A personal story about digital surveillance, relationship graphs, and the illusion of privacy in the modern ad economy.
The term "swamp butt" isn't something I throw around casually.
It came up during a late-night conversation with my spouse. We were joking about hot desert conditions (something I've experienced firsthand during military deployments) and I offhandedly mentioned how swamp butt becomes a real issue out there. The gear, the heat, the lack of airflow... it's a recipe for tactical discomfort.
She laughed.
Out of curiosity, I grabbed my phone and searched "swamp butt" and "monkey butt" (those colorful euphemisms for heat rash) using the DuckDuckGo browser, running through a VPN, and not signed into Google.
Then I clicked on a Reddit link in the search results.
Because the Reddit app was installed on my phone, the link didn't open in the browser: it launched the Reddit app itself.
She didn't search anything. She didn't type anything. She didn't even touch her phone.
Twenty minutes later, she opened Instagram and saw an ad for anti-chafing powder. Tailored to women. For, yes: swamp butt.
She looked at me like I was a warlock.
So... is Instagram listening to us?
As a cybersecurity professional, let me say this up front:
Probably not. There's no credible evidence that Instagram or Facebook secretly use your phone's microphone to eavesdrop for ad targeting.
The reality is more subtle and arguably more unsettling.
What really happened: app-level ad tech doing its job
Despite all my precautions (DuckDuckGo, VPN, no Google login), the moment I tapped that Reddit link and the Reddit app launched, I handed off context to a different layer entirely: the mobile app environment.
Apps like Reddit routinely include embedded tracking SDKs from:
- Meta (Instagram/Facebook)
- Google (AdMob, Firebase)
- and other data brokers
Once the Reddit app opened that thread, it logged that interaction: not just what I viewed, but what kind of device, when, and how long I stayed on the post.
Even though I was using private browsing tools, the Reddit app itself became a conduit. And that's the moment Instagram likely got the signal.
Why did she get the ad?
Because our phones are nearly always together, Meta has likely built a soft "relationship graph" linking our devices.
It knows:
- We're physically close (GPS + Bluetooth)
- We're socially connected (mutual tags, messages, DMs)
- She's a woman
- A nearby device just showed interest in swamp butt products
Instagram doesn't need certainty. It just needs a strong enough signal to say:
"Let's show her a skincare ad related to heat rash. See if she bites."
So she opens Instagram: and there it is.
Swamp butt, now brought to you by predictive algorithms.
This wasn't surveillance: it was inference.
Nobody "listened."
Nobody "snitched."
This was:
- Cross-device tracking
- Behavioral profiling
- Wi-Fi/Bluetooth proximity modeling
- App-level surveillance SDKs in action
You don't have to say a word for your digital life to be connected, packaged, and monetized.
5 Lessons for Anyone Who Thinks They're Private:
- VPNs don't stop apps. They obscure your IP in the browser, but apps can leak data directly through embedded SDKs.
- Installed apps bypass browser protections. That Reddit thread? It wasn't private: it was logged by the app.
- Your relationships matter. You might take privacy seriously, but the people around you are part of your data graph.
- Ad tech uses proximity as signal. If you're near someone often, they may be targeted based on your behavior.
- Silence isn't safety. You don't need to say "monkey butt" aloud for the algorithm to find you.
How to Defend Your Privacy:
- Use privacy-focused browsers: Consider browsers like DuckDuckGo or Firefox with privacy extensions for better protection.
- Limit app permissions: Regularly review and restrict app permissions, especially microphone, location, and camera access.
- Use VPNs consistently: While VPNs don't stop app-level tracking, they provide an additional layer of protection for your network traffic.
- Be mindful of proximity: Understand that your digital behavior can affect those around you through relationship graphs and proximity tracking.
- Regularly audit installed apps: Remove apps you don't use and review the privacy policies of apps you keep.
- Use private browsing modes: When possible, use private/incognito modes for sensitive searches and browsing.
Why Santsec cares
At Santsec, we specialize in technical security: from infrastructure to application-layer defense. But in today's world, cybersecurity doesn't end at firewalls and MFA.
Privacy is porous.
Data exposure happens at the behavioral level.
And sometimes the best case study is what happens in your own living room.
If you're serious about locking down:
- Third-party data leakage
- Cross-device exposure
- Mobile app telemetry risks
…we should talk.
Because not every privacy breach involves a hacker.
Sometimes, it starts with a sweaty joke and a Reddit app.
Protect Your Digital Privacy
Privacy breaches aren't always obvious. At Santsec, we help you understand and defend against the subtle ways your data is collected, shared, and monetized in the modern digital landscape.
Privacy Assessment:
- • Digital footprint analysis
- • App permission audit
- • Privacy policy review
Security Solutions:
- • Privacy-focused tool recommendations
- • Data protection strategies
- • Behavioral security training