Community Chat

[MyGirlsMom]

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-onl...

[missy1]

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

[Annabellethecat66]

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!  

[Moonchilde]

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. 

[ROMARY]

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.

[MyGirlsMom]

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.

[ROMARY]

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.

[MyGirlsMom]

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@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.

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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

[Moonchilde]

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@MyGirlsMom wrote:

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@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

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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.

[september]

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.