How (& Why) to Reset the Advertising Identifier in iOS
From iOS 6.1 onward, users can now reset the Advertising Identifier on any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. This means you can basically throw all the anonymously gathered data about a device that is used to serve relevant ads out the window and start fresh, thereby removing any of the targeted data that has been accumulated and assigned to that Advertising ID.
- Open “Settings” then choose “General” followed by “About”
- Scroll all the way down and locate “Advertising”, from there tap on “Reset Advertising Identifier” and confirm the ID reset
Once confirmed, iOS will regenerate a new random blank ID.
You can also go the extra mile and turn iOS ad tracking off completely while you’re at that settings screen, which functions like a “Do Not Track” feature and prevents any of anonymous data accumulation from happening. What that will do is completely deny the ability for anonymous data to be gathered about the device to serve more relevant ads, outside of web cookies. For example if you have every Angry Birds app installed on the device and do 100 web searches for Angry Birds a day, disabling ad tracking would prevent you from seeing ads relevant to that topic.
Reasons why you might want to reset the Advertising Identifier
Keeping in mind that all of the accumulated data is anonymous, there isn’t some universally important reason to reset the Ad ID and by no means should it be considered standard procedure. Because the data is anonymized, the reasons to reset the ID tend to be fairly unique situations:
- The ads you are being served are tied to past activities that are no longer relevant to your interests
- You or your employer are particularly sensitive about privacy
- Your iOS device is company owned, and you don’t want IT to (potentially) discover that you’re searching the web for things unrelated to work by having ads for unrelated stuff show up on the device
- You are transferring an iOS device to a new owner or family member, and you don’t want to go all out and reset to factory settings for some reason
Of course there are other reasons as well, but again it’s important to stress this isn’t some super important thing to think about for 99.5% of iOS users.
For some historical background, the Advertising Identifier is a relatively new creation, and previously advertisers tracked anonymous data by the actual device UDID. Because the UDID is tied to hardware and not possible to reset, Apple created the Advertising ID as an alternative to the UDID, one which can be freely reset and directly controlled by the user much like cookies and browser history can be managed at any time.
your very knowledgable of the issues a live person faces regarding there deepest snd upmost emotional private thoughts and actions needed to survive amongst a dead society that back doors u since birth and not aware of thier sick games til your of an age your bodys energy is a quarter of what it was when you were in your 20s . and your mind was capable of anything
I love how people call others paranoid..for wanting to keep their business to themselves..or just mere fact of being safe and cautious ..everyone I know has a pin code for their debit card ..and just about everything else…and to the ones ease dropping with out the target knowing…what is that all about..I look at it as someone walking in my front door unannounced…actually way worse….they can walk into..everything…first I know NO ONE that is willing to walk into church or any public function for that matter holding up a big old poster..with illustrations of the sins they have committed..or things in their life they have ecperienced.and tell all..so why..should others feel a need to do it for you…if anything ..have the balls to ask…why hide,.and be a coward…and secretly watch …to me that’s odd behavior…not only being a pathetic, pitiful, peeping Tom,..getting their jollies on following..watching,..studying..reseaching,.. what ever the motive is…not only creepy ..but for one who goes out of his or her way..to isolate themselves..not bothering anyone…not harming anyone..my opinion..this could be considered stalking..bullying..not to mention ..all privacy..is NO MORE if one ,or two has it in for ya…not to mention ..a company..organization..sharing info to whoever.they feel like..and over a time period ..a leanthly one ..say..6 to 8 yrs….recorded ..archived..saved ..shared..info of just the highlighted moments the individuals want to store..and hold on to…they can create and form the character they want…one side ..totally biased..totally hate driven..I’m sure the good and deciete things are never shown…dirty laundry and train wrecks are what people want
Turns out this information is remarkably able to identify you down to your home address.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-investigating-company-selling-phone-location-data-to-government-agencies-11593026382
iOS 12.1 removed the option to erase it. Itās permanent.
12.1 removed the option to erase what? The Advertising Identifier or something else?
So far, your comment is the only one to mention this. Iām wondering if you reset it to Factory Settings rather than the Advertising Identifier…
Be well.
Reseting my ads is for my game, so that i can use the ads to speed up the time for constructing something in the game.
Lisa,
Technically, yes. Factory reset should do just that – bring your device back to factory settings. However (There’s always a “however”!), depending on the manner your device was hacked, it is possible that even a factory reset wouldn’t remove the mode of entry. Then there’s the IF you do reset then reload your backup, you would likely be reloading point of entry as well. Then there’s the final “however” which is, if this person has intentionally targeted YOU to hack, they will most likely do so again. If you know who it is, and have any other information that can help support why you think it is that person, my advice would be to take any and all information, as well as your still hacked phone, to the police department and ask to file a restraining order/order of protection (depending on whether you have had either threats to your safety and/or actual violence against you, again any proof of such would need to be brought with you). If the PD is feeling ambitious, they can trace the hack back to the origin. That might even be able to result in misdemeanor charges against whoever is doing this. So, I wish you the best, and I hope that you’re able to get your situation resolved in a safe and positive outcome for you! :)
Can factory reset stop soneone external reading Tx hacked style. Sorry to be off subject. But it’s very stressful. iPhone 6+.
Anyone.
Do you think they are making it that way to make it possible to profile and locate any user? I think there is something more sinister behind the Internet than any of us know.
That’s right. Although the identifier is anonymous by itself, it is easy for an app developer to attach it to your name by asking you to log in. for example, Google maps now really wants you to log in to Google, which allows them to tie the advertising identifier to your personal Google account. Suddenly that “anonymous” identifier is known to both Google and potentially it’s suppliers and partners and customers – basically anyone in the world. And they know your location and have access to your address book (assuming you use Google Maps like most people do)
In short, since Apple created this ability, vendors like Google have worked hard to make it irrelevant by getting your personal information through other means.
Although the ad tracking features are anonymous, the ID can easily be used to associate activities with a person’s name. That’s a great reason to clear it, and cookies as well.
“Limiting”, not blocking.
Also, Mr. White, don’t be so paranoid. If you feel you don’t want to be ad tracked just because you do not, then you probably don’t really understand how it works.
If we all understood how it works we wouldn’t be searching for answers. If I want the most privacy and security shout it be in the on or off position?!!!
The ON setting means that it is blocking tracking.
So does the ON setting mean that it is blocking tracking or does OFF mean it is blocking tracking?
ON means it’s limiting the anonymous ad tracking, OFF is the default
Another reason is you simply do not want to be tracked for any reason just because you do not. I have never been sold anything on an ad and the advertisers will get no usable data from me. More people should do this. A better solution would be ad blocking, but I doubt Apple will allow that.
Another reason might be if you have very weak willpower and you’re afraid you wonāt be able to resist all those targeted ads! ;-)