topic Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡 in Community Chat

😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

Mz iMac — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:43:28 GMT

Browsing the Internet

That search engine you’re using to find websites or information tracks your browsing activity. It then analyzes this behavior to target ads to you.

Listening to Music

When you activate an Amazon Echo or Google Home speaker with your voice, those companies record what you utter. Doc Searls, editor in chief at the Linux Journal, calls smart speakers “a personal data fire hose squirting from your house.”

Shopping Online

Amazon and other online retailers have made it an art form to track not only your purchasing patterns but also what items you viewed — so that they can recommend more products that align with your interests and needs.

Watching TV

Some smart TVs can collect your viewing data and other information. New models typically ask your permission first, but it's not always easy to understand what you're agreeing to. If you have an older set, it may be tracking you by default — and you'd have to opt out.

Cooking a Meal

Many new models of kitchen appliances, thermostats, light bulbs, light switches, door locks and more can be controlled from a phone or remote device. “The fact that everyday household products are now connected to the internet presents new privacy and data security challenges,” says Sam Lester, consumer privacy fellow for the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Transmitted data can indicate whether you are home.

Researching Your Genealogy

Businesses like 23andMe and Ancestry promise to reveal your genetic relatives based on the DNA from a saliva sample. But who’s able to peek at that data? Recent criminal cases reveal that police are working with such services to gather information for investigations.

Visiting Your Doctor

Pacemakers, defibrillators and other medical devices are now often connected to your doctor or hospital, transmitting medical information.

Surfing the Web at a Coffeehouse

Beware of eavesdroppers on free Wi-Fi networks. “The person next to you could be using a tool called a packet sniffer to see what data you’re sending to the websites you visit,” says Ray Klump, professor and chair of computer science and mathematics at Lewis University.

Shopping at a Store

Those cards that get you discounts at stores and restaurants and other businesses are used to track your name, address and what you buy.

Getting Your Computer Fixed

Got a problem with your computer? The repair team at that big-box store can help. But recent reports revealed that employees at Best Buy were paid by the FBI to notify them of possible illegal content on customers’ computers.

Driving

E-ZPass and other toll transponders create a log of your locations. Also, speed or red-light cameras at key locations snap license plate numbers, along with the date, time and location. And some auto insurance companies may want to track your driving with a device installed in your car that transmits data.

Doing Research at the Library

“If you go to the library, and use a public internet kiosk there and forget to log out, the data you saved and the websites you visited will be available to the next person,” Klump says. Browsers offer a setting through which you can clear your history, logins and other info.

Exercising

The fitness tracker on your wrist collects data on your workouts, exercise routines and location. That information is shared with the manufacturers and can be synced with your social media accounts.

Renting a Car

Connecting your phone to the onboard electronics in a rental car could be risky. “Anyone who uses the car afterward may be able to go through the car’s menus and see what calls you made, and they may even be able to find out your contact list,” Klump says.

Taking a Walk

Your phone’s location service tracks you and may share that data with certain apps. Jeff Wilbur, technical director of the Online Trust Alliance, says: “We love the benefit of our smartphones as GPS or to utilize ride-sharing or similar location-based services, but by default, those apps track and log a tremendous amount about your location history.” Also, surveillance cameras are increasingly used in public places to aid police investigations or to monitor for suspicious activity.

How to Protect Yourself

Use a VPN. Virtual Private Networks are secure data “tunnels” that protect online activity from prying eyes. Search “VPN” on the web to find services; most charge a small monthly fee.
Change web browsers. A few, such as Tor or Epic Privacy Browser, prevent snoopers from seeing the sites you visit and stop websites from tracking you.
Search anonymously. Search engines such as DuckDuckGo and StartPage block ad trackers and keep your search history private.
Be wary when using apps. Many ask for access to your contacts, photos and other information. Decline first and see how the app runs without sharing that info.
Don’t share your location. “If you go for a walk that your fitness app tracked, don’t post your path on Facebook, even for bragging rights. Because then people see very clearly where you live and when you’re away,” says Ray Klump, professor of computer science and mathematics at Lewis University.

AARP copy/paste link--> aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2018/where-companies-are-tracking-data.html

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:51:14 GMT

Well, I guess there may be some people that don't know these things, but I would hope most people who use the Internet do.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

ShowMe — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:04:20 GMT

Looks to me like someone got her AARP magazine. Am sure most responders on your 2 threads today get the magazine...... I got mine and am in the process of reading through it.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

Mz iMac — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:15:35 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ

One of the reasons I posted this article.....

There are far too many posters here who frequently admit/post "they are not technical/computer savvy" or something similar.

I find this alarming.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

ShowMe — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:19:35 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
Well, I guess there may be some people that don't know these things, but I would hope most people who use the Internet do.

@proudlyfromNJ.....you can bet someone is reading the threads on here now. You can't hide any thing any more. Definitely know by the many emails I receive.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

Mz iMac — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:19:35 GMT

@ShowMe wrote:
Looks to me like someone got her AARP magazine.

