Bullseye Banner Ads

[Extrapolateer]

Recently used my Motorola Droid browser to go to movies.yahoo.com to check a movie time. Noticed a Netflix banner ad at the top of the page. I had just canceled my Netflix subscription last month, so I clicked on the banner ad to see what it said. To my surprise, when the page loaded it said "Welcome Back," followed by my name and a button to click to restart my subscription. Obviously, Netflix knew exactly who I was even though I had never been on their website with my phone before. How did third-party Netflix get my name for this ad? There are three suspects: Verizon, Yahoo, and Google. Has anyone else experienced this type of "bullseye" advertising? How is it done? TIA

 

[Martin030908]

Recently used my Motorola Droid browser to go to movies.yahoo.com to check a movie time. Noticed a Netflix banner ad at the top of the page. I had just canceled my Netflix subscription last month, so I clicked on the banner ad to see what it said. To my surprise, when the page loaded it said "Welcome Back," followed by my name and a button to click to restart my subscription. Obviously, Netflix knew exactly who I was even though I had never been on their website with my phone before. How did third-party Netflix get my name for this ad? There are three suspects: Verizon, Yahoo, and Google. Has anyone else experienced this type of "bullseye" advertising? How is it done? TIA

Creepy... but the way of the world.
Could be real simple. He L L.... when you call Dominos now-a-days they recite your number and full name back to you right when you answer. I'd assume a simple caller ID function....

To answer your question.... is your G-mail account synced to your Droid the same one you used for Netflix?

 

[Extrapolateer]

"... is your G-mail account synced to your Droid the same one you used for Netflix"

Good question, but no, I used a different email account with Netflix. Thanks.

Verizon also tells me they didn't do it.

 

[madpanic]

Verizon sells your info to other companies. I just got the opt-out in the mail yesterday.

 

[vearix]

Were you using wifi?
Might be because you are on the same network as w/e computer you used to log into it with?

 

[Extrapolateer]

Were you using wifi?
Might be because you are on the same network as w/e computer you used to log into it with?

No, I haven't used wifi with my Droid since I got it.

Obviously, someone cross-referenced Netflix customer information to name/address data provided to them by Verizon, Yahoo, or Google. It would be easy for Verizon to provide the name/address information. Hard for Yahoo. Possible for Google since they have the GPS information and who knows what else in their databases. The Droid is like having a little robot with eyes, ears, and dynamic 6-DOF position/attitude senses in your pocket, and connected to the Borg (Google). Great spy tool in the wrong hands. And lots of willing targets.

 

[minmongoblin]

Switch to the Fandango app =P

 

[Gunghoray]

I don't think this is a DROID issue. You're on the right track. VZW, GOOGLE, or MOTO. My vote is a "super caller id" that read either your IP or your username and linked it to Netflix. The net is a plethora of information about you.

E-Commerce is graduating into a new era where Tom Cruise in Minority Report is not as far in the future as you think.