Education Resources

Learn More About Online Advertising

Do you have general questions about online advertising and privacy? Below are a collection of resources from around the web that address privacy, cookies, and the role of online advertising in bringing free and low-cost content and services to the web

Why do websites need advertising?

Publishers and content providers rely on advertising to operate. Learn more about the role advertising plays in supporting free and low-cost content and services online:

• The World Federation of Advertisers' website explaining the values of advertising
• "Making ads more interesting" from the Google Blog
• "I am the Long Tail," a video montage produced by the IAB (US) where the operators of small websites discuss why advertising is critical for their small businesses. 

What is online behavioral advertising? 

Online behavioral advertising – sometimes called OBA or interest-based advertising – uses small bits of data collected from websites that you visit to predict or infer your preferences and interests in order to show you ads that are more likely to be relevant to you.

In addition to exploring the content on this site, you can find more information, including explanatory videos, on the following sites:

• The IAB's Privacy Matters website
• Digital Advertising Alliance: Consumer Information

Understanding cookies

What are http cookies? How are they used? These sites offer valuable insight into cookies and how they are used (not just for advertising):

• David Whalen’s “Unofficial Cookie FAQ Version 2.6” 
• The Interactive Advertising Bureau of Europe's Cookie resources page
• The Harvard Berkman Center's Cookie Crumble Contest (These videos are also available on the right panel of this page)
• A simple description on Wikipedia

What are your choices?

Consumers have a variety of options available to them to customize their web experience, ranging from browser controls, add-on utilities, and opt-out tools. The links below offer a sample of the available options.

Browser Controls:

Most common modern web browsers include controls designed to allow you to to block or delete cookies. Learn about these controls in the most common browser by following the links below:

• Internet Explorer
• Firefox
• Chrome
• Safari
• Opera

Additionally, Chrome and Firefox support add-ons that provide additional options for managing your privacy:

• Firefox
• Chrome

Opt-Out Tools

Many of the leading third-party advertising companies participate in the NAI’s self-regulatory program and opt-out page. In addition, the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) offers a centralized opt-out platform where consumers can opt out of NAI member complanies’ advertising programs, as well as the advertising programs of other DAA members.

• NAI Opt-Out Page
• DAA Opt-Out Page 

The AdChoices Icon (also known as the "Advertising Option Icon") is a sign for consumer information and control for interest-based advertising.  When you see the AdChoices Icon on a Web page or near a Web banner, it lets you know that information used to infer your interests is being gathered or used to improve the ads you see. Click here to learn more about the AdChoices Icon.

Click here for More Privacy Resources

Have questions about the NAI and the NAI opt-out tool? Click here to visit our FAQs.

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