Internet privacy

R

rgp

Well-known Member
Location
Milford,OH
Or lack of .... might be more appropriate

I went to a vehicle evaluation site, just to see what one of my motorcycles is worth .

They already knew who I was, where I lived [including address] , phone number........and lord only knows what else. It's no wonder people are getting "hacked" & "ripped-off" so much !!!

I am seriously thinking about just un-plugging all together..........this stuff is worrisome / cause for concern.
 

I suggest that you research somewhat througly- it is much more pervasive than you think- much more..not just tech companys- many goverments etc...it is sad commnetary on our freedoms but what it will do and is doing is creating alternet internets news and media..as it is now we get what we are supposed to get.--what cars to buys which deceases to cower from-which vaccines and so on...wired.com and eff.com will get you up to speed- bring a pillow some of those and most you can have have removed ..not for sure how long but bbb is a sourece a ftc-
 
rgp said:
Or lack of .... might be more appropriate

I went to a vehicle evaluation site, just to see what one of my motorcycles is worth .

They already knew who I was, where I lived [including address] , phone number........and lord only knows what else. It's no wonder people are getting "hacked" & "ripped-off" so much !!!

I am seriously thinking about just un-plugging all together..........this stuff is worrisome / cause for concern.
Click to expand...

You can use a private search engine such as DuckDuckGo, or a browser with a built-in VPN such as Opera.
 

Bonnie said:
I've been using DuckDuckGo for many years. ... Like it advertises, it doesn't track you.
Click to expand...
DuckDuckGo for me, too. Also Firefox browser for the same reason.

My computer uses Windows 10. When I sign into the computer it automatically opens an Edge browser page. Then I get a popup saying that there must be a mistake - they can't find my Microsoft account. (You're right, you can't. I never use it, plus I changed my password.)

I immediately close Edge and open Firefox.
 
Duckduckgo also has an android browser app (not sure about iPhones) that seems to work well on smartphones. Along with duckduckgo's search I also use 'Ghostery' (addon for Firefox) - blocks even more popups.
 
DuckDuckGo here as well. Interestingly, I dump my browser cookies fairly often, sometimes daily. I never see cookies from DuckDuckGo.
 
StarSong said:
DuckDuckGo for me, too. Also Firefox browser for the same reason.

My computer uses Windows 10. When I sign into the computer it automatically opens an Edge browser page. Then I get a popup saying that there must be a mistake - they can't find my Microsoft account. (You're right, you can't. I never use it, plus I changed my password.)

I immediately close Edge and open Firefox.
Click to expand...
Well done! MS and Google are Terrible for invading your privacy and tracking your movements!
 
rgp said:
Or lack of .... might be more appropriate

I went to a vehicle evaluation site, just to see what one of my motorcycles is worth .

They already knew who I was, where I lived [including address] , phone number........and lord only knows what else. It's no wonder people are getting "hacked" & "ripped-off" so much !!!

I am seriously thinking about just un-plugging all together..........this stuff is worrisome / cause for concern.
Click to expand...
This sounds to me like your browser had "auto fill" enabled, and that it(the web browser) auto-filled the form with the information you had previously used, for some other site.
 
The information that people can get from your posts on Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Instagram, etc is crazy! You don't even have to be a "nerd" to get some of the information. I just cringe when I see people post personal stuff about their family, neighborhood, themselves! I do not allow anyone, to include family to post my picture, name or anything on social media. Thieves especially monitor "vacation" photo's/posts. Oh, you are vacation at a place miles and miles away and will be gone for a week??? Hmmm ...let's just see where you live and what kind of security or not, you have on your now probably vacant home! Please be careful of posting personal information on social media. Oh, and if you have any really computer savvy friends/family, I'll bet ya they don't activally use social media either (browse only).
 
DuckDuckGo is a start. using a VPN helps. A cyber security expert I have taken classes from recommends using the firefox browser with the right add on's like uBlockOrigin. Facebook tracks you even if you don't have a facebook account or use facebook.

Its very difficult if not impossible to obtain and maintain 100% privacy online. It requires a lot of work, more than what is mentioned here. Its so difficult that most people would not do it even if they knew how.

Using the Tails OS from a thumb drive and the TOR browser on the TOR network would be required. If you're using windows or a Mac on the clear net (the Internet we all use daily, and not the dark web) then it's pretty easy for what you do to be tracked by someone.
 
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StarSong said:
DuckDuckGo for me, too. Also Firefox browser for the same reason.

