What Browsing Information Is Being Collected From You?
One of the favourite past times for many people is to spend time browsing different retail sites. They may be doing this out of boredom or really looking for the best deal on something they want to buy. Either way there is a good chance that if this is you that you providing valuable browsing information to the retailers that they can use for price setting.
What Kind of Browsing Information?
Some sites have the ability to track how many times you visit a site and view a particular product. If you are tracked as being from a higher income country this may be an incentive for a retailer to increase their prices based on your browsing history.
How Do They Go About Gathering Information?
Some of the ways that websites can track you is through the use of various resources and tools such as:
Cookies:
The cookies used on different sites can vary in what information they collect. Some can use tracking networks that allow them to see what your browsing history has been for other sites. Then there are cookies that are called super cookies that not only gather a lot of information but can store this even upon the deletion of the cookie.
IP Addresses
Simply by tracking your IP address it allows the trackers to determine your geographical location which they may use to escalate prices that they are offering to your area.
WiFI
This requires your permission if a site is going to track your location using WIFI.
Mobile Tracking
Yes, you can even be tracked through your mobile activities.
There are rules and regulations concerning using these tracking methods but most people are not aware of them and don’t realize the amount of data that can be collected from them and how they can affect their shopping experiences on line.
Is There A Solution?
There is one solution for keeping your browsing information private by refusing to accept the cookie policy but if you do this can often limit the amount of data that you can view on that particular site. A better approach may be to invest in a VPN.
What Is A VPN?
It is simply a virtual private network that you can obtain through a variety of different companies that offer this service. Its main function is to provide its users with a secure connection when they are using the internet. It has the ability to protect privacy and enhance the security of online users. It can hide the IP address and provide encryptions for web traffic.
Choosing Wisely
Although there are many companies that offer VPNs it is important to choose one that has a track record for being reliable and trustworthy. You also want to choose one that is user friendly as there can be some challenges setting these up. Although reputable companies will provide good support for this.
How Can A VPN Save You Money?
A good example to use is when you go to buy a ticket for travel. You browse a site that is providing flights and see on price. Then before you even decide to buy the price suddenly increases. In your mind, you may justify this because the seats are selling out fast. This is often not the case. It is usually because the site is upping the price getting you to think that if you don’t buy now you are going to lose out. This is a tactic they can use just based on your browsing history. They are aware of you each time you visit because of the cookies you allowed them to use. However, if you go through a VPN they will not be able to track you and will have no idea how many times you have visited. Therefore are unlikely to indulge in the price hike.
There are potentially other ways to save money like for instance when you have to pay your taxes. If you use an experienced accountant you may find that this professional is able to identify tax savings and credits that you were not aware of. At the very least your taxes will be done properly and you will be hassle-free when it comes to the CRA. Here at Toronto Accountant, we invite you to contact us so we can discuss and perhaps assist you with your tax needs.
