New to VPN

[Lithium75 0]

Hey folks, I'm kinda new to using a VPN and was kinda surprised today.

 

I was running AirVPN while on Amazon.co.uk looking at headphones for the kids. Just been on to my facebook and the exact headphones I was looking at are showing on my newsfeed.

 

I know I am probably being daft but thought a VPN would have stop this kinda thing.

 

Cheers

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

A VPN changes your IP address and encrypts your traffic. Don't ever think "VPN on, anonymity on".

You are registered on Amazon and on Facebook - two companies collecting data about you. Further, Facebook is known to also read your browsing history and your open tabs. So your browser may be the culprit in this case.

[Khariz 109]

Cookies.  If you are logged into both Facebook and Amazon on your browser, and you have active cookies (and you aren't in incognito/private mode), then your cookies are tracking you around the internet.  Doesn't matter what your IP is.  

 

Do this experiment.  Without being logged into AirVPN, go to Facebook and log in.  Then activate the VPN and refresh the page.  You are still logged in, right?  Why?  Session Cookies.  They just tracked you from one IP to the other.  If you are using google services, facebook, amazon over VPN, you are literally destroying your own privacy/anonymity.  You just erased the fact that you are on a VPN.