Conversation goes like this with a buddy.
Hey that is a really good looking watch.

I reply, thanks it is a Suunto and have been quite happy with it but it is a bit old and the tech is getting a little long in the tooth I am going to look at some other options.

We discuss some other options. I do no Google searching no nothing looking at watches. Just a simple conversation.

The next time I open my email I have an email from Suunto showcasing their new releases.

Next up.
Father In law is doing a garden I am doing a garden. We have a discussion about him having all his posts set for the fencing.

I thank him for letting me borrow his post hole digger and mention with work, the kids sports, and crappy weather I have only gotten one of my posts set but weather hopefully will be clearing up and I should get around to the 9 more to go soon just wish I had more time.

We eat dinner go play with the kids a bit. Next time I open my email if for damn sure I don’t have an email from Ryobi showcasing their new 40v Earth Auger.

Now that being said I am on both Suunto and Ryobi mailing lists.
But seriously, Sometimes these coincidences are way too pointed at specific conversations I have literally just had with folks and have done zero internet browsing in regard to the topic.

I understand googling or looking certain things up on social media then getting bombarded with similar ads within that app or whatever.

But direct emails??

It’s using your location and all of the phones/devices you’ve been near, and their shopping or advertisement profile, IIRC.

I don’t believe it’s the mic necessarily by default, but their profile of you and all of the geo-located devices you’ve been near, and their profiles.

Just curious, iPhone or Android or a mix thereof?

quote:

Originally posted by Veeper:
It’s using your location and all of the phones/devices you’ve been near, and their shopping or advertisement profile, IIRC.

I don’t believe it’s the mic necessarily by default, but their profile of you and all of the geo-located devices you’ve been near, and their profiles.

In both of these instances I know for a fact there was nothing outside of these verbal conversations that went on in regard to Suunto watches or digging post holes.

quote:

Originally posted by bettysnephew:
Just curious, iPhone or Android or a mix thereof?

All have iPhones

My guess? iPhone. This invasive crap happens more and more with my wife when we discuss certain items and boom, there it is on her facebook feed. It only happens around my wife, and she has an iPhone.

So yes, they are that good at listening. It isn't a coincidence.

The other possibility is that:

your buddy started Googling Sunoto watches after your meet-up, and the algorithms have tied you to your buddy

your FIL has been Googling powered augers, and the algorithms have tied you to your FIL

I had something similar happen with my Dad. He installed leaf guards on his gutters and we spoke about it on the phone. The next day I received an e-mail from the exact brand Dad had installed and no other brands. I never once Googled leaf guards as my trees aren't tall enough to put leaves in the gutter, but prior to buying the leaf guards Dad Googled a bunch of options. Yes, it could be the iPhone listening to me, but more likely my Dad and I have been associated since we've both had same e-mails and phone numbers for over a decade.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Do you disable Siri?

^^^^That. Disable Siri.
Android is even worse.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Do you disable Siri?

Unfortunately that doesn’t stop the secret listening.

It’s not coincidence.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
The other possibility is that:

your buddy started Googling Sunoto watches after your meet-up, and the algorithms have tied you to your buddy

your FIL has been Googling powered augers, and the algorithms have tied you to your FIL

I had something similar happen with my Dad. He installed leaf guards on his gutters and we spoke about it on the phone. The next day I received an e-mail from the exact brand Dad had installed and no other brands. I never once Googled leaf guards as my trees aren't tall enough to put leaves in the gutter, but prior to buying the leaf guards Dad Googled a bunch of options. Yes, it could be the iPhone listening to me, but more likely my Dad and I have been associated since we've both had same e-mails and phone numbers for over a decade.

Again, I know for a fact nothing at all was googled, searched, typed, anything done on the phones prior to the conversations or after the conversation but before the emails were received.

Right. They keep a profile of you and the other person and your phones put you at the same spot together.

If you spend a half hour in Target you’ll get Target ads.

RE the mic thing, Facebook is pretty widely known for using the mic when it’s app is open or running in the background, but I’m betting this was proximity related. Two or three people that congregate a lot probably share similar tastes in things and then it just figures out what to show you based on recent searches (relevant) on your proximity pals.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Do you disable Siri?

Siri is disabled on mine and the FILs. Not sure about the buddy’s

Got the facebook app on your phone? Amazon app? Do you use the 'Log in w/ facebook' feature?

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Got the facebook app on you phone? Amazon app?

Yes and I am used to those ads. Though I never use a log in with Facebook feature.

But direct emails from manufactures or products that were only verbally discussed with ZERO prior conversations or any hint searched or typed into the phones.

Have you tried App Privacy Report?

I try to disable mic as much as I can in settings, enabling only for phone calls.

Wanna read something really creepy? Last summer I'm out in the desert with a retired NYC cop and a retired UHP sergeant (I think that was his rank). We are shooting at 900+ yard gongs. Can't really hear my phone so I turned it off. I mean off, off. Not just asleep. I put it into an empty ammo box and set it in the shade in the cab of my truck with the window down. We commence shooting.

About 20 mins into our day long session, I hear a weird tone coming from my truck. It sounded like a screeching alert type noise. Like an alarm. It was loud enough that we all stopped and turned toward my truck. I walked over and the sound was coming from inside the ammo box. I pulled it open, slipped my phone out and there was a 911 screen up. I put it to my ear and an operator was on the other line. She asked me questions about my location and the gun fire. She was going to send the sheriff out to check on us. I told her who was in our group and we talked her off the ledge.

That was so creepy that we all looked at each other with the WTF expression.

You are a commodity, dozens of points of data sold every day to manipulate you, to “re-educate” you and convince you to piss away more hard earned money.

Doubt me? Watch Rob Braxman’s channel on YouTube or checkout “Citizen Four” about Edward Snowden. It’s dated, but most people have no freaking clue.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster: She asked me questions about my location and the gun fire.

My SIL (retired PD) was in our house telling my wife about a particularly gruesome crime scene when her phone suddenly began shouting "Is everyone okay? Do I need to call 911?" and other such nonsense. It wasn't a live person but Siri. My SIL kept saying "No" in a calm voice and Siri eventually quit talking.

So yes, Siri is always listening and ready to help.

Is this an opportunity to brag about your new Suunto watch and Ryobi post hole digger?

Just checked. I own a Suunto too and I haven't received an email add from Suunto since January 10th.