Tracking a site that have recently visited

Ray3

I have F- Secure Freedome (VPN) installed on my Notebook.

 

When ever I visit a hotel booking site with the VPN activated I believe what I am accessing is being tracked. The reson for this when I access other sites, the advertisment from the hotel booking site is shown on the site I am now on and it further makes recomendation of other hotels in the particular country I just checked out.

 

It feels strange that this has happened a few times.

 

Could some advise me, do I have an isssue with the VPN or am I being tracked irrespective of the VPN being activated

 

 

 

 

 

Ukko

Hello,

 

Sorry for my reply. I'm only F-Secure user (their home solutions). So, it is only unofficial words.

 

I feel that all OK with your VPN.

Potential suggestions and feelings:

 

->> possible to re-check your VPN connection (that there is not your IP or not your DNS-servers in use) with steps like:

- F-Secure ROUTER CHECKER ( https://www.f-secure.com/en/web/home_global/router-checker )

- to use some well-known IP checkers (show your information about); There was discussion with some service-example ( https://community.f-secure.com/t5/F-Secure/Leak-dns/m-p/101018 )

 

The expected result is 'Freedome VPN' data (virtual location IP, their DNS address); Also, your traffic should be encrypted between your system and destination (as main reason and design of VPN).

 

->> when F-Secure FREEDOME VPN is active AND Tracking/Browsing Protection modules are enabled too -> tracking protection functionality (as example) does not work under HTTPS connections.

 

So, if your noted website works with HTTPS (and their resources too) -> maybe certain tracking activities are not prevented (and another website -> where supposed to be advertisements or suggestions; or loaded third-party scripts from previous website with your browsing-session data).

 

In general, it will not track you with meanings that it is not your IP or so. Most likely, it is 'cookie'-file (or maybe something related) -> and will show it based on such website (but not real information about you). So, potentially it is not a 'tracking you'; but certain session's browsing (just like -> if website will show to you your recent viewed items).

 

Additionally, I think that for your description -> possible to create multiple steps to show advertisement/track users when they were with VPN. It may be system's own configuration (browser's configuration and system's information) OR another sources of verification user's identity (session-token).

 

F-Secure Freedome does not decrypt your encryption connections (based on privacy and security concerns). Because with some of realizations -> it will break TLS (secure connection) and will be ability to intercept your encrypted traffic.

About F-Secure Freedome Tracking Protection (and, as example, tracking cookies) limitations:

• https://community.f-secure.com/t5/F-Secure/What-is-Tracking-Protection/ta-p/81921
• https://community.f-secure.com/t5/F-Secure/F-Secure-Freedome-Anti-Tracking/ta-p/52153
• https://community.f-secure.com/t5/F-Secure/How-are-the-tracking-cookies-and/ta-p/81930
• https://community.f-secure.com/t5/F-Secure/Does-Freedome-intercept-tracking/ta-p/81932
• https://community.f-secure.com/t5/F-Secure/AMTSO-s-anti-phishing-test-page/ta-p/102991

// later added:

also, it is good to transfer certain URLs to F-Secure Labs:

https://www.f-secure.com/en/web/labs_global/submit-a-sample#sample-url

There are available certain categories like (URL Type -> Freedome related troubles; Trouble Type -> Tracking URL not blocked); Just like their research about your examples (does it work as expected or not).

 

Thanks!