A woman has told how she received ‘creepy’ targeted advertisements for the sunglasses she had just misplaced – despite never searching for a replacement. Emily Thomson was at a family barbecue when she misplaced her Messy Weekend sunglasses and she asked family and friends if they had seen them.
But what Emily but didn’t realise was her search would reveal a disturbing truth about smartphone privacy. She said: “I know they are just sunglasses, but they were my favourite pair. So I was feeling really annoyed at myself for not being more careful with them.”
She got in touch with friends and family who had joined her at the beach. She talked to them in person, sent Whatsapp and Facebook messages, and made phone calls to see if anyone had spotted her lost shades.
But importantly she never searched online for new sunglasses. However within days, she noticed sunglasses advertisements for the exact brand appearing on her social media feeds.
The 27-year-old, from Norwich, said: “At first, I thought it was just a coincidence but then I realised I had never searched for these sunglasses online. I had only talked about them in person and in private messages.”
It led her to suspect that her smartphone was listening to her conversations and using that information to target her with ads. This practice, often referred to as “eavesdropping”, has been a subject of debate and concern among privacy advocates for years.
While tech companies have repeatedly denied using smartphone microphones to gather data for advertising purposes, many users remain sceptical. Emily added: “It’s creepy and slightly annoying. It felt like my phone was mocking me, as if to say ‘we’ve heard you lost your sunglasses, why don’t you just buy another pair’. It’s like you can’t have a private conversation anymore without it being used to sell me something.”
As consumers become increasingly aware of these privacy concerns, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and managing smartphone permissions and settings. Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, said: “In today’s digital age, protecting your online privacy is more important than ever.
“Emily’s experience highlights the need for vigilance in managing our digital footprint. To safeguard your privacy, make sure to review and limit app permissions on your devices. Be particularly cautious with microphone and location access. Remember, convenience often comes at the cost of privacy.
“Regularly audit your social media privacy settings and be mindful of the information you share online. Even seemingly innocent details can be used for targeted advertising or more nefarious purposes.
“You can also encrypt your online communications and sensitive data by using a VPN service, such as NordVPN, when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks to prevent eavesdropping. Be wary of phishing attempts and suspicious links.
“Always verify the sender’s identity before clicking on links or downloading attachments, even if they appear to come from known sources. Use strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts and consider employing a password manager to keep track of them securely.
“Never use the same password for multiple accounts. By implementing these strategies, you can significantly increase your online privacy and security, ensuring that your digital life remains under your control — not in the hands of advertisers or potential cybercriminals”