Phone and Internet Privacy

[Phoebe]

So, need phone help. Somehow on my phone there is information stored so that when I turn it on and unlock it and scroll my notifications, thus clearing them, a message is sent to one of the Wayfair family of home furnishing companies, and they then immediately send me a new email advertising whatever thing I have most recently looked at on my web browser related to Home Furnishings. I take it this is to ensure that it comes up fresh and new in your notifications without being lost in the other spam, right when they know you're looking at your phone.

Well, this pisses me off on principle, so how would people suggest getting rid of it? I would also like to know what basic measures if any can be taken to create privacy in your browsing. How do I know that the Privacy-generating company isn't just saving or selling or turning over that information themselves? How do I know that my internet service provider or phone company isn't gathering all that information prior to any privacy measures I might take?

Meanwhile I'm quite certain that the TV in my bedroom and the Xbox on the other TV are spying on us to their hearts content and there's not a goddamn thing we can do about it save getting rid of them. But if those are things they want to see I just feel sorry for the person on the other end who has to deal with it.

[Phoebe]

Another privacy/functioning issue that annoys the crap out of me: when my gps-challenged phone decides that the place where I actually live is another separately named place you could visit, and then sends me messed up, repackaged versions of my photos entitled stupid things like "Sunday afternoon at McDonald's" or "Last Winter at Washington Heights School". No.

[Mike]

I forgot you lived right next to McDonalds.

[Phoebe]

It's super handy. I just walk thru the drive thru in my PJs.