r/privacy • u/Savings_Cattle4847 • 2d ago
question Amazon tracking you across web services
I don't buy from Amazon, but I use Libby, the library app, and any free e-book is processed through Amazon unfortunately. I do have an account with Amazon since I used to buy from them.
The other day, I searched for an actor in a movie, and it was through IMDB. I didn't click on anything else, didn't create an account, literally just looked at the actor and left. Two days later, I get an email from IMDB, and I look on the website, and Amazon created an account for me on the day I simply looked at the website. I'm logged into Amazon in the same browser (Firefox w/ Ublock and Ghostery), but I know they can still somehow track me across their own services. But to create an account on my behalf simply for using it in the same way I'd use Google makes is so annoying.
My question is - is there any way to avoid things like this from happening, aside from just not using Amazon even to borrow books from the library? I use an email alias for Amazon, but that's not really the point.
ETA, there is a help page on IMDB from October 6 2026, saying this: IMDb Single Sign-On with Amazon
Updated 6-October-2026
This article explains how IMDb and IMDbPro customers may be signed in with their existing Amazon account on IMDb dot com, to get recommendations tailored to your taste, track titles on your Watchlist, rate what you watch, and also contribute to the world's most popular entertainment database. This experience offers consistency and simplicity across IMDb, IMDbPro and Amazon using your existing Amazon account.
IMDb is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon and was acquired in 1998.
What's new
If available in your location, Amazon customers will be automatically signed into IMDb dot com with your Amazon account. For more information see our guide.
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u/michaelcarnero 2d ago edited 2d ago
I think Firefox has containers as well. You could also use another browser only to open Amazon. But heads up, your phone is the bigger SPY you could have.
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u/Savings_Cattle4847 2d ago
Ugh I know. I use as few Google services as possible and have as many privacy settings locked down as possible but I'm not tech savvy enough to change OS etc. I do the best I can but I know I'll never get it 100%
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u/Strong_Internet_3726 2d ago
I containerize anything related to Amazon. I only use their webapp and not their phone app, and even have a dedicated Firefox profile for anything Amazon. I even have separate Amazon US, Amazon .DE and Amazon UK accounts to avoid confusion. For e-books I just torrent a bunch of EPUBs and pipe them into my phone/tablet for reading.
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u/Phyllis_Tine 2d ago
Use a browser for as much as you can, and if you need to sign in, do it in a single window you close and wipe the memory after.
Do not stay logged in to any service, but only ro use it, then log out.
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u/Happy-Wolverine-1020 2d ago
Firefox Multi-Account Containers or a completely separate browser profile for Amazon would stop the cross-service SSO from picking up your Amazon session. That's the most reliable fix here since the tracking relies on shared cookies in the same browser session.
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2d ago
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u/jagwal32 2d ago
you should also delete the cookies and cache. if your using google you can turn off third party sign in and browsing history in your settings for the browser. if you do not use amazon you can close the account. also turning off personalized ads helps.
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u/Switchknitter25 1d ago
You don’t have to read with Kindle. After checkout if you select Manage Loan, then Read With, you have the option to read directly in the Libby App.
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