topic Re: Data Brokers in Community Chat

Data Brokers

MyGirlsMom — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 01:37:23 GMT

I've just read an interesting article on NPR's website concerning personal information we (consumers) put on the internet. It's not just about facebook but websites we visit with regard to goods and services. Have a pet? Want to go on a cruise? Heart medication? This information is bundled and sold to Marketing companies.

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/07/11/485571291/firms-are-buying-sharing-your-online-info-what-can-you-do-about-it

Re: Data Sourcing

missy1 — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 01:34:55 GMT

I was viewing purse videos on the Q yesterday , and they sent me a email about purses.

Re: Data Brokers

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 01:47:53 GMT

I do the best I can but I don't go crazy worrying about it. Every time you/I whatever goes on the internet to look up anything, go to the grocery store, get medicine, you name it, someone is notified.

I do the best I can. I own my home. I don't owe any money on it. My friend owns her house. The two of us are constantly getting letters, calls, you name it, asking if we want to sell our house. We both say, "NO....leave us alone"....yet we keep getting the letters. Maybe we are on some website for homeowners. Somewhere there must be people who need houses. Ha!

They keep looking things up on the internet, I guess. You should google yourself, you'd be surprised!

Re: Data Brokers

Moonchilde — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 02:00:48 GMT

As Annabellethecat says, I don't go crazy worrying about it, because it's the new permanent norm. It's the trade-off for being on the internet. Yes, you can use browsers that don't track, and use Do Not Track software which cuts down on some of it, but in reality, every time you use a site or enter any data anywhere, some of it is going to be sold and/or follow you around. I refuse to stop using the internet, or keep my use to a bare minimum, because the truth is, they get you anyway. My niece and her DH do NOTHING (and I mean nothing) on the internet that has to do with banking, shopping, hobbies, etc. and they get a whopping lot of spam mail.

Yes, you can google yourself and often come up with your address and phone #, but that's much more likely to be from public records, not the internet - it's just that the internet puts it out there - which they would still do if you weren't online to see it.

Re: Data Brokers

ROMARY — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 02:19:53 GMT

Forgive me, posters who are tired of reading this: I'm the one, who, for the first time, looked at a local cab company's site, and two days later one of their cabs dropped three mini-calendars into my mailbox. Actually, it's a very reputable cab company, with shiny, clean, new-ish cabs. Very well respected by seniors around here, etc. Anyway, I called them a couple of days later and thanked them for the calendars. Never gave it a thought until one of these 'Big brother-paranoid' threads recently popped up. .......... So, yes, peeps/companies know where we live, who we are. Since these threads, I've been very careful to only search local, good reputation, local and other companies. They must, in some way, have a way to know where we live, who we are. p.s. Not to scare anyone, but it's a good idea to think before we click onto various company sites, even local ones.

Re: Data Brokers

MyGirlsMom — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 02:15:32 GMT

This thread isn't to scare anyone, it's to inform consumers on how things work. I mentioned on a past thread that States sell information from our drivers Licenses.

I use ad bloc and anti virus software, as well as clean out my 'cookies' regularly.

Re: Data Brokers

ROMARY — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 02:28:16 GMT

MyGirlsMom: Sometimes folks just don't wish to think about it. I get the 'funniest' looks from certain people when I 'hint' to them regarding this subject. It's all a matter of how much privacy each individual wants. Personally, I wouldn't want employees from companies knowing where I live. I guess that's why we probably shouldn't complain (via Internet) too-too much now-a-days. Maybe just send them an anonymous post-card instead, lol.

Re: Data Brokers

MyGirlsMom — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 02:32:02 GMT

@ROMARY wrote:
MyGirlsMom: Sometimes folks just don't wish to think about it. I get the 'funniest' looks from certain people when I 'hint' to them regarding this subject. It's all a matter of how much privacy each individual wants. Personally, I wouldn't want employees from companies knowing where I live. I guess that's why we probably shouldn't complain (via Internet) too-too much now-a-days. Maybe just send them an anonymous post-card instead, lol.

I have a reasonable expectation of privacy and I HATE to be inundated with spam and ads while on line and try to limit access to where i go while on the internet.

