Popular Mechanics - USA (2019-05)

A

COLUMNS

↓ THE I.T. GUY

/ BY ALEXANDER GEORGE /

34 May 2019 _ PopularMechanics.com

MONG THE GEEKIER of
my geeky habits is check-
ing the log of an app I have
called Disconnect. It ana-
lyzes my data traffic and
identifies and blocks track-
ing systems, recording
what it does along the way.
Usually after I search for something or use a
Google product, under Disconnect’s Recent
Trackers, I’ll see “paged.l.doubleclick.net.”
DoubleClick is a Google company that helps
direct advertisements to the right peo-
ple. In that same log, there are names like
AppsFlyer, Eyeview, and BidSwitch, all
companies most of us have probably never
heard of but that help run the modern inter-
net economy of knowing lots about your
audience’s habits.
So many recent tech news stories have
shared the same theme: Big Internet Com-
pany Creepily Watches Unsuspecting
Users. We learned that Google Search and
Maps users’ locations were being tracked
even after they checked the setting specif-
ically saying not to. And that apps such as
Hotels.com and Air Canada were record-
ing users’ screens as they used the apps.
Like most people, I don’t like big compa-
nies holding intimate information about
me. So I strategically obfuscate my habits.
I say strategically because making your-
self completely untraceable will make a lot of
the internet and your devices a huge pain to
use. For example, an exceptional ad-blocking
browser extension called uBlock Origin will
make some videos not play at all. Verbally
telling Google Maps to navigate you “Home”
is easier than pulling over and thumb-typing
your address. And while the You-Might-Also-
Like functions of sites like YouTube can lead
you to a f lat-earther’s channel, navigat-
ing most major sites without giving it some
knowledge of your preferences is like always
opening Spotify to the Top 100 playlist.

That’s all assuming the app

you’re using even functions

without some email address or

phone number sign-up.

Besides that, I’d be a bit of a

hypocrite if I went completely

dark. I’m among the people

who buy groceries with pay-

checks partially funded by the

companies publishing these

advertisements. Also, part

of Popular Mechanics’ liveli-

hood is affiliate links. If you’ve

ever tapped on the photo of a

power drill that we’ve tested

and recommended, you were

likely taken to an Amazon

product page, which tracked

your path from us to the retail

giant. If you buy that drill, we

get a small commission.

For some people, the idea

of multiple entities profiting

off of a single purchase is so

repulsive that they will open

a separate browser to buy that

product. I get it. It’s hard not

to feel a bit used and observed.

But in an era where it’s difficult

to make money from the inter-

net and advertising money

goes primarily to companies

like Facebook and Google, it

feels like I’m helping when I

click through to buy the Wire-

cutter’s recommendation for

a Bluetooth speaker. Or when

I Like a DIY YouTuber’s video,

or leave a positive Yelp review

for my motorcycle mechanic.

There’s a line between that

kind of par ticipation in mod-

ern technology and getting an

Instagram ad that makes you

certain that your phone was

listening to you.

Tech companies, I hope,

will figure out the privacy line

soon. But in the meantime,

I’ll keep them in check. I’ll

keep Disconnect running

on my phone. Whenever I

install a new app, if it asks

for permission to know my

location or contacts, I’ll prob-

ably deny it. And whenever I

buy through an affiliate link

on Amazon, I’ll first navi-

gate to smile.amazon.com,

which sends some of Ama-

zon’s money to a charity you

choose, while still giving a cut

to the reviewer whose testing

convinced you to buy. See?

There’s some good to be found

in the depths of the internet.

A HIERARCHY OF

ANTI-TRACKING

METHODS

REASONABLE

PAR ANOID

Print out Map-

Quest directions

from a computer at

a public library

Carry your phone in

a signal-blocking

bag

Install apps like

Privacy Badger to

catch tracking

software

Use a VPN app to

scramble your

internet traffic

Clear your browser

history regularly

Turn off Location

Services for apps

that don’t need it

Give retailers

a fake phone

number

Delete

unused apps

Make Yourself

Less Trackable

Targeted ads creeping you out? Same.

Here’s how I keep the algorithms at a

comfortable distance without hurting

my internet experience.