Most folks have probably noticed that when they mention something out loud, like a holiday or a random gadget, its ads suddenly start appearing everywhere. It feels as if your phone is listening to you. However, there’s no strong evidence that your smartphone is secretly recording your conversations for advertising purposes. Now, you must be wondering if your phone isn’t listening, then how come these ads are so accurate every time? Well, that’s because advertisers don’t need your microphone to show up ads. They already have something more powerful: your data. That’s how advertisers always know exactly what you’re looking for. Your search and browsing history tells a story Every click and search builds your profile No attribution required; taken by author James Bruce  Every search you make, every website you visit, and how long you linger on a page builds a behavioral profile. That’s because of the embedded trackers in websites and emails. Advertisers and ad networks quietly track your actions, such as your search queries, how long you stay on a page, and …