Technical question: How to avoid being tracked

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Old 02-08-2022, 10:23 PM
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Default Technical question: How to avoid being tracked

I wish I could have come up with a more explanatory title to explain the help I'm seeking--apologies in advance.
I'm trying to find flights to Australia to visit family. Yesterday the premium economy return (i.e, round trip) flights were about $4K. Today on the same sites they're $5K+. I have heard that through tracking "they," whoever "they" is, know you're looking and raise the prices. (I've had this happen before: example, when searching for a 7-lb medical weight bar, it was $40 one day and $80 the next, whereas the 8-lb bar was $40. for the same bar on the same site on both days. But I hadn't clicked on the 8-lb bar.)


I thought I heard there was a way to do a new search for the same thing and have your prior search not visible to the sites. I'm sure I'm not using the right terminology, but any help would be appreciated.
FYI, I use a Dell Windows 11 and Firefox, although we do have an Mac Pro that we use to Face Time the grandkids. So possibly I could just switch computers?
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Old 02-08-2022, 10:29 PM
triflex triflex is offline
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On your Mac go to Safari: File, New Private Window.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance View Post
I wish I could have come up with a more explanatory title to explain the help I'm seeking--apologies in advance.
I'm trying to find flights to Australia to visit family. Yesterday the premium economy return (i.e, round trip) flights were about $4K. Today on the same sites they're $5K+. I have heard that through tracking "they," whoever "they" is, know you're looking and raise the prices. (I've had this happen before: example, when searching for a 7-lb medical weight bar, it was $40 one day and $80 the next, whereas the 8-lb bar was $40. for the same bar on the same site on both days. But I hadn't clicked on the 8-lb bar.)


I thought I heard there was a way to do a new search for the same thing and have your prior search not visible to the sites. I'm sure I'm not using the right terminology, but any help would be appreciated.
FYI, I use a Dell Windows 11 and Firefox, although we do have an Mac Pro that we use to Face Time the grandkids. So possibly I could just switch computers?
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Old 02-09-2022, 04:25 AM
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You should be able to delete stored cookies as well.
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Old 02-09-2022, 07:02 AM
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There is a browser that you can install that does not track
About DuckDuckGo
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Old 02-09-2022, 07:05 AM
Djean1981 Djean1981 is offline
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Yes, duck duck go. Also, the brave browser.
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Old 02-09-2022, 07:25 AM
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Maybe try the browser Duck Duck go they don't track or store cookies.
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Old 02-09-2022, 07:25 AM
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Maybe try the browser Duck Duck go they don't track or store cookies.
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Old 02-09-2022, 08:29 AM
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And if you really are serious about not being tracked use TOR and Duck Duck Go, this will also hide your IP as it bounces through multiple servers, it will also slow down your browsing.
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Old 02-09-2022, 08:29 AM
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Sometimes, if I know I'm going to purchase something but am not in a hurry, I will put the item in my cart (works on some websites) and let it sit in there for a few days. I will sometimes start getting emails reminding me of an item left in my cart, and those reminders occasionally contain 10, 20, or even 30% off offers.

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Old 02-09-2022, 08:30 AM
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Old 02-09-2022, 08:43 AM
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Duckduckgo is the privacy search engine. The searches are cleaner than google. We've been using it for years. They now offer a privacy email address. Free. I have one and it removes trackers. The email address has one problem that you change email addresses as you are asked for your address so you will have two addresses. On balance it is very worthwhile. Amazing how many trackers are attached to your emails. Even the White House put a tracker on!!!!!
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Old 02-09-2022, 09:53 AM
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Skyscanner for air fares
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Old 02-09-2022, 10:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance View Post
I wish I could have come up with a more explanatory title to explain the help I'm seeking--apologies in advance.
I'm trying to find flights to Australia to visit family. Yesterday the premium economy return (i.e, round trip) flights were about $4K. Today on the same sites they're $5K+. I have heard that through tracking "they," whoever "they" is, know you're looking and raise the prices. (I've had this happen before: example, when searching for a 7-lb medical weight bar, it was $40 one day and $80 the next, whereas the 8-lb bar was $40. for the same bar on the same site on both days. But I hadn't clicked on the 8-lb bar.)

I thought I heard there was a way to do a new search for the same thing and have your prior search not visible to the sites. I'm sure I'm not using the right terminology, but any help would be appreciated.
FYI, I use a Dell Windows 11 and Firefox, although we do have an Mac Pro that we use to Face Time the grandkids. So possibly I could just switch computers?
Open a private window in Firefox by clicking on the Menu icon (3 bars, probably on the right) and select New Private Window. Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+P
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Old 02-09-2022, 01:56 PM
Babubhat Babubhat is offline
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Firefox focus browser. Not regular firefox
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Old 02-09-2022, 03:16 PM
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I delete unwanted cookies at least once a day.

Just curious, but what "sites" are you using for your airfare searches?
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