Disable Interest-Based Ads to Get Fewer Creepy Ads on Android
Android: Nobody likes ads, but they can get especially creepy if you don’t know how ads even knew you might be interested in something. If you want your ads to be less personal, you can turn off interest-based ads in the Google Settings app.
In 2013, Google began quietly adding the Google Settings app as part of Google Play services . You will be forgiven for missing this. However, it has some handy features. One of the most relevant for privacy-conscious users is the ability to block interest-based ads. Open the Google Settings app in the app drawer, click Ads, and select Opt-out from Interest-Based Ads. This will lock the phone getting individual recommendations in advertising on your device. Ignoring this setting is against Google’s developer policy, so if ads continue to serve you targeted ads, this app may be removed from the Play Store. However, you are on your own for any apps you download from third party sources.
It’s also a good time to reset your advertising ID on the same screen. This is the id where all of these targeted ads come from. So, if you’d rather not let Google know you’re interested in this Hello Kitty adult product, you can reset your advertising ID and Google will start from scratch.