Carolinaboy, I agree with you, and disagree with JimP’s idea that a VPN is effective against market-data-gathering.
Your IP address is a tiny piece of market data. Cookies are the bigger part, and VPNs do nothing about that.
If you NEVER (intentionally) use Google or Facebook, and use a VPN always (even on your phone), AND use a good ad-blocker, Google and Facebook still know who you are, and what you’re up to (from a marketing standpoint). There are so many embedded third-party cookies in common use, it’s nearly impossible to avoid.
A VPN does nothing to stop this. In fact, it adds one more data-point.... you use a VPN.
A VPN is part of the solution. First, your ISP is collecting and selling marketing data about everything you do online, so that has value right there.
I use OpenDNS set up to completely block a lot of ad domains.
I also have all the known Facebook and Twitter servers completely blocked by name resolution on my primary computer. Nothing from those servers gets in - badges, cookies, etc... also, never used Facebook. (Not that that stops them from trying.) I have only ever seen screenshots of twitter. None of the embedded links to twitter that people post work on my home network at all. I do without. Same for FB.
Use private browsing that throws out cookies when shut down. Then there is no session to session tracking. And use ad blockers that block cookies from known ad domains. Ublock Origin is pretty good.
The VPN obscures your IP by making it look like you come from the VPN‘s IP, which can be in nearly any country with NordVPN.
Yes, Amazon and eBay have quite a history on me. But I can browse without exposing those cookies and linking what I do to that identity when I want to.
For example, if I want to do some research on a medical condition, whether mine or family or friend - full precautions and anonymity. No upside to having that associated with me that I can think of.
I know it isn’t foolproof and that stuff leaks out. But much slower than for most I bet.
Next step will be to use Tor browser.
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