Learn About Managing Your Amazon Account Privacy

Understanding Amazon Account Privacy Settings

Your Amazon account contains personal information that you may want to protect. Amazon provides several built-in privacy settings that let you control how your data is handled. These settings are found in different locations within your account, depending on what type of information you want to manage. Understanding where these settings are located and what they do is the first step toward managing your privacy effectively.

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Amazon collects information about you in several ways. When you create an account, you provide your name, email address, and payment information. As you browse and shop, Amazon tracks what you look at and purchase. Amazon also collects information about your device, such as your phone or computer, and your location when you use their services. This data helps Amazon show you products you might want and improves their services, but you have some control over how much information they collect and how they use it.

Your Amazon account privacy is different from your Amazon device privacy. If you use Echo devices, Alexa, or Fire tablets, those have separate privacy settings. Your shopping account, your cloud storage, and your video viewing all have their own privacy controls. Many people have multiple Amazon services linked to one account, which means you may need to adjust settings in several places to fully manage your privacy.

Amazon's privacy policy explains in detail what information they collect and how they use it. The policy is lengthy and uses legal language, but it covers important topics like data retention, sharing with third parties, and your rights regarding your information. Reading at least parts of the privacy policy can help you understand what your options are. Amazon updates this policy from time to time, so checking it periodically is worthwhile.

Practical Takeaway: Start by visiting your Account Settings page on Amazon to locate the Privacy section. Take time to review the main categories of privacy controls available. Make a list of the types of information you most want to protect, whether that's your browsing history, location data, or communication preferences. This will help you prioritize which settings to adjust first.

Managing Your Browsing and Purchase History

Amazon keeps a record of everything you search for and every product page you visit. This browsing history helps Amazon recommend products to you, but it also means the company is tracking your interests. You can view this history anytime, and you have options to control it. Many people are surprised to learn they can delete their browsing history on Amazon, similar to how you might clear your history on a web browser.

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To access your browsing history, go to your Amazon account and look for "Browsing History" in the menu. This page shows you every product you've viewed recently. You can delete individual items from this list, or you can use the option to delete your entire browsing history. Keep in mind that deleting your history will also reduce the accuracy of Amazon's product recommendations. If you delete everything, Amazon's suggestions may become less relevant to your interests until you browse for new products.

Your purchase history is separate from your browsing history. Purchase history is a record of everything you've bought on Amazon. Unlike browsing history, you cannot delete past purchases from your account, but you can hide individual orders. When you hide an order, it no longer appears in your purchase history list, though Amazon retains the record for their own records. This can be useful if you share your account with family members and want certain purchases to be private.

Amazon also tracks your search history within the website. When you type in the search box, Amazon suggests products based on your past searches. You can delete specific searches or clear your entire search history. This setting is located in the same area as your browsing history. Some people choose to clear their search history regularly for privacy reasons, while others leave it enabled because they find the suggestions useful.

There is also an option called "Manage Your Advertising Preferences" that relates to how Amazon uses your browsing and purchase data for marketing purposes. When you visit this section, you can opt out of personalized advertising based on your shopping behavior. If you choose this option, you will still see ads on Amazon and other websites, but they will be less tailored to your interests. Many people use this feature because they prefer not to see ads that are specifically targeted based on their shopping habits.

Practical Takeaway: Review your browsing history this week to see what Amazon has been tracking. Decide whether you want to keep this feature enabled for better recommendations or disable it for privacy. If you share your Amazon account with family members, consider hiding purchases that you want to keep private, or discuss with family members whether you should all have separate accounts instead.

Controlling Data Sharing and Third-Party Access

Amazon shares your information with other companies in specific situations. Understanding when and how your data is shared is important for protecting your privacy. Amazon may share information with companies that help them operate their services, like payment processors, shipping companies, and cloud storage providers. They may also share information when the law requires it, such as with law enforcement agencies. Additionally, some Amazon services may share data with third-party developers or business partners.

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One area where third-party access becomes relevant is with third-party sellers on Amazon's marketplace. When you purchase from a third-party seller rather than directly from Amazon, that seller receives information needed to fulfill your order, such as your name, address, and phone number. Third-party sellers are required to follow Amazon's policies about data use, but they are separate companies with their own privacy practices. Before buying from a third-party seller, you can review their seller profile and feedback to understand their reputation.

Amazon's affiliated services include companies like Whole Foods Market, IMDb, and AWS (Amazon Web Services). These services may be connected to your Amazon account. Information may be shared between Amazon and these affiliated companies, though each service also has its own privacy controls. If you use Whole Foods and shop with your Amazon account, Whole Foods receives information about that transaction. You can manage how much information is shared between Amazon and affiliated services through your privacy settings.

Amazon Advertising is another area where data sharing occurs. When you allow Amazon to use your data for advertising, they create a profile of your interests and shopping behavior. This profile is used to display targeted ads to you within Amazon and on other websites you visit. You can opt out of this personalized advertising in your privacy settings. Some people prefer targeted ads because the products shown are more relevant to them, while others prefer not to have their information used this way.

Amazon also has partnerships with other technology companies and retailers. For example, Amazon Pay is a service that lets you use your Amazon information to sign into other websites. When you use Amazon Pay, the website you are visiting receives certain information from your Amazon account. Before using Amazon Pay, review what information will be shared with that particular website. You can also manage which third-party applications have permission to access your Amazon account data.

Practical Takeaway: Go to your Account Settings and find the section for "Login and Security" or "Third-Party Access." Review any connected applications or services that have permission to access your Amazon account. Remove access for any services you no longer use. If you regularly use Amazon Pay or other third-party services, make sure you understand what information is being shared each time you use them.

Protecting Your Account Security and Login Information

Your account security is directly connected to your privacy. If someone gains unauthorized access to your account, they can view your personal information, purchase history, and payment methods. Amazon provides several tools to help you keep your account secure. The most important tool is a strong password. A strong password is long, includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is not a word that appears in the dictionary. Avoid using personal information in your password, such as your birth date or the name of a family member.

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Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your account. When 2FA is turned on, logging into Amazon requires both your password and a second verification method. This verification method is typically a code sent to your phone via text message or generated by an authentication app. Even if someone obtains your password, they cannot access your account without also having access to your phone or authentication device. Amazon recommends turning on 2FA for all users, especially those who use Amazon for financial transactions.

Your recovery information is another important part of account security. Amazon asks you to provide a recovery email address and phone number. If you ever lose access to your account, Amazon uses this recovery information to verify that you are the rightful account owner and to help you regain access. Make sure your recovery email and phone number are current. If you change your phone number, update it in your Amazon account immediately.

Amazon sends you notifications when your account is accessed from a new device or location. If you receive a notification that you don't