The modern Internet may be an advertising medium, but you do not have to let yourself be inundated with targeted online ads. This article provides some tips you can use to keep those annoying targeted ads at bay and enjoy your web surfing in peace.

The Problem With Targeted Online Ads

If you spend a lot of time on the web, you may have noticed an eerie similarity between the sites you visit and the ads that appear at the side of your screen. One minute you are searching for the lowest airfares to Bermuda; the next you are looking at ads for a five-star hotel on the beach. One minute you are shopping for new bedroom furniture and the next thing you know you are opening an email from a local furniture store.

The connection between your web surfing activities and the advertisements you see is not an accident. Companies large and small spend countless hours and untold amounts of money to track their customers’ every move and preference. From your favorite color to what kind of soap you prefer, some advertiser somewhere probably has access to that information.

If the idea that multinational companies and other advertisers know so much about you and your purchasing habits freaks you out, you are not alone. Many Internet users are troubled by the ubiquity and the personalization of the ads they see, and they are looking for a convenient way to opt out of all that clutter.

Targeted ads certainly have their place, but customers should have a voice as to when and where they see them. Most people hate the invasive techniques used by the companies who serve the ads.

Related Reading: How to Block Ad Tracking on the Internet

As an example of where targeted ads might be useful, if you are in the middle of planning a vacation, you might welcome a few money saving coupons or helpful suggestions on where to stay and what to see. But if you are just browsing airfares or looking for ideas, you might not want to see all those ads. Knowing how to stay anonymous when you want to can make your web surfing more fun and productive.

Keep Targeted Ads at Bay by Clearing Cookies

When you surf the web, the sites you visit use tiny files called “cookies” to track your movements and target you with ads. Understanding how cookies work and how to control them is the best way to protect yourself from unwanted ads and the resulting “privacy invasion”.

It is important to understand the difference between first party and third party cookies. First party cookies are used to save your preferences and settings on a particular website, and they can be very useful. If you change the resolution on a particular website or make other changes, the first party cookie stores that information and allows the page to load properly the next time you visit.

Third party cookies, on the other hand, are used to track your movements from site to site. Advertisers use these third party cookies to keep an eye on you, serve you targeted ads and record every move you make. It is these third party cookies you need to be concerned about.

The simplest way to clear away third party cookies is with a commercial software program designed to protect your privacy. CCleaner is one of the most popular and easiest to use, but there are many others on the market as well.

You can start by checking with the company that provides your anti-virus or anti-spyware software. Some companies bundle privacy software with their other programs, making it easy to protect yourself and erase third party cookies each time you exit your web browser.

Related Reading: How to Opt Out of the New Ads at Google Plus

You can also set your web browser to delete cookies on exit, but you may not be able to distinguish between the first party and third party variety. That could mean that your favorite websites load more slowly, and you may need to reset your preferences each time you visit.

No matter which option you choose, dealing with your cookies can reduce the number of targeted ads you see and preserve your privacy. Taking charge of the ads you see can make surfing the web more fun and enjoyable.