I have read that the big internet companies have many ways of 'spying' on your internet useage.

Well, I now can believe it.

2 days ago,I was looking up my old haunts in Ghana,to see what changes have taken place in the past 5 years. Now,since yesterday,every site,including Thai visa is plastered with Hotel ads for Ghana hotels,so I am now going to think up the most unlikely internet sites and see what new ads occur.

Big Brother is certainly about.

Oh no, a company tries to serve relevant ads to individual users. Get out the tin foil, the end is nigh, etc, ad nauseum.

try searching for black midget porn, see what kind of ads you get.

I have a special offer on these:

Buy now before the government buy them all up!!

It's called google adsense and has been around quite a while.

Rather than serve you random ads google serves you ads based on your browsing and search history on the slight chance that it may be of use to you.

You can turn it off and co back to regular random crap if you like.

Don't worry, there isn't some creepy fat guy with glasses sitting in a google office somewhere taking notes...

I have a special offer on these:

Buy now before the government buy them all up!!

Reminds me of the illegal CB craze in the UK in the 80's when everyone had a 'Home Base' or had one hidden in the glove pocket of the car with a ruddy great DV27 aerial stuck on the outside somewhere. The Cops didn't bother you as they had them as well !

It's called google adsense and has been around quite a while.

Rather than serve you random ads google serves you ads based on your browsing and search history on the slight chance that it may be of use to you.

You can turn it off and co back to regular random crap if you like.

Don't worry, there isn't some creepy fat guy with glasses sitting in a google office somewhere taking notes...

Are you sure about the creepy fat guy??

My point is that it means that someone..something...somewhere.. is monitoring and tracking my internet use,and I'de rather they did'nt.

Anyway I googled 'elephants in Greenland'...will wait to see what occurs.

I have had banners for a certain dental clinic follow me round for the past few days after visiting their website. Now I understand targetted advertising but this is getting ridiculous. The clinics ads are replacing much more appealing ads for lady friends -appealing in the visual sense only.

It's called google adsense and has been around quite a while.

Rather than serve you random ads google serves you ads based on your browsing and search history on the slight chance that it may be of use to you.

You can turn it off and co back to regular random crap if you like.

Don't worry, there isn't some creepy fat guy with glasses sitting in a google office somewhere taking notes...

Are you sure about the creepy fat guy??

My point is that it means that someone..something...somewhere.. is monitoring and tracking my internet use,and I'de rather they did'nt.

Anyway I googled 'elephants in Greenland'...will wait to see what occurs.

They're not monitoring and tracking your Internet use.

You are exchanging your query terms and related soft data for access to their DB.

Hardly conspiracy theory stuff and where's the problem?

You happily contribute content here and allow it to be used to serve ads with no complaint?

Your ISP on the other hand ...

gay dwarf amateurs.

lesbian amputee wrestling.

edit: waited 10 mins and still all i see is ads for surveillance equipment. so much for that theory

Internet settings. Privacy Tab. Check the box "never allow websites to request your physical location".

Not sure if that'll work for Google Search, but give it a go.

I browse this site regularly and don't get any of these ads you guys speak of. Am I doing something wrong or maybe you are?

I guess you should stop using your phone too. Same thing happens when you call someone, they send you SMS to sell something too

Stop using Google services and the problem goes away ( Google Search engine , Gmail , Chrome , You Tube etc etc )

They did announce their intentions earlier this year :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2091508/Google-privacy-policy-Search-giant-know-partner.html

" I am not a number - I am a free man "

Seems like it is a deliberate policy by Google to ignore customer wishes and track user data :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2104263/Google-bypassing-privacy-settings-Internet-Explorer-claims-Microsoft.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2186270/Google-forced-22million-fine-spying-Safari-users-STILL-refuses-admit-wrong.html

So vote with you feet - or in this case your fingers !!