The hidden cost of cashback: How shopping extensions track you—and how to limit it

I have acquaintances who talk excitedly about cashback sites for shopping—and I get the appeal. Why not get money back if you’re already going to be buying those things anyway? But I’m the one who replies, “Have you looked into what they do with your data?”

(I am very fun to chat with at parties.)

Here’s the thing: Cashback sites can be useful, so long as you’re smart about how you use them. What websites know about you can make life harder in the wrong circumstances.

What is a cashback site?