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Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

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Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#341

Post by dehrmann »

otterley wrote: post #306
dehrmann wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's in level 3 data. https://www08.wellsfargomedia.com/assets/pdf/small-business/...

“For Level III data, only Mastercard® and Visa® corporate, purchasing, and fleet cards can qualify.” So consumer credit cards can’t get this.

I'm not an expert on this, but I suspect merchants supporting level 3 data send it to the processor for all transactions, not just for corporate cards (if they even know it's a corporate card), but they only get the fee discount if it's a corporate card. Your credit card statement might not expose the data (or even get it), but the network can still sell it.

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#342

Post by AnonHP »

tolbish wrote: post #294
gumby wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In order to bootstrap adoption of CCs, the banks pushed for a law in the 60s that put all the fraud liability on the banks, not the card users (and, to a lesser extent, not on the merchants). Your CC purchases are quite protected and it's easy to dispute a charge (apparently a very big deal in the phone and online sex businesses). As debit cards became popular here (well after Europe) the banks push them hard on peop…

Don't you have to pay interest on your average balance even if you pay off your balance every month?

Not GP, but the answer is no if you pay the balance in full every month. The issuer anyway makes money from the MDR (merchant discount rate) charged to the seller. But they would love customers who pay a partial balance regularly (at or above the minimum due) and charge them hefty interests like 20% per annum or 36% per annum or even higher, depending on a few different factors. Once you carry over balances from month to month, then every transaction attracts interest until the entire balance with interest is paid off.

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#343

Post by fma »

Somewhat related...If anyone shops at Kroger or their owner chains (Fred Meyer, Ralphs, etc) and use their rewards card...know that they sell your data. That use the revenue to subsidize their prices - which is why they are cheaper than other grocery stores.

You can opt out of it, or simply signup for a rewards card and not use your real info.

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#345

Post by doc_gunthrop »

lorentztt wrote: post #180
II2II wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Better, get a de-Googled ROM If you have the patience and knowledge, I can't recommend this enough. If you don't have the patience and the knowledge, this is a good way to end up with a non-functioning phone. (It will probably be recoverable, provided that you have the patience to acquire that knowledge and don't mind being without a phone in the meantime.) When I say I can't recommend it enough, I mean it. I have…

Which one do you use/recommend?

For maximum security & privacy, go with GrapheneOS (used to be CopperheadOS back in the day). Caveat is that you won't have Google Play (or even MicroG), which means some Google apps (and paid apps) won't work and if you want apps from Google Play then you need to install Aurora app.

If you want the above, but also want access to Google Play apps, then install CalyxOS.

The third option is LineageOS (was originally CyanogenMod back in the day). This custom ROM is the most accessible for a variety of devices. It's good for privacy, but, because the bootloader is left unlocked (which may or may not be relevant depending on your threat model), it is the least secure of the three.

Both GrapheneOS and CalyxOS have very user-friendly installation methods, but exist primarily for the Pixel line of devices. LineageOS has the most involved installation process, but it's available for the widest variety of Android devices.

I've installed all three ROMs on several different devices. For the average person, CalyxOS will probably be the best bet (though I think the Trebuchet launcher in LineageOS is better).

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#346

Post by nextos »

vbsteven wrote: post #308
continuations wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does Google link the real life person who bought Voltaren at a store to the online account or fingerprint that browses the Internet?

I don’t think Google linked the account directly to the purchase. My guess would be that Google linked the account to the medication based on patterns from one of its many ways it gathers data. * visits to websites about that medication * visits to websites talking about symptoms for which the medication helps * searches for the above * I would not be surprised if Google picks up interests from other accounts using t…

I think it's the last option. His phone probably heard him ordering Voltaren. It's also the simplest possibility (Ockham's razor).

I know because after discussing extremely rare chemicals at an officemate's desk, he began seeing ads for them. Neither of us had ever Googled or emailed anything related. It was a brand new idea for a brand new project which we had started working on that morning.

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#347

Post by [deleted] »

jeroenhd wrote: post #107
baybal2 wrote: post #29

Opt out of VISA marketing https://marketingreportoptout.visa.com/OPTOUT/request.do Second, disable GPS, and cellphone tower ID reporting (root needed.) So Google can't correlate you with sales records. At the moment, there is no way to disable Google AGPS spying on the stock Android. Third, block Google apps from reading your IMEI/IMSI/serial number, so they can't get AGPS data from your cellphone provider if it sell…

This is the dumbest ad strategy ever. Why on earth would ads about a product you just bought be effective marketing material. This is like how you get a million ads about dishwashers the day after you Google around and buy one. At least wait for a short duration of time to let the target run out of medicine before adversiting new stuff.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#348

Post by geoduck14 »

utopcell wrote: post #235
zubi wrote: post #203

March 2020, heydays of coronavirus paranoia. I came back home from somewhere, put my keys onto the dining table and went to the bathroom to clean up. My girlfriend, upon seeing the key-chain on the table started reproaching me for being careless about hygiene. When I returned from the bathroom I saw her washing the key-chain in the kitchen sink. This time I got angry and asked how come she hadn't thought that the usb…

FB ad tech is rudimentary if it only showed you ads to replace your USB stick and no dating sites.

Hahaha

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#349

Post by vbsteven »

whimsicalism wrote: post #337
vbsteven wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think Google linked the account directly to the purchase. My guess would be that Google linked the account to the medication based on patterns from one of its many ways it gathers data. * visits to websites about that medication * visits to websites talking about symptoms for which the medication helps * searches for the above * I would not be surprised if Google picks up interests from other accounts using t…

So, then, completely different from what the GP suggested.

My comment was an expansion on GPs second bullet point. It’s not Google that knows about the purchase, but Google that “somehow” picked up contextual info from OPs environment linking OPs online identity to Voltaren as a product.

Edit: the purchase could have been involved somewhere in the chain but it’s not necessary.

Re: Ask HN: I bought Voltaren at the chemist, now Google shows me ads for it. Why?

#350

Post by bordercases »

pc86 wrote: post #137
jeroenhd wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This feels like it should be illegal if it isn't already.

Why? I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm actually inclined to agree. But this hand-wavy "this should be illegal!" type of comment is extremely common on these threads and is completely unhelpful.

It is like your are being spied upon, specifically to influence your behavior without your knowing.
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