4 Tips to Stop Targeted Ads and Remain Anonymous Online in 2024

Reading time: 4 min

Updated on September 23, 2023

Written by Kate Hawkins Cybersecurity Specialist

The amount of data an advertiser has for the average user online can be terrifying.

Whether you’re on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Chrome, and yes iOS users even Safari, advertisers will collect cookies and data which allows them to build a complete profile for you. This includes your age, gender, location, what websites youvisit and more. The result of all this data is you’ll see ads that seem as if they were written for you.

Tailored marketing can be so personal it has you looking over your shoulder, or worrying about what other information about you could be leaking out onto the net.

Fortunately, there are a few different techniques you can try to prevent targeted ads and lessen any impact they have on you, especially if this type of correspondence makes you uncomfortable. Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

4 Ways to Stop Targeted Ads

1 Install a VPN with an ad blocker

Utilizing VPNs presents an effective way to prevent targeted advertisements. When you connect to proxy servers via VPNs, you gain the ability to browse the internet in a private and anonymous manner. This guarantees that ad trackers cannot track your online activities or identify you.

Additionally, many VPNs have built-in ad blockers, which makes them an excellent option to avoid targeted ads when you are online, and also stop non-targeted spam and pop-ups showing on your device.

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Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

2 Surf in incognito mode

Many web browsers, like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Opera, or Internet Explorer, have anonymous, or incognito, browsing.

When you turn on this feature, your browser ignores cookies, including ad-tracking cookies, and your device doesn’t record browsing history.

3 Erase your history and switch off cookies

To stop targeted ads, it is often best to start with a clean slate.

Remove any records of past access and searches, clear your browsing history, data, cookies, and cache from any web browsers that you use.

Next, limit, or disable, the tracking features on your device, including Facebook and other social media services, and ensure that you have deleted third-party ad cookies.

Finally, perform a test on your browser using an online privacy and security checker like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which will allow you to assess your risk level.

4 Opt out of all adverts

Many companies use the same algorithms to monitor and track your online behavior and activities, allowing them to take advantage of your habits. However, there is a way that you can opt out of any internet-based, behavioral adverts.

The DAA (Digital Advertising Alliance) allows you to review its partners. When you visit the DAA, your device is scanned to compile a list of advertisers who are directly targeting you. You can then read about the practices of each company and opt out of ads using opt-out cookies in your browser’s preferences.

What Are Targeted Ads and How Do They Work?

Targeted ads are a way for businesses to focus on potential customers based on variable factors including gender, race, income, education, employment status, etc. Any personal or distinguishable statistic could be used in an advertisers’ favor to display specific call to actions or products relating directly to you on your device.

Targeting ads are achieved when retailers and sites save cookies to your browser which relay information through third-party advertising networks like doubleclick.net.

Once you navigate away from the initial page, the next participating page you visit will utilize the data and display targeted ads, like an item you have recently searched for, for example.

Final Thoughts

It is no fun feeling like your every move is being watched, scrutinized, and analyzed, to allow a company to force-feed you advertising.

All of the above methods are effective ways to prevent targeted ads and can be used in tandem for greater protection for your privacy.