How to Take Control of Your Data
*As much as possible Always assume that anything in your Facebook profile will be seen publicly. Keep this in mind when you upload photos, update your status, and post comments on other timelines. The developers at Facebook give us some ways to limit who can see some of our activities, though. Step-by-step method to make... Continue Reading →
While searching around the interwebs, I have learned a few new terms. One can also learn them following current events. This story comes out amid the hundreds of headlines about a new Supreme Court nominee. To most, it seems unimportant, compared to the hanging lib/con balance on the highest Court in our country. It seems... Continue Reading →
When military spouses have had enough, drastic things happen. When it's time to step out with your story to protect your family, privacy takes a back seat. I applaud these families who walked out into the public arena to fight for their families' safety. I've spent the last 15 years trying to stay below the... Continue Reading →
When A Stranger Decides To Destroy Your Life In today's world of public comment and conversation in social media, it definitely pays NOT to use your correct name in your online profiles. Many people like Monika Glennon have careers and work for companies that post their names and photos in marketing campaigns. In the last... Continue Reading →
The Complete Privacy & Security Podcast- Episode 071 March 16, 2018 Click here for SoundCloud site. This was a super-informative podcast where Johan, the owner of several people search sites (discoverthem.com and others) describes how they obtain, maintain, and sell your personal information. You'll feel a little sick after listening, but you'll learn some helpful... Continue Reading →
We never worried too much about having our physical address visible online before this duty station. The data brokers were usually one PCS behind. However, we've been here almost four years in this location and our address was all over the internet in search engines and people-finder websites. I checked some resources about how to... Continue Reading →
This may be hard to imagine, but your own organization may be endangering you and your family. Do they operate a public website? Google Hangout group? Facebook page? How about a Community page? What are the settings for them? Do they post photographs? Announce events? This week, I've been trying to register for three upcoming... Continue Reading →
In response to new (anti) privacy laws in the US that allow your ISP to collect & sell your browsing data, you can obscure the information your internet service provider can see about you. Internet Noise story in WIRED When your providers want information, give them false results! IAPP description INTERNET NOISE link © 2019... Continue Reading →
Follow up to the last post. After talking to CS at GoDaddy.com about telephonedirectories.us about my options, I decided this may be a browser issue. The CS agent said that td.us is still an active site, according to what he could see. He could see the site, while I couldn't on my computer. I closed... Continue Reading →
One website is particularly malicious. telephonedirectories.us started appearing in search results with our current phone number and physical address. Clicking on the link showed the page was not active. I submitted the removal request to Google, and the search result was removed. A few days later, another telephonedirectories.us result showed up, with a slightly different... Continue Reading →
Privacy podcasts are out there! I listen to these via itunes. These include topics for online privacy and general security. Data Privacy Detective- Joe Deher The Complete Privacy & Security Podcast- Michael Bazzell & Justin Carroll Per***** Sec***** Podcast- Personal (Digital) Security Privacy Patriots TechLaw10 Data Breach Today Privacy Sigma Riders © 2019 GR All... Continue Reading →
You'll notice after a few days of removing your names from data broker websites that the search engines begin to find older links to your names and profiles. They don't like to come up empty handed. Their first results will show their paying customers' results (sponsored), then the easiest to find information in their webcrawls. ... Continue Reading →
"The Paranoid is never entirely mistaken." In it's mildest form, it's called situational awareness. The more extreme versions may apply to Preppers or eventually to conspiracy-theory hermits in tin foil hats. On the paranoia spectrum, I'd say I'm an amateur prepper. Experts in enterprise security talk about privacy and paranoia at this podcast. © 2019... Continue Reading →
**WSJ Video** In this lighthearted (and creepy) look at online privacy, you'll learn about some new websites. After you sign in to your FB and Google accounts, click the links below. StalkScan Google Timeline Google Activity Tracker When you use any application or software, they --by default-- opt you IN to all the tracking and... Continue Reading →
**Why We’re So Hypocritical About Online Privacy** This article describes how people claim to worry about their online privacy, yet most do nothing to protect it. As I read, I made a mental list of the steps we've taken: My Soldier has no Facebook page. My FB profile is not my name and not connected... Continue Reading →
So, we're moving. Again. You are, too, I bet. Did you know that when you fill out a mail forwarding request with the USPS they SELL your new information to advertisers? True story. What to do- what to do? I'm trying a new method to keep our new address from showing up online... I spent... Continue Reading →
Internet websites and their domain names are governed by the ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. A website's domain must be unique (such as ourprivacymatters.org) in order for an internet browser to point to it correctly. When a person or business registers a domain, their information becomes public information. All of the... Continue Reading →
**TV News Consumer Segment** This 2017 video tells how to opt out of one direct mail data broker, Data & Marketing Association. DMA charges a $2 fee to opt out. I used a prepaid Visa gift card for these transactions. It's a good idea to keep one of these for any charges you make online. ... Continue Reading →
I don't use Safari, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or Google Chrome. Most of the time I access the web using Mozilla Firefox. The Mozilla Foundation works to protect online privacy and improve the internet for all users. Mozilla Firefox is great on my desktop, because the download is HUGE now. They also offer many privacy... Continue Reading →
We're taught from the time we're little kids to be nice and share. So when the clerk asks for our phone number or email, we give it, right? Here's the thing: those loyalty cards and discount programs are money-makers for those companies. They don't store our information just to send us coupons or help us... Continue Reading →
Now Hide Me 