My computer uses Windows 10. When I sign into the computer it automatically opens an Edge browser page. Then I get a popup saying that there must be a mistake - they can't find my Microsoft account. (You're right, you can't. I never use it, plus I changed my password.)

I immediately close Edge and open Firefox.
Click to expand...

And Edge is always trying to get me to use Bing as my search engine.

I'm curious StarSong, if you prefer to use Firefox, why don't you just open your computer with that?
 
Sunny said:
And Edge is always trying to get me to use Bing as my search engine.

I'm curious StarSong, if you prefer to use Firefox, why don't you just open your computer with that?
Click to expand...
Check your Windows startup config. If your computer is automatically opening a browser when you log in, then it is set SOMEWHERE to do that.
Just DDG - "MS Edge opens browser when I log in" or something to that affect and you should find many tips on how to stop/change that.
That would drive me crazy! Just open to my Desktop and let ME pick what I want to open next!
 
macgeek said:
DuckDuckGo is a start. using a VPN helps. A cyber security expert I have taken classes from recommends using the firefox browser with the right add on's like uBlockOrigin. Facebook tracks you even if you don't have a facebook account or use facebook.

Its very difficult if not impossible to obtain and maintain 100% privacy online. It requires a lot of work, more than what is mentioned here. Its so difficult that most people would not do it even if they knew how.

Using the Tails OS from a thumb drive and the TOR browser on the TOR network would be required. If you're using windows or a Mac on the clear net (the Internet we all use daily, and not the dark web) then it's pretty easy for what you do to be tracked by someone.
Click to expand...
I Used Tor for quite awhile.. problem I encountered: couldn't access many of the sites I go to regularly.
 
Sunny said:
And Edge is always trying to get me to use Bing as my search engine.

I'm curious StarSong, if you prefer to use Firefox, why don't you just open your computer with that?
Click to expand...
I tried Duck a couple of times, didn't like the format.
I've been using Bing for a few years, liked the benefits, didn't even realize it was Microsoft til I read this thread although it was kinda obvious.
 
KimIn Wis said:
Check your Windows startup config. If your computer is automatically opening a browser when you log in, then it is set SOMEWHERE to do that.
Just DDG - "MS Edge opens browser when I log in" or something to that affect and you should find many tips on how to stop/change that.
That would drive me crazy! Just open to my Desktop and let ME pick what I want to open next!
Click to expand...
I have changed the settings as per internet advice, but stop short at messing with registry HKey and registry settings because It takes literally one second to close the window. No biggie.

I could avoid it by choosing to not require a password upon awakening the computer, but I prefer not to do that.
 
StarSong said:
I have changed the settings as per internet advice, but stop short at messing with registry HKey and registry settings because It takes literally one second to close the window. No biggie.

I could avoid it by choosing to not require a password upon awakening the computer, but I prefer not to do that.
Click to expand...
Yep, do NOT mess with the Registry if you are not extremely experienced in digging that far down into the operating system. You can totally kill your device. And like you said, it only takes a sec to close, so no big deal!
 
KimIn Wis said:
The information that people can get from your posts on Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Instagram, etc is crazy! You don't even have to be a "nerd" to get some of the information. I just cringe when I see people post personal stuff about their family, neighborhood, themselves! I do not allow anyone, to include family to post my picture, name or anything on social media. Thieves especially monitor "vacation" photo's/posts. Oh, you are vacation at a place miles and miles away and will be gone for a week??? Hmmm ...let's just see where you live and what kind of security or not, you have on your now probably vacant home! Please be careful of posting personal information on social media. Oh, and if you have any really computer savvy friends/family, I'll bet ya they don't activally use social media either (browse only).
Click to expand...
This is something which worries me. I am as careful as possible but my daughter in law is the opposite. She shares everything on social media.
 
I don't believe there is "privacy". The fact that you are using the internet means that somewhere you have already given up your so called "privacy" rights.-those terms of service. For most of us, almost everything we buy, rent, and every financial transaction is duly recorded, collated, codified and sold to any third party. You may believe you have erased your foot print on the internet., but the sites you visit recreate it. We are in an era when personal data is a valuable commodity; and obtaining it, and selling it is just part of the business model.
 
"Privacy" in today's world is a myth. If you use the Internet, or any of the social media sites, or use a credit card, or have ever had a home/auto loan or use a cell phone, etc., etc., your life history is available to anyone who wants to visit a "people search" web site, and pay a couple of dollars.
 
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