BUSTED!

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

Nightowlz — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:20:40 GMT

It may help if you open incognito window to surf the web. Chrome does not keep your browsing history. On IE it's called inprivate browsing. I'm sure some how they can still see what you are doing. LOL!!!

I'm sure they can see us from outer space with their Satellites.

I know Amazon Echo is listening. Sometimes we unplug it if we want to say something we don't want everyone else to hear if you know what I mean. They sure get an ear full listening to us.

I know the Ins Co will offer a lower rate if you put that device in your vehicle so they can track your driving habits.

I know my Fitbit can see I'm walking my rear off. LOL!!!

I imagine they are also tracking our credit card & debit card use.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:21:16 GMT

One of the biggest offenders is your discount card at the grocery store or other BM stores.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

Nightowlz — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:26:19 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:

@proudlyfromNJ
One of the reasons I posted this article.....
There are far too many posters here who frequently admit/post "they are not technical/computer savvy" or something similar.

I find this alarming.

@Mz iMac

Like my younger sister. She emailed to ask about the Microsoft scam. I told her it was a scam. Nobody is going to call you like that unless it is a scam. They have no idea if your computer is working or not. LOL!!!

My MIL & SIL asked us about it also. Geezzzzzz. My SIL even called the # back. They wanted a credit card #. They hung up on her after she told them she did not have any credit cards. She really does not have any.

🤷‍♀️I’m OK with it🤷‍♀️

sidsmom — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:36:10 GMT

I really don’t have an issue with the tracking.

It’s the world we live in.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

VirgoGirl — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:30:57 GMT

Good stuff to know but I might not venture anywhere or do anything if I worried about everything I did. I did purchase some products that were recalled a few years ago and received a phone call about returning them for a credit. So it does work in your favor also.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:32:34 GMT

Big Brother is watching. I thought we all knew. Quess not.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

ShowMe — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:35:50 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
I really don’t have an issue with the tracking.
It’s the world we live in.

@sidsmom....and there isn't a darned thing we can do about it. It will continue....and get worse with all the technology out there.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

Laura14 — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:38:34 GMT

@Nightowlz I use incognito all day at work for the personal browsing stuff. Trick I picked up from back in the day.

And if we really want to freak ourselves out even more, we leave our personal fingerprints and DNA every single place we go to and there is nothing any of us can do to stop from shedding all of our most private and uniquely identifying info to the world.

🤷‍♀️No issue with it🤷‍♀️

sidsmom — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:39:15 GMT

@ShowMe wrote:
@sidsmom wrote:
I really don’t have an issue with the tracking.
It’s the world we live in.
@sidsmom....and there isn't a darned thing we can do about it. It will continue....and get worse with all the technology out there.

@ShowMe

Again, I don’t have an issue with it so I don’t know what ‘worse’

is referring to, so....

Re: 🤷‍♀️No issue with it🤷‍♀️

ShowMe — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:53:40 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
@ShowMe wrote:
@sidsmom wrote:
I really don’t have an issue with the tracking.
It’s the world we live in.
@sidsmom....and there isn't a darned thing we can do about it. It will continue....and get worse with all the technology out there.
@ShowMe
Again, I don’t have an issue with it so I don’t know what ‘worse’
is referring to, so....

@sidsmom......."worse" is what the whole article is about.....folks knowing everything about other folks....what they are doing, where they are shopping, where they are going when walking with their cell phones, etc. Nothing is private any more.

🙈🙉🙊

sidsmom — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:59:31 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ

ITA.

Always have to giggle when I hear the Big Brother Boogeyman

is gonna git ‘cha. Tracking, from generations ago, is nothing new.

But yet, the people who look under their bed every night

are the same people who will spit in a tube to find out

their genetic makeup or who their ancestors are. 🤷‍♀️

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

dooBdoo — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:15:14 GMT

Excellent information, @Mz iMac. Thanks for sharing this. Also, adding to the tracking that results from shopping online... every time anyone uses cashback sites like Ebates, even more details of their online activities are gathered and saved and shared (and probably sold). It's good to be aware, and then we can make more informed decisions.

Re: 😡 How Companies Are Tracking Your Data 😡

shortbreadlover — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:48:19 GMT

this is why iuse a phoney name on stre cards that track the items that i buy. i nver give out any info unless i really need to do so.

didyou know that the home you reside in is listed as public info and anyonecan look up anything about your home? from how much paid in taxes to the sq footage and such. the counties sell this info to anyone who is willing to pay for it.

Re: 🤷‍♀️I’m OK with it🤷‍♀️

Mj12 — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:59:50 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
I really don’t have an issue with the tracking.
It’s the world we live in.

I have no issue either. (That does not mean we don't take basic precautions to protect ourselves) The OP also listed some positive things - FBI catching criminals. OK with me.