It sometimes feels like your phone knows what you're thinking about before you do.
Especially when an ad appears about something you talked about but never looked for on your phone. You're not going crazy - your phone is probably listening to your conversations.
It's a common trick called ultrasonic cross-device tracking that's supposedly being used in advertisements on TV and by advertisers in general. If you're worried about it, there is a way to turn it off so you can't be tracked so easily.
Read more: Crucial tax refund worth almost €2,000 workers could be missing out on
According to NordVPN ultrasonic cross-device tracking sees apps use ultrasonic 'audio beacons' which can't be heard by the human ear to 'link all the devices you own to track your behaviour and location'. They're then picked up to be used by the likes of advertisers.
As you're probably aware, a lot of apps ask for permission to use your microphone. Some find this scary and many others haven't a clue how to prevent it.
One way to not fully prevent it but limit how much it can happen, is to go to the "Privacy" option in your phone settings. From there you can see what apps can access your microphone and limit it if you choose to.
Other options are to get a secure browser like Brave, Tor, or DuckDuckGo or download a VPN which encrypts your online activity. NordVPN's Adrianus Warmenhoven said: "While it's impossible to stop the ultrasonic beacons working, you can reduce the chance of your smartphone listening for them by simply restricting unnecessary permissions you have granted the apps on your device."
READ NEXT:
Popular 200-year-old Dublin Pub to be demolished under MetroLink plans
'Tsunami' of hotels sparks call for 'aparthotel' development in Dublin 8 to be refused
Attacks on Gardai 'quite bad' but guns aren't the answer, says Dublin MEP
'I travelled through Dublin Airport during cold snap mayhem - here is what you need to know'
Government issue statement on schools opening amid 'bitter' cold snap
To get the latest news to your inbox, sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter.
