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Cross-device tracking refers to the practice of tracking a person’s online activities across multiple devices, such as a smartphone, tablet, and laptop. This can be done through the use of various technologies and techniques, including:

  1. Cookies: Websites can place small pieces of data called cookies on your devices when you visit them. These cookies can be used to track your online activities and gather information about you, including your browsing history, search queries, and other data.
  2. Device fingerprinting: This involves collecting unique characteristics about a device, such as its IP address, browser type, and installed plugins, and using this information to create a unique “fingerprint” that can be used to identify the device.
  3. Tracking pixels: These are small, transparent images that are embedded in web pages and emails. When you visit a page or open an email that contains a tracking pixel, the pixel sends a request back to the server, allowing the server to record your visit and gather information about you.
  4. Login credentials: If you use the same login credentials (e.g., username and password) across multiple devices, it is possible for websites and apps to track your activities across those devices.

By using these and other techniques, companies and other organizations can gather information about your online activities and use it to build a profile of your interests, preferences, and behaviors. This information can then be used for various purposes, such as targeted advertising, market research, or personalization of content.