Earlier today I checked out some YouTube clips of Chet Atkins playing guitar and now the BrickBoard is popping up ads trying to sell me finger-picking lessons. I'm not an expert at all, but doesn't this imply the BB is scanning cookies in my machine to see what recent websites I've visited?

Otherwise, how do it know? I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

Or am I being paranoid?
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Bob: son's XC70, dtr's '94-940, my 81GL, 83-DL, 89-745(V8) and 98-S90. Also 77-MGB and some old motorcycles.

It's actually Google tracking you. Google tracks what you search with a google cookie, then uses that history to "target" ads towards you. So if you search for a cell phone, you might be getting cell-phone ads for a while.

I believe Brickboard uses google ads, and that's why you see the ads for things you recently searched.


I recently contributed for a second time, and the lack of ads is amazingly nice. The ads are usually slapped together and cause my browser, Opera, (which is the fastest most customizable browser, but the least tolerant of bad code) to hang or crash.

Small contributions do count. Chip in $5 and enjoy the lack of ads.
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740T and 244DL - Frank the Tank @287K mi. and The Polished Turd @237K mi.

If anyone is using Firefox the following Add-ons will help eliminate data mining and web tracking:

Ghostery, shows the web trackers and allows you to block them.

Better Privacy allows one to remove LSO (Locally Stored Objects). Flash cookies that do not expire.

NoScript allows you to select Java Scripts from trusted domains. A bit of a hassle at first but well worth the effort security wise.

Adblock Plus blocks unwanted ads from web pages.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I use Adblock plus for Firefox, it eliminates 99% of all adds unless you allow them. You can set specific pages or domains to allow adds.

For example Gmail detects tracking numbers in a confirmation email and makes a clickable link for tracking. This feature confuses adblock so I allow adds on my Gmail account.

Haven't used IE in years, haven't missed it either.

Dave Shannon
Durango CO
'88 Volvo 240 DL
'67 1800S
My Volvo Pages
My Jeeps

Google data mining, cookie tracking. Everything you do is tracked. There are various cookie blockers available but then you won't get access to certain sites.

I bought a product at a store recently. The next night I got a call from the industry association representing that product. They requested I write my elected officials to support bill ____ blah blah.

What's nasty about this is that the store and the credit card company - to whom I bitched immediately (even though I knew it was pointless) - are in full compliance with the law. But there are a couple of processors in the middle who aren't in the finance industry and so not subject to those same opt-out laws ...

Then there's the "accident": two stores w/ whom I have business accounts sold my contact info "looks like there was a computer glitch and your 'opt-out' somehow got unchecked we-are-sooooooooooo-sorry" but they're not required to contact the companies from whom I now get paper mailings.

2 weeks ago I got a flyer from a Volvo dealer "the new models are in". (Which is great timing because I think every day of upgrading my old 240 to a 2012 car with monthly payments higher than what I paid for my 240).

So where did they get my info? No home address here. IPD, Europarts and FCP Groton deny ever selling data. OH MVD says they don't but they used to.

I've been fighting this for years but basically it's the consumer against politicians who are funded by lobby/ trade groups. It's hateful and I haven't given up but it's a huge time sink.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

Try having a Security Clearance (actually two), a Pilot's License, and Concealed Carry Permit. I do not need to surf the web, or use a credit card, Big Brother has been watching me since I was 17 (when I got my pilot's license).

If you care about being track, traced, logged or anything else...never use the internet, pay cash for everything, never receive a government monitored certification, turn in your drivers license and only rent a an apartment from a company that does not run credit checks and accepts cash.

Mike

I like your reply. I learned to not worry about being tracked. They can put a chip in my forehead if it gets me thru the airport easier!

Don't you love it when the drug store/radio shack/bicycle store asks for name/address/phone number. I used to reply that "no thanks" I don't need to be on any more mailing lists and the checker tells me "don't worry, we don't share that information." As if the minimum wage employee will be able to guarantee me that this info will stay confidential!
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1993 240 Classic; 1993 945 Turbo; 1992 944 Turbo; 1997 850 GLT

I find the pop-up thing you descried very intrusive and disturbing.
I've visited you tube quite often recently, and never had a popup.
Perhaps it has something to do with your computers OS/browser?
I have a Mac, but my girlfriend got a new laptop with Windows 7, and it seems to capture any and all of web information and activity.
I'm no expert either,but I doubt your popups have anything to do with this board, more likely due to an intrusive OS/browser,(such as Internet Explorer,which is infamous for such things).

Browser is Google Chrome (too many crashes and freezes with IE), but since the fine print on the popups says: "Ads by Google" well.....
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Bob: son's XC70, dtr's '94-940, my 81GL, 83-DL, 89-745(V8) and 98-S90. Also 77-MGB and some old motorcycles.

And I'm on Chrome now too. More ads but FF was just dead.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

Why not make a modest contribution/donation (a real bargain, considering what you get in return) to Jarrod, who runs this website, and for which ads will be blocked?