Twin Cities PC Repair, an Apple and PC repair company based in Eagan, Minnesota, has recently published a blog post that explains how to avoid getting stalked by technology. The article is titled, “Stop Your Technology from Stalking You.” With today’s technology, these can act like stalkers who want to know everything about a particular person. This is usually to be able to show advertising that are of interest to a particular person. But this can become creepy. Thankfully, it is possible to avoid this.

The article offers some suggestions to stop the stalker-like tendencies of the technology that people are using. Today’s marketing and online communications mostly have to do with customization and personalization. For instance, if someone liked a friend’s picture of an Art Deco door in Belgium, that person will now see many more posts featuring similar designs. Or if a person views an area rug on a website, that person will suddenly be bombarded with ads for rug stores when he or she goes online.

All of those things are supposed to add convenience, but it is also unsettling. What companies online know about a particular could actually be more detailed than what his or her friends know. There are a number of steps to take to regain control of what the computer, phone, and apps know about the user.

The first thing to do would be to review one’s privacy settings. Whether going online from a phone, desktop, tablet, or laptop, it is important to get to know the device’s privacy settings. Some important settings to review include: email tracking; location tracking; voice recordings; and purchase history.

According to the Macbook repair company, it may also be a good idea to opt out or block ads. Opting out of ads limits the information collected by the browser or device. The site or business still receives basic information, but the user will no longer receive targeted, interest-based ads. Apple’s iOS 14 allows app blocking and this can also be set on Android devices.

Otherwise, it may be advisable to use browser ad blockers, such as AdBlock Plus, or JavaScript blockers, such Ghostery, to minimize ad tracking. Also known as content blockers, these software programs prevent ads from showing on websites that are visited. It is also possible to find ad blockers for Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer.

It is also advisable to check permissions. It is important to be aware of the permissions given to apps. The importance of checking device settings has already been discussed, but it is also advisable to limit the permissions given to apps. For example, social media accounts have privacy settings that allow the user to control what’s logged about him or her. In addition, it is advisable to also check permissions for other apps. Clash of Clans doesn’t require location services, for instance. It may be a good idea not to give Slack access to the microphone and video recordings.

It may also be advisable to use webcam covers. Covering the webcam prevents someone from potentially seeing and recording the computer user. If there is a light coming on to indicate that the webcam is in use, it is vital to know that hackers can disable that. A simple sliding webcam cover closes the webcam when it is not being used to prevent a cybercriminal from having access. Covering the webcam can also come in handy in all those online meetings. A covered camera means the computer user doesn’t run the risk of colleagues catching him or her unprepared.

Finally, it is advisable to limit the information provided especially in social media. Social media has developed a culture of oversharing. There are probably many things one has seen about friends online that one would rather not know. It is also possible that one is sharing more than what is need with the companies that one interacts with online.

If one is filling out a form for a download, it might be a good idea fill out only the required fields. When adding an app, its vital to put only a few personal details. Think about it from a need-to-know perspective. For instance, that home design game doesn’t need to know where the user went to high school or what bank the person uses.

Those who are interested in learning more about computer privacy can check out the Twin Cities PC Repair website, or contact them through the phone or via email.

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For more information about Twin Cities PC Repair, contact the company here:

Twin Cities PC Repair
Patrick Jensen
6514568655
patrick@twincitiespcrepair.com
860 Blue Gentian Rd
Suite 200
Eagan, MN 55121