Tapatalk ad question

[Langnam]

I've noticed lately that some of these pop ads on the forums , not just TRF have no correlation to any searches I have done on the iPhone or my home computer.

I think Tapatalk is turning on my microphone. How can I tell? Around Thanksgiving, I was talking to my wife about using the extra potatoes for Shepherd's pie then within an hour or two an ad popped up for a recipe for, you guessed it, Sherperd's pie.

It's like the phone becomes a hot mic.

Today, I bumped into an old friend and we chatted about downsizing or moving altogether as all of our children have graduated college and moved out.

Bam,one hour later an ad pops up on Tapatalk for Massachusetts retirement communities.

Remember, I have not searched for any of this, but I have had the phone on me each time.

Frankly, it's quite disturbing. ☹️


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[Formulansx]

Have you emailed anyone about these things? I know things like LinkedIn mine your emails etc.


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[Langnam]

Originally Posted by Formulansx

Have you emailed anyone about these things? I know things like LinkedIn mine your emails etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, not yet. I wanted to see if other Tapatalk users have noticed the same thing. Seems like TRF users haven't noticed this, but I will check with another forum, too.

I'm not a tin foil hat guy, but I can't think of another way these ads appear without using the phone as a hit mic.




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[jrs146]

I’ve used tapatalk for years and I’ve never had that problem. My guess is it’s another app on your phone. Super creepy!


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[Langnam]

Originally Posted by jrs146

I’ve used tapatalk for years and I’ve never had that problem. My guess is it’s another app on your phone. Super creepy!


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Never thought about that! Time to check the others.


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[tyler1980]

your iPhone will tell you which apps have access to your microphone...


settings>privacy>microphone

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

your iPhone will tell you which apps have access to your microphone...





settings>privacy>microphone

Thanks for that, Tyler1980! So, Tapatalk has requested to hook up the mic along with WhatsApp. I guess I have denied these apps access, but my guess is the app guys just don't care.

I'm really upset about that type of intrusion! Dagnabit! I wasn't paranoid after all.




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[GradyPhilpott]

I've never seen anything like this on tapatalk, but I have the premium version.

There is such a thing as coincidence.

The shepherd's pie seems a little far-fetched, but the one about retirement communities does not.

The thing is that your phone is probably with you most of your day, when you talk about a plethora of topics. If these are the only two instances that have occurred, it seems unlikely that you're being targeted via your phone's mic.

It's still prudent not to allow access to unnecessary features, where you have a choice.

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I've never seen anything like this on tapatalk, but I have the premium version.

There is such a thing as coincidence.

The shepherd's pie seems a little far-fetched, but the one about retirement communities does not.

The thing is that your phone is probably with you most of your day, when you talk about a plethora of topics. If these are the only two instances that have occurred, it seems unlikely that you're being targeted via your phone's mic.

It's still prudent not to allow access to unnecessary features, where you have a choice.

Actually has happened many times, although it didn't dawn on me until Thanksgiving, that my iPhone was eavesdropping on me.

Shepherd's pie was the giveaway.

Screenshot shows Tapatalk has tried for the mic.


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[tyler1980]

also make sure the "Hey Suri" function is also turned off. It is always listening in the background as its voice activated and is constantly listening for a command.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Langnam

Actually has happened many times, although it didn't dawn on me until Thanksgiving, that my iPhone was eavesdropping on me.

Is this just an iPhone thing?

I get targeted ads, too, but I always can attribute them to actual searches.

Could there be someone on your wi-fi network who does searches that may be reflected on your phone when you're also connected to the network?

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Is this just an iPhone thing?

I get targeted ads, too, but I always can attribute them to actual searches.

Could there be someone on your wi-fi network who does searches that may be reflected on your phone when your also connected to the network?

There is a bit of the wifi searching, too. My wife attends grad school at night and uses the home computer for her research papers.

Guess what? Ads for grad school pop up on Tapatalk, especially for MBAs at Spanish universities. I speak Spanish and use WhatsApp to chat with a Madrileño friend.

That, my friend, is a bit spooky.


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[Langnam]

Once in a while my wife will get a migraine. I assume she either does a search on migraines or makes a dr. Appointment.

It's been a while, but Tapatalk is here to remind me.



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[Fredrik]

Use Signal instead, free, encrypted and will not spy on you.

[Langnam]

Ok. Will take a look at that.


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[Formulansx]

Originally Posted by Langnam

No, not yet. I wanted to see if other Tapatalk users have noticed the same thing. Seems like TRF users haven't noticed this, but I will check with another forum, too.