BUT

I also know that every time I sign up for a grocery store or gas station savings card, they know what products I like ti buy and how often. LOL

Re: Data Brokers

Moonchilde — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 03:10:57 GMT

@MyGirlsMom wrote:
@ROMARY wrote:
MyGirlsMom: Sometimes folks just don't wish to think about it. I get the 'funniest' looks from certain people when I 'hint' to them regarding this subject. It's all a matter of how much privacy each individual wants. Personally, I wouldn't want employees from companies knowing where I live. I guess that's why we probably shouldn't complain (via Internet) too-too much now-a-days. Maybe just send them an anonymous post-card instead, lol.

I have a reasonable expectation of privacy and I HATE to be inundated with spam and ads while on line and try to limit access to where i go while on the internet.

BUT

I also know that every time I sign up for a grocery store or gas station savings card, they know what products I like ti buy and how often. LOL

And people don't think about all those "prize raffle" booths at the county & state fairs - just fill out this card & put it in the hopper... That's how we got on phone & mail lists before the internet. Those booths aren't to give away a prize, they're to collect as many names, addresses & phone #s as possible, to SELL. So there are many ways "they" getcha.

Re: Data Brokers

september — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 03:51:42 GMT

1 1/2 years ago, I helped my daughter do some online searching for a kitchen island. I do clear out my personal data and cookies on a regular schedule, and even had it done at the Apple Store last week.

today I got a pop up ad for a kitchen island.

Not a coincidence.

Re: Data Brokers

ROMARY — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 03:53:42 GMT

Yes! 'Funny' how we used to fill out all of those cards at fairs and events. My gosh what were we (well, I can only speak for myself) thinking?

Re: Data Brokers

september — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 04:03:41 GMT

Sometimes...when I'm in a store now, and get asked for my email address...I tell them I don't have one! They look at me like I'm from another planet, but I know that as soon as I give it to them, I'm going to get daily emails from yet another source.

Re: Data Brokers

CatsyCline — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 04:49:17 GMT

this is the reason i don't do the Plenti Card at my drugstore. it is offered by American Express but you need to drill down into the Plenti site to learn this. they just say they're a partner. you register to get points you can use at Macys, gas stations, hulu, car rental, insurance. but the T&C is pages long and you agree that they share data with the Plenti partners and online searches and social media activity. and then who knows who their partners will share with 3rd parties. they require a lot of info like date of birth. every time i pick up a script or OJ or some mascar, they bug me me to sign up for the card. no thanks!! no more loyalty cards. not worth the junk i get in the mail and my email. and spam calls.

Re: Data Brokers

Moonchilde — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 05:32:44 GMT

@ROMARY wrote:
Yes! 'Funny' how we used to fill out all of those cards at fairs and events. My gosh what were we (well, I can only speak for myself) thinking?

I definitely did it when I was young. I think I finally caught on about 25 years ago when I started getting lots of US mail from companies that I was "WT?" as well as from the places I'd given my name & address to. Put 2+2 together at last!

Re: Data Brokers

reiki604 — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:22:37 GMT

This has been going on forever. I found out years ago that the phone company was selling lists to outside sources which is why I always had a mailbox full of junk mail. These days it's spam. Same thing.

Re: Data Brokers

JillyMarie — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:47:49 GMT

@CatsyCline There is a documentary entitled Terms and Conditions May Apply available from Netflix. Filmmaker Cullen Hoback exposes the erosion of online privacy and what information governments and corporations are legally taking from citizens each day. Very interesting.

Re: Data Brokers

jlkz — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 17:02:42 GMT

watched a lot of folks filling out a card to be entered into a drawing for a nice car ( at a mall ) this weekend.

They will soon be getting a telephone call"Congratulations, you just won a trip to _________." Or, a lot of junk mail or even spam if they gave their email address.

Been there, done that....and will never do it again.

Don't do the Plenti Card at Macy's either because I don't do American Express. The last time I had a Macy's card, it was purely for their store and not based on AX.

Re: Data Brokers

dreamieLil — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 17:04:02 GMT

@JillyMarie wrote:
@CatsyCline There is a documentary entitled Terms and Conditions May Apply available from Netflix. Filmmaker Cullen Hoback exposes the erosion of online privacy and what information governments and corporations are legally taking from citizens each day. Very interesting.

Thanks for this recommendation @JillyMarie. @MyGirlsMom Interesting article and thread.