This Trick Will Keep Your Online Gift Shopping a Secret for Valentine’s Day (or Any Holiday)

Ever do an online shopping deep-dive, then notice the very item you were searching for is popping up in ads all over the place? You’re just trying to catch up on the news and all of a sudden The Times is telling you to splurge on those Gucci loafers.

No, you’re not crazy—you really are seeing ads for your online shopping list. According to Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at VPN company NordVPN, “When we shop online, websites and marketers track our every move in the hopes of showing us an offer we’ll like.” Basically, this means that whatever you’re looking for is going to start popping up in ads all over the place.

That doesn’t seem like a big deal…unless you’re simultaneously shopping for gifts and sharing a browser (or even Wi-Fi) with the giftrecipient. Surprises are best left unspoiled, but the internet doesn’t get that. An easy solution?

Incognito mode.

While switching your browser to incognito mode doesn’t mean total privacy, it does solve a few problems, namely, that your cookies and history won’t be saved. In layman’s terms, bae won’t be able to snoop through your web or search history for “bluetooth speakers” (or whatever) and he won’t see his Valentine’s Day prezzie in an ad when he goes to check the weather forecast. If you really want to be safe, you can get a VPN (virtual private network) that hides your IP address. 

Now go forth and shop.