I'm not a tin foil hat guy, but I can't think of another way these ads appear without using the phone as a hit mic.




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I guess what I’m asking is have you sent anything over email related to what you’re asking about? Not sure if Tapatalk mines your email. I haven’t seen any directly targeted ads personally but not dismissing it either.

[Rock]

Why does the
"Sent from my phone using Tapatalk" appear on so many posts.
Is this just a stunt by the company to get free advertising or is there another purpose?
Can it be turned off?

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Rock

Why does the
"Sent from my phone using Tapatalk" appear on so many posts.
Is this just a stunt by the company to get free advertising or is there another purpose?
Can it be turned off?

free advertising. and yes it can be turned off

I leave mine on to look cool, busy, and "on the go"

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by Formulansx

I guess what I’m asking is have you sent anything over email related to what you’re asking about? Not sure if Tapatalk mines your email. I haven’t seen any directly targeted ads personally but not dismissing it either.

No. Tapatalk doesn't seem to be going through my emails. I sort of don't mind when I do a google search and later see ads based on the search, but Tapatalk ads were so far away from any searches, yet still relevant, that I can only conclude Tapatalk is using my mic. It's possible the mic is only on when I'm using Tapatalk, instead of being on full time for Tapatalk ads in the future.

Either way, it's creepy.



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[BNA/LION]

I never thought about this before I saw this post. I recently was using taptalk with a fellow TRF'er. He mentioned he ordered dinner from Joe's Stone Crab in Las Vegas. Next thing I noticed I'm getting ads for Joe's while on taptalk. Therefore, I must conclude taptalk is mining our actions and sending targeted ads.

I really hope they aren't listening in on my phone mic or that anyone else can either. That would just be wrong without my consent!

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by BNALION

I never thought about this before I saw this post. I recently was using taptalk with a fellow TRF'er. He mentioned he ordered dinner from Joe's Stone Crab in Las Vegas. Next thing I noticed I'm getting ads for Joe's while on taptalk. Therefore, I must conclude taptalk is mining our actions and sending targeted ads.

I really hope they aren't listening in on my phone mic or that anyone else can either. That would just be wrong without my consent!

Out of curiosity, what is the legal difference between spying on your written conversations and your spoken conversations?

It would be illegal for the government to do either without a warrant. Why is it ok for tapatalk to spy on you without your consent?

[Tools]

Read the fine print in your "contract".


Sent without an Iphone or Tapatalk

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by BNALION

I never thought about this before I saw this post. I recently was using taptalk with a fellow TRF'er. He mentioned he ordered dinner from Joe's Stone Crab in Las Vegas. Next thing I noticed I'm getting ads for Joe's while on taptalk. Therefore, I must conclude taptalk is mining our actions and sending targeted ads.

I really hope they aren't listening in on my phone mic or that anyone else can either. That would just be wrong without my consent!

Tapatalk has to be using the mic. There is no way that a Shepherd's Pie recipe ad would show up as a targeted ad otherwise. I distinctly remember replying to my wife about using the leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving for the Shepherd's pie later on. I'm pretty sure I was trolling some forums on Tapatalk at the same time. Stands to reason the mic was on.

Still irks me...

[Abdullah71601]

Since the information is obviously theirs to do with as they please, can they sell it to the government without your expressed consent? How does the app know if conversations are privileged?

[BNA/LION]

Facebook is listening in too!



Mic Block -Call speech privacy Pro v1.30
https://www.tapatalk.com/topic/15105...pro-v1-30-paid

There are products designed to stop this...
https://play.google.com/store/search...e&c=apps&hl=en

[Langnam]

Ok. Bringing this topic back again as clearly Tapatalk does evesdrop on its users.

Example: I have been talking with my wife about our cat’s recent habit of ignoring his litter box while dropping his deuce. He’s an old cat, so who knows why. Neither my wife nor myself has used our home computer or iPhones to do any type of search on the subject.

Look at this ad that just popped up. Ticks me off!

Seriously, Tapatalk is just snooping on me!



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[GradyPhilpott]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...-ad-targeting/

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...-ad-targeting/

What ticks me off is as you see in the screen grab on post 7, Tapatalk has requested to use the mic, and I have denied access. Apparently, that doesn't matter.

[bdex75]

What’s funny is I just went to look at this setting on my phone and Tapatalk hadn’t ever requested permission to use the mic. But others had.


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