Verizon has to pay a nearly $1.4 million settlement over its use of an ad targeting, tracking technology, called  “supercookies.”

Tony Russel-Smith of Yes Computers told 22News the technology was installed on every phone, without the customer’s permission. “They had installed a cookie in everybody’s data store that did not go away once everybody tried to clear their cookie, so it’s a way of consistently tracking someone that the user did not consent to,” he said.

Russel-Smith said a ‘supercookie’ tracks the websites you visit, and then delivers targeted ads to your phone to try and get you to click on them. “The more times a customer clicks on an ad, the more times the website host of the ad gets paid,” he said.

Verizon began using the ‘supercookies’ in December of 2012, but kept the program private until October 2014. Before the government stepped in, there was no way to erase or opt-out of the tracking feature.

Erin O’Brien of Stockbridge told 22News, she thinks it’s an invasion of privacy. “I should have the right to be where I want to be without big brother watching and big brother knowing where I am. Maybe the data is necessary, but they should explain what it’s all about,” she said.

The Federal Communications Commission issued a statement that reads: “”Consumers care about privacy and should have a say in how their personal information is used, especially when it comes to who knows what they’re doing online.”

Here’s how you can opt-out of the tracking program:  Visit Vzw.com/myprivacy and log into your account. Then scroll down to “Relevant Mobile Advertising.” Click the button below “No, I don’t want to participate in Relevant Mobile Advertising” for each line on your account. Be sure you click the red “Save Changes” button below that.