Opt out of ad tracking on your phone and web browser

With all the interest around Facebook data breach and how they track you through your browser, its worth pointing out that you can easily turn off this advert tracking through your smart phone and web browser settings.

Facebook doesn't actually track your browsing history, this is in fact caused by the websites you visit.

These sites are using re-marketing advertising to try and get you to come back and complete the initial purchase enquiry. Once visited they add you to a list that is then used by Facebook to advertise to you on their platform.

Some people find this useful but if you don't you can easily change your smart phone and browser settings.

Change your browser privacy ad tracking settings in Google Chrome

Google have the following instructions for this:

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. At the top right, click More Settings.
3. At the bottom, click Show advanced settings.
4. Under "Privacy," check or uncheck Send a "Do Not Track" request with your browsing traffic.

See the screen shot below:

Change your browser privacy ad tracking settings in Firefox

Mozilla have the following instructions for this:

1. Click the menu button in the top right corner and choose Options.
2. Select the Privacy & Security panel.
3. Find the Tracking Protection section.
4. Underneath Send websites a "Do Not Track" signal that you don't want to be tracked , choose the Always setting.
5. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

See the screen shot below:

Change your browser privacy ad tracking settings in Internet Explorer

Microsoft have the following instructions for this:

1. Open Internet Explorer and select the Tools button .
2. Select Safety > Turn off Do Not Track requests.

See the screen grab below:

Change your browser privacy ad tracking settings in Android

Android have the following instructions for this:

• Go to your phones Settings menu
• Scroll down and click on the 'Google' option. 
• Then choose 'Ads' and then switch on the 'Opt out of Ads Personalisation' option
  

See the screen grab below:

Change your browser privacy ad tracking settings in Apple IOS

Android have the following instructions for this:

• Go to your phones Settings menu
• Scroll down and click on the 'Privacy' option
  
• Scroll down again and click on the 'Advertising' option at the very bottom
• Select the 'Limit Ad Tracking' option to activate
  

See the screen grab below: