Ebay recognises me even when logged out

[inneedofhelp]

Hello everyone,
I thought that browsing on ebay without being logged in, allowed you to be anonymous. I was looking at some listings (and I was logged out) and then later when those listings ended, ebay sent me an email saying that they ended but there were similar items available...why is that? I thought that I was free and anonymous.
Your help is very much appreciated.
Cheers!

[nickopedia]

Anonymous from eBay?

HAHAHAHA! - They are watching you closely.

eBay can even see you taking a shower.

All kidding and jokes aside tho.

Many sites have many other methods of "watching" your browsing activity even when you are NOT logged into, or even visiting their site. One common method is though web beacons, e-mail/javascript, etc.

You know all those little ads you see on some sites? They might be keeping track of what external pages you visit and send that back to the affiliate or advertiser.

That's why some people see ads for golf clubs right after searching for them through google, or seeing "similar items" on eBay when you search up those items elsewhere.

This is nothing new and has been going on a very long time.

[inneedofhelp]

I can understand that they secretly track me, but, sending an email in regards to the listings I've checked it's their admission of secretly tracking me, which I don't understand.

[JamesNorth101]

They still know who you are even if you are logged out because of cookies. Want them to not track you then use a new browser and IP

[inneedofhelp]

Originally Posted by JamesNorth101

They still know who you are even if you are logged out because of cookies. Want them to not track you then use a new browser and IP

So if for example I'm using my main computer account (where I have also my ebay suspended account that I use only to buy) and I look on ebay (logged out) for ended listings of items that I will soon sell on my stealth account (using a different user on my computer), can ebay become suspicious?

Or, if I use my main computer account (where the suspended account is) to look for items that I want to buy with my stealth account to gain feedbacks (obviously using a different user on my computer), can ebay become suspicious?

Thanks

[rsot]

Originally Posted by inneedofhelp

So if for example I'm using my main computer account (where I have also my ebay suspended account that I use only to buy) and I look on ebay (logged out) for ended listings of items that I will soon sell on my stealth account (using a different user on my computer), can ebay become suspicious?

Or, if I use my main computer account (where the suspended account is) to look for items that I want to buy with my stealth account to gain feedbacks (obviously using a different user on my computer), can ebay become suspicious?

Thanks

They don't really become "suspicious" like that - the cookies will be there and give you recommendations when you go on other sights (as an example).

You would have to be logged on, sharing IP, cookies, etc for a strong link to be formed

[nickopedia]

Everything on eBay is automated. They are not "suspicious" of you, that's just the way their system works by default. It's perfectly normal.

Want complete 100% privacy? Stop using the web and unplug your computer.

Seriously, if you haven't already done so, you might want to read the stealth guide if you haven't already done so. It would address a alot of your questions in regards to keeping these accounts truly separate from one another to avoid cross-linking from occuring.

[chrisroookie]

eBay knows everything about you, they know when you shut down your PC, when you go to work, when you do anything, heck even if you dream about something...

[dallis]

They're sending ads for things you looked at to your email!

No tracking required at all.

You're overly paranoid.

Similar ads shown through your browser are due to cookies and beacons and the like. It's sort of disconcerting, though.

[SaiJin]

As per the stealth guide, you need to use a new dedicated windows account.

If you keep using the same account even when logged out, your cookies and IP are all recorded.