Your fridge, car, and PC are showing ads on screens you paid thousands for. Here's how companies snuck it into the fine print, and the exact settings to shut it off.

  Science/Technology   Jul 16, 2026   0   6  Add to Reading List












The CyberGuy Report | Episode 38
New episodes every Wednesday

Why are your paid devices still showing you ads?

Windows 11 ads, Samsung fridge ads and pop-ups in your Jeep: you paid for all three devices, so why are they still selling to you?

Watch episode
Listen now

Welcome back to The CyberGuy Report podcast. Thanks for listening in, and if you like what you hear, come back every Wednesday for a new episode.

Windows 11 ads, Samsung fridge ads and pop-ups in your Jeep: you paid for all three devices, so why are they still selling to you?

You own your computer. You own your fridge. You own your car. Yet all three keep interrupting you with ads on screens you already paid for. In this episode, Kurt walks you through an ordinary morning where your own smart devices start selling to you, from Windows 11 Start menu ads and lock screen promotions, to a widget on your Samsung smart fridge, to a pop-up on your dashboard before you have even left the driveway. One of them is even disguised as a warning.

None of it is an accident. And all of it was hidden in the fine print you agreed to. The good news? Kurt shows you exactly how to remove ads from all three devices and take back control of the screens you paid for.

What you will learn in this episode

  • How to turn off ads in your Windows 11 Start menu and lock screen
  • The fake “action advised” alert on your PC that is really a Microsoft sales pitch
  • How to stop the ads on your Samsung Family Hub refrigerator, even though the switch is buried three menus deep
  • Why your car’s dashboard started showing pop-ups, and whether they are coming back
  • The line in the fine print that makes all of this legal
  • How you quietly became the product these companies sell to
  • The exact settings to get rid of ads on your computer, fridge and car
These companies will stop at nothing to own the devices you paid for. But you can take control. Read the full breakdown on how to stop your computer, fridge and car from advertising to you.Read the full article

Watch or listen to this episode

Watch

Episode coming Wednesday. The video version will be available here when the episode goes live.

▶ Watch this episode

Listen

Episode coming Wednesday. Follow the show now so this episode is easy to find when it is released.

Apple Podcasts
Spotify

Episode 38: Why are your paid devices still showing you ads?

×

Like the episode? Subscribe to Kurt the CyberGuy on YouTube for the latest videos and podcast episodes.

Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to The CyberGuy Report

Follow the show so new episodes are easy to find when they are released.

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube playlist
Subscribe on YouTube

CyberGuy privacy takeaway

When screens you already paid for start showing ads, it is a reminder that many connected devices are also data collection systems. The best defense is reviewing privacy settings, turning off personalized ads wherever possible and reducing how much personal data companies and data brokers can collect about you.

Review privacy settings

Start with the devices you use every day: your computer, smart TV, car, phone and smart appliances. Turn off personalized recommendations, ad tracking and unnecessary data sharing when those options are available.

Read privacy tips

Reduce online exposure

A data removal service can help reduce how much of your personal information is exposed online for companies, data brokers and scammers to find.

See Incogni

Is your personal information exposed online?

Run a free scan to see if your personal info is compromised. Results arrive by email in about an hour.

Related links

Agree to Terms & Privacy

New to podcasts?

Think of them like on-demand radio shows you can listen to anytime while driving, walking, cooking or relaxing. You can stream episodes straight from our website or listen through apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Just tap Follow to get new episodes automatically. No paid subscription is needed.

How to listen on Apple Podcasts

On iPhone / iPad

  1. Open the Podcasts app.
  2. Tap the Search tab.
  3. Search for The CyberGuy Report.
  4. Tap the show in the results.
  5. Tap Play on the episode you want.
  6. Tap Follow to get new episodes automatically.

On web or other devices

  • Visit podcasts.apple.com in a browser.
  • Search for the podcast and play episodes directly from the web player.

How to listen on Spotify

On mobile or tablet

  1. Open the Spotify app.
  2. Tap Search.
  3. Search for The CyberGuy Report.
  4. Tap the show in the results.
  5. Tap an episode, then tap Play.
  6. Tap Follow to get new episodes in your library.

Tip: In Spotify settings under Data Saver or Streaming, you may be able to switch to audio-only mode if a video podcast is available.

On desktop or web

  1. Go to Spotify in your browser or open the Spotify desktop app.
  2. Search for the podcast.
  3. Select the show and choose the episode you want to hear.

How to listen on YouTube

  1. Open the YouTube app or visit youtube.com.
  2. Search for The CyberGuy Report or Kurt the CyberGuy.
  3. Tap the episode you want to watch or hear.
  4. Tap Subscribe and turn on the bell if you want alerts for new episodes.

Tip: Some listeners like to switch off the screen and just listen. Unless the podcast is uploaded as audio-only or you have YouTube Premium, the YouTube app may stop playback when the screen is off.

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. CyberGuy.com articles and content may contain affiliate links that earn a commission when purchases are made.

Read Original   

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow