topic Re: Big Brother Is Listening! in Community Chat

Big Brother Is Listening!

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 17:25:49 GMT

I've posted on this before but as a Boomer, it really bothers me......(especially every time I talk to my 20 year old neighbor).

So, I was watching the tech segment of a TV show I enjoy. What I know about gadgets you could put on a thimble (in other words, zip).

I have lots of gadgets and love them. I can usually connect them to the internet because these days they are idiot proof (that would be for people like me).

Anyway, this guy was talking about how we (the public) is loosing all (and I mean all) of our privacy. We've known that but it's still upsetting when it's put in front of us.

Anyway, I posted here recently about a conversation I had with my granddaughter about that time of the month and how she suffers so badly every time and bla bla.

I never posted anything about it or discussed it with anyone else. We were sitting at her kitchen table and my phone was sitting there.

By the time I got home and checked my emails I had several emails telling me various techniques and products to buy to ease my 'monthly pain', etc.

Now I'm a 71 year old woman and those days went away many years ago and I don't even have the equipment any longer. So, it was obvious where the info came from.....my phone was listening.

This brings me back to the tech guy on TV. He said 'of course Suri is listening' does "Suri where is bla bla" sound familiar? She's always on.

But what really stopped me to pay attention is when he said that same phone (the one you carry everywhere) also is keeping track of WHERE you go.

But I knew that (he's a regular on this show and has said that before). But this time he said, (paraphrasing), "What they can now do is KNOW within a few feet where you've been".

So, say you go to your Drs office. Now you have your cell phone with you. Even if you don't say the Drs name that information goes to google. So you discuss (with the Dr the reason you're there)....again .... Google now has that info.

Where does that info go? Well, I know a little about 'trigger words' (those are words that are set up to alert attention so a particular conversation is set and where it goes.

Eventually you might get emails or calls about this product or that product. Even if you don't you'll still wonder why there are so many commercials for ..... say a particular cholesterol product...

It's called 'research' and you/me/us have provided the answers to that research. The problem is we didn't give our permission....but this guy says 'check the tiny, tiny print...we actually did by using the phone, the computer, etc.

Now back to my 20 year old neighbor. What upsets me is that he's fine with this invasion...He thinks it's nice that they're doing us a favor by making our life easier so we don't have to look into the product....

I am not about to give up the cell phone (although I do leave it in my car which is in the garage 'accidentally' for a few hours now and then. I'll unplug Alexa and the internet, etc.

Big whoop! All that means is it's a pain in the neck to reconnect everything!

My point in all of this is just to make people think and realize ...... as we progress.....we are giving up our privacy at warp speed...

Gotta go check my phone. One daughter is in Europe sending me pictures, one daughter is traveling across the US for two weeks, again pictures and the third is sending pictures of my granddaughter working on her cheerleading skills. I'd be willing to wait for snail mail pictures.....But who does that anymore? No one I know.

Think I'd miss that? Heck no! The price we pay for being 'in the know'......

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

Steffdoggy10 — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 17:34:47 GMT

Yep. I don't like it either. My daughter did a search for a few things on our computer and now I am being inundated with emails related to those searches. Ridiculous

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

Snowpuppy — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 17:38:25 GMT

There's no shortage of "here's what you need to know today, brought to you by our sponsors".

I disconnect to the extent I can. I don't own a smart anything. It's fascinating that people spend their hard earned dollars to give up their privacy.

As the dude who got his clearance revoked has said, no need for a spy program. People now post everything online.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

x Hedge — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 17:49:51 GMT

You have choices to "opt out" on advertising, also disable apps, including those that track your location.

But be vigilant, since the newer tech offers the user less control in data collected, fewer settings choices, and your choices can be changed remotely.

I have one phone that goes with me.

Its "old" (2015) but a smartphone.

I can call, text, email, etc.

It can't track, 'listen', and I dont get any ads.

My newer devices stay at home.

I've disabled 'Alexa' day after day on a newer Amazon tablet. She doesn't stay disabled, and I've seen other settings mysteriously re-set as well.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

Nancy Drew — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 19:30:20 GMT

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

SurferWife — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 17:50:27 GMT

We live in a very connected world today and the younger generations are willing to sacrifice privacy for convenience. They don’t appreciate privacy like we older generations do.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

Mistreatedbycs — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:04:33 GMT

Even if you have your phone "off", Google knows where you are, yes, that was just confirmed.

Wait until you get to a certain age and they deem you "not useful" anymore. The doctors will say oh you are too old. I already caught the doctors saying that several years ago about my mom a year before she passed. Yes, that's already here.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

goldensrbest — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:10:58 GMT

Yes,on the today show this past week they talked about how the i phones keep track of you ,and they told how to stop that.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

Snowpuppy — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:16:55 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs wrote:
Even if you have your phone "off", Google knows where you are, yes, that was just confirmed.

Wait until you get to a certain age and they deem you "not useful" anymore. The doctors will say oh you are too old. I already caught the doctors saying that several years ago about my mom a year before she passed. Yes, that's already here.

Amazon is working with Buffet to "improve" healthcare. Amazon wants to start by being a repository of all of your healthcare records, everywhere. Centralized in their secured servers for when this day arrives. So for everyone who stuffs Bezos pockets, know he only has your best interests at heart.

I think it will determine the level of care you are given at any certain age and be danged as to what your own wishes are.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

proudlyfromNJ — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:20:56 GMT

Get rid of your devices. Not that it will help all the way, but it is a start. I have some relatives with no devices. He wants to remain as anonymous as possible.

You have lived without all these things before. Why not continue? Do you really need a smart phone?

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:30:47 GMT

The most technologically-advanced communications device in my life is a 7-year-old desktop computer. Just call me a 'dinosaur'.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

CherryHugs — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:45:46 GMT

One thing that is unbelievable is when I do a search on the computer for something then ads for it are all over everywhere that I go for days after!! This is invasion of privacy.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

Carmie — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 18:58:05 GMT

You need to clear your cookies from any device you surf with. I clear mine out a couple of times a day. That will stop the ads and e-mails.

Even if you have an unlisted phone #, if you order anything from the internet or enter a contest and put that number in, it's out there.

Remove the battery from your phone if you absolutely do not want to be tracked for some reason. Turning it off doesn't work. Of course, you will not have service until the battery is reinserted.

i do not own any Alexia types of devices. I can't figure out how that would help me.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

chickenbutt — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 19:35:16 GMT

I'm sure I'm not invisible, but I don't do a lot of things on my phone that most others do. I'm not dogging anybody else's preferences but, for me, I just don't feel comfortable doing anything regarding money or any of my money-type accounts on the phone.

For all I know, my concerns could be misplaced but until I am comfortable with all that I will keep doing what I'm doing.

I think it also helps being pretty much a non-entity in the world at this point in my life. I don't do social media and wouldn't do any of the 'pay for stuff' things they have on phones now. There is really no reason anybody should even get to the point of trying to breach my electronics, outside of the random thief. I'm not out and about much and when I am, I am careful with my phone and cards - like SUPER careful!

I just hope that people do their research and make sure they are making themselves and their assets as safe as possible.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

Regal Bee — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 19:42:56 GMT

I have a smart phone.....it goes on when I am out. It goes off when I am not.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

chrystaltree — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 20:08:06 GMT

I don't know about the phone call thing but I do a lot of internet surfing and online shopping and it is mind boggling how it happens and so quickly too. My daughter's birthday is coming up and I want to give her one of those modern icecream/frozen yogurt makers. They don't require ice and there are small ones available. I know she wants one, there was one in the condo they rented for the month they were away. Anyway. Now I am being stalked by icecream machines. Whenever I Google something or seach for something or even buy something online....the deluge begins. What's that old saying? "With the good comes the bad". That applies here, we have the amazing benefits of online shopping and communicating and sharing but the downside is that we lost our privacy.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

spiderw — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 20:12:50 GMT

People are entitled to privacy but with technology you do give up some of that. If you don't care about everyone and anyone knowing your every move, that is your business. But there are those of us who maintain our privacy and want it that way.

I use my computer for basically e-mails and research. I have a phone which is used for emergency purposes only. It is off unless I choose to make a call or know someone needs to contact me. I live alone and have a land line which I choose to use for the most part. My cell isn't attached to my ear and I do not depend upon it for amusement, contacts, or anything. I see my friends and family in person and do not text. This is my choice and the people in my life respect it.

Guess what, I survive each day by going out, shopping, visiting people, meeting friends for lunch and taking short rides to places I enjoy. I always have my phone in case of emergency because I believe that is what it should be used for in my situation. I am alone but never lonely and I have a life without all of the technology. That is me and I am not saying my way of life is for everyone. Certainly for people who cannot get out and have disabilities technology could be a blessing.

Perhaps if I was a younger person and worked I would be more dependent on technology. I do not judge those who choose to do so just as people shouldn't push me to wrap my life around a phone and computer.

To each his or her own. It is possible not to be hooked to everything technical and still have a life. This is my opinion and I wish you all a good day!!!!!!

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

chickenbutt — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 20:22:57 GMT

To the folks who do searches and then end up with pop ups or spam about what they were searching - do you use adblocker type softwares at all?

I'm just wondering if that is the single reason I never have that happen. I do use Adblock Plus with both IE and Chrome on my computers. Also, my ISP does not seem to be as open as many becaue I have not gotten a single spam email since I changed away from ATT 2.5 years ago(it was so bad!).

On my phone, however, I virtually never go oniline. It's just not for me because of the tiny screen and the lack of a regular keyboard. I type pretty fast so those tiny little keyboard things are nearly useless for me. Plinking along with one finger is no fun when you're used to being able to type faster than you can talk.

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

lovesrecess — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 20:29:53 GMT

when you get emails or see ads online for products you just looked at or spoke about to someone, is it just a coincidence? hardly

Re: Big Brother Is Listening!

hsawaknow — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 20:37:24 GMT

I dont have any high tech gadgets and I dont have suri or alexa. I dont have internet on my phone either. I own a tablet and the only thing that will pop up adds is when I visit HSN and then go out, HSN will follow me wit adds.

I dont feel comfortable giving away my power to a microchip. I know my Doctors already have enough of it and Im already being listened to, but followed, geez I hope not.

Scary times....