers. That and studies continually show that the general public is increasingly ok with surrendering their privacy in exchange for convenience.

And for services.

The thing is, nothing is free. In the old days, we paid dearly for access to the internet, to forums, to download images, even to get directions.

Now we get all that in return for ads that most of us never look at.

Look at all the people here who have not paid anything to this forum. Do they think it's free to run such a site?

That said, the primary right of anyone should be the ability to opt out of any tracking they don't like, as long as they understand that it might also limit the services they get in return.

 

[WaltCD]

I guess I'm in the minority..

I guess I'm in the minority..

If I'm going to have to see ads anyways, I'd rather see ads that are deemed relevant to me.

----------

You need to disable any ad blockers

That's there any ad blockers that work on iPhones?
Preferably using Google Chrome or Safari?

 

[icerabbit]

Would be great if I could ever reach the page.
After logging, regardless of latest safari or firefox ...

The page isn't redirecting properly

Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.

 

[C DM]

Would be great if I could ever reach the page.
After logging, regardless of latest safari or firefox ...

The page isn't redirecting properly

Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.

Somehow when linked in the article, even though the link address looks right, it doesn't get redirected correctly for some reason. The page is at https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/secure/setPrivacy.action (and if you at least copy and paste that link address it should work).

Alternatively, you can login to My Verizon, then go to to view your profile (there's an option for that in the menu on the left side or on top) and then at the bottom of that there are privacy settings that you can edit via the Manage Privacy Settings link which will take you to that page.

 

[icerabbit]

Thanks C DM. +1

Actually, already had CPNI set to NO, as well as business and marketing purposes.

Funny thing is, this (new to me) third section about Verizon Select

" Relevant Mobile Advertising - Verizon Selects
Verizon Selects is a new option that may make ads, offers, and other content you receive from Verizon and other companies more relevant to you. Click here to learn more. "

When I go there, one of my lines is missing

Though it looks like an opt in and I'm just disabling the non primary lines from enrolling. Still curious about the main line???

Always something.

 

[John.B]

So are you actually the account owner?

Yes, but the VZW website doesn't recognize me as being the account owner when logged in with Safari from my iPhone (user ID or primary phone number, didn't matter). However, it did when logged in with the same credentials via Firefox on my Mac.

Very strange...

 

[cesjr]

Question...

How long do you have to wait for the Opt-out to take effect? I opted out of everything last night and Kenneth White's website is still showing X-UIDH in the Broadcast UID field. I've refreshed, cleared cache and data, rebooted, and nothing has changed.

Thanks