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Do stores use bank account info to analyze shopping patterns? (mander.xyz)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

29 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Out of a reflex of distrust, I refuse to participate in any kind of loyalty program of the outlet of the large retail store around the corner.

I tell myself that by refusing to join the loyalty program (which basically comes down to scanning an anonymous loyalty card every time I make a purchase), I prevent them from adding my correlations (what products I buy, in what combos, at what time) to their data.

But since I normally pay by card, I guess they can (and do) already do that with my bank account information?

If I would pay with cash, they can still see those correlations per purchase, but they can't track my purchases over time?

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (4 children)

IPhone/android randomize their MAC addresses now to prevent this kind of long term tracking.

Stores will see you walking the store anonymously and be able to create a general customer heatmap, but since this virtual MAC rotates, they won't be able to correlate this to you indivdually long term.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I believe phones broadcast a sort of fingerprint when searching for wifi and/or Bluetooth connections. No MAC address needed!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

The MAC is generally the fingerprint. Looks like Apple handles this when searching as well:

https://support.apple.com/guide/security/wi-fi-privacy-secb9cb3140c/web

I haven't heard of anything else besides MAC being broadcast during the searching phase. Can you give an example or technical term?

[–] herrvogel 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Phones routinely look for specific SSIDs by their names. Imagine you're strolling through a mall while your appearance changes every 2 seconds, but you keep yelling out the names of 5 other peoole. People will not know who you are really, but they will be able to follow you around because they will know that it's you who yells those 5 names no matter what you look like.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Whenever wifi is enabled, your device is sending out probe request frames, which includes your list of preferred networks/networks you've connected to before.

Discussion here