An advertising ID is a unique user ID assigned to a mobile device (smart phone,
tablet computer
A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being comput ...
), or operating environment, to help advertising services personalize their offers.
It can be sent to advertisers and other third parties which can use this unique ID to track the user's movements, habits, and usages of
application
Application may refer to:
Mathematics and computing
* Application software, computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks
** Application layer, an abstraction layer that specifies protocols and interface methods used in a c ...
s. There is a potential for such technology to replace
magic cookies
In computing, a magic cookie, or just cookie for short, is a token or short packet of data passed between communicating programs. The cookie is often used to identify a particular event or as "handle, transaction ID, or other token of agreement be ...
.
Implementations
* Apple calls their advertising ID the "
Identifier for Advertisers
Apple's Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) is a unique random device identifier Apple generates and assigns to every device. It is intended to be used by advertisers to deliver personalized ads and attribute ad interactions for ad retargeting. Use ...
" (IDFA). Beginning with its iOS 14.5 software update, Apple will allow its users to choose whether to allow apps to track their IDFA.
* Google calls their "Google Advertising ID" (AAID).
* Microsoft uses a similar technology, also called Advertising ID, that is generated for each device and user. In Windows 10 & 11, it can be turned off in the settings panel.
See also
*
References
{{reflist
Adware
Mobile technology
Tracking
Apple Inc.
Google