Understanding
Online Advertising
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Privacy & Personal Information
- Does the NAI opt-out stop spam, junk mail, or pop-ups?
- Can Interest-Based Advertising information be used for non-marketing purposes?
- Is ID theft a risk of Interest-Based Advertising?
- Are viruses and spyware a risk of Interest-Based Advertising?
- Do these FAQs address every business practice and technology used by NAI member companies?
No.
The NAI opt-out tool covers only member companies’ use of cookies to target advertising based on users’ web browsing.
We do not maintain opt-out programs for postal or electronic mail, text messages, or for pop-ups.
For more information about controlling spam and email preferences visit the FTC website.
NAI members and the online advertising industry as a whole have also pledged not to use information gathered for Interest-Based Advertising to decide if you’re eligible for employment, health insurance, or credit. In fact, the NAI prohibits its companies from using this information for any non-marketing purposes.
Online advertising served by NAI members is not a source of identity theft. Your social security number or credit card number aren’t being used to show ads. Being placed in the interest categories and audience groups used to make ads relevant does not increase your risk of identity theft.
However, it is important to be vigilant when you are online – learn more about how to protect yourself and your data against ID theft here and here.
Based Advertising does not increase your risk of computer viruses and spyware. You should always take precautions to ensure your devices are protected. Keep in mind that cookies are not software, and cannot run as programs on your computer. Cookies cannot read or examine the data on your computer or alter its settings in any way. More information about computer security.
Our goal is to share information about some common ways that NAI members engage in interest-based advertising. Through brief, easy-to-read summaries and simple diagrams, we hope to teach consumers how interest-based advertising generally works when a user visits a website. We don't cover every variation in business practices, nor do we cover mobile, and, given how rapidly technologies change, we can’t promise that the site will always reflect the latest techniques used for interest-based advertising. Please check back for updates as we add more information. To submit feedback on our site, please click here.
Information about the NAI's policy regarding Flash Cookies and LSO's has been moved here.