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Here are Some Lesser-Known Privacy Intrusions — and What You Can Do About Them

PC World Lists Five Online Privacy Intrusions You Might Know About

(Image: Shutterstock)

You probably already know your movements in the digital world are monitored to an extent. If you just updated your Facebook status to reflect that you’re engaged, you’re probably going to see ads for wedding vendors on the social networking site now. Doing research on Google before buying a new TV? Chances are your ads on other, unrelated websites, will be for TVs.

(Related: Here’s How You Can Browse the Web Without Being Tracked)

These are just a few examples, but PC World has pulled together five “privacy intrusions” that you might not know about yet.

(1) PC World writes that e-readers could be rather unassuming data collection devices. It concedes there is no evidence that what you read is being shared with others — marketers or the government — but the data it can collect is more extensive than you might think. It can track data like time spent reading, completion of a book or where you stopped, searches you made in the text and what you choose to read afterward. With this information, PC World notes the “bigger concern” is that e-books might become tailored too much for mainstream consumption, meaning it would “discourage creative risk-taking and diminish the variety of available content.” Here‘s what it says you can do if this doesn’t sit well with you:

If you’re uncomfortable having your reading habits collected, your only option is to shut off your device‘s Internet connection whenever you’re about to open an ebook.

(2) PC World also calls up retailers tracking purchases both on and offline. It uses Target as an example as it was featured for its targeted marketing in the New York Times earlier this year. The store assigns customers with a code that is able to link the purchase they make in the store itself (offline) to those made on the website (online). PC World notes that targeted advertising is not “the most offensive evil.” Still, if it wigs you out, here’s what you can do:

Installing a Do Not Track add-on for your Web browser will reduce your chances of being followed around the Web by marketers. This prevents many data collection firms, who provide users’ browsing habits to retailers, from following you. My colleague Ian Paul has rounded up some third-party options, though many browsers now have a Do Not Track preference built in.

(3) Debt collectors used to be reliant upon snail mail, email and phone calls to collect dues, but PC World reports that even Facebook has become a medium to “stalk debtors.” In a separate article, PC World explained that the social world had been used to identify family members and other information about the debtor in order to get in contact with them. It reports the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which defines debt collection interactions in the “physical world,” becomes more murky when things go online. Here’s what you can do:

The first priority is to adjust your Facebook privacy settings, so strangers can’t contact you. Facebook also doesn’t take kindly to debt collection on its network, and recommends that users report such behavior to the company, the Federal Trade Commission, and the user’s state attorney general.

PC World’s last two privacy intrusions are ones reported already at length by TheBlaze: potential government tracking and data collection by cellphone providers.

(4) PC World calls up speculation about the National Security Agency collecting information on Americans, which it has denied doing. Still, if you aren’t convinced, the Electronic Freedom Frontier is calling upon citizens to write Congress members asking them to not renew the FISA Amendments Act, which allows for data collection on international communications.

(Related: SCOTUS to Hear Case Challenging NSA’s Warrantless Wiretapping Program)

(5) Wireless carriers are at least a bit more transparent in their data collection and how it is used. Providers in many of their privacy policies write that they can provide your information to third-party advertisers. They also will provide relevant information to law enforcement when the appropriate legal channels are followed. As of right now, you can’t prevent compliance with the law, but you can opt-out of targeted marketing if you visit your carrier’s website, according to PC Word.

Read more details on PC World’s five online privacy intrusions you may not know about here.

Comments (22)

  • ParkerOnFoodStamps
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:48pm

    Eric the Red State! LOVE IT! Great joke and soo sooo unfortunately true :-)

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:27am

    The 16 tracking cookies I am blocking from The Blaze is a good example of such intrusion.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • OlderCowGirl
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 9:44pm

    What I’m most worried about is what Obama and Co. will do even if they lose the election…until the new Pres. takes over. We pretty much know what will happen to America if Obama wins 2012. But even if Obama loses…consider what can be accomplished by the Dem’s from Nov elec day until Obama/Reid/Pelossie reign is over. Never thought I’d see the day that I was afraid in my own country. Been feeling that way ever since 2008. The tide will turn though. Americans are too used to freedom by now. We’re all hoping to vote out Obama. If that doesn’t happen…and Obama wins…oh boy oh boy…then there‘s not much to lose when one feels they’ve already lost.

    Report Post » OlderCowGirl  
  • ZengaPA65
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 8:59pm

    I’m blocking 13 intrusive cookies from this page alone while reading this.

    Report Post » ZengaPA65  
  • turkey13
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 3:44pm

    Everyone needs to go out and buy Brad Thors latest “Black List.” The research is based on the real thing uncovered by paid hackers. Nancy Polussie is trying to get Obama to ban it with an executive order stating it asd a National Security Risk. I couldn’t put it down and if Obama stops it and bans the book I will sell mine for $1,000.00 by listing on bulliton boards at grocery stores and at the local univerisity. I know thats old school but it would be off NASA’s radar.

    Report Post »  
  • SimpleTruths
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 2:11pm

    Tin foil hat sales just jumped up!

    Report Post » SimpleTruths  
    • ParkerOnFoodStamps
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:46pm

      Go away, FREAK. Go kiss your lover at a Chik Fil A today! hahahahah … but remember to EAT MORE CHIKIN!!! Fool…..

      Report Post »  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 1:20pm

    yahoo mail wont let me access my e-mail until I agree to their new terms of agreement.But try to read the agreement and it redirects.locks your machine,Hey This is how O’muslim is spying.

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:13am

    ATTN. fellow anonymous commenters: This may be a first in the nation, but here in Memphis, TN there is a MAJOR violation of privacy and freedom of speech issue happening. The Shelby County Commission (a government body) has SUBPOENAED the main local newspaper for the names, addresses, and phone numbers of its anonymous commenters. The anonymous commenters are OUTRAGED that their identities may be revealed. The Commission feels that they have the right to these names simply to see if there is an “overlap” of names in the online commenters and people who influenced school merger legislation. They claim to be looking for “racists”, but in Liberal Land what does that really mean? The Commission claims that only THEY will know the true identities because they will label them “John Do 1” and “John Doe 2”, etc. but if that’s the case why do they need the REAL names? People are supposed to just TRUST that the politicians will keep this a secret? If this happens here in Memphis, it can happen anywhere, and ALL of us could be in danger of having our identities revealed.

    http://www.wmctv.com/category/240217/video-landing-page?clipId=7556888&autostart=true

    http://wreg.com/2012/07/29/newspaper-subpoenaed-for-commenters-identities/

    Report Post » Tigress1  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:09pm

      Comrade haven’t you heard yet that you have nothing to fear if you are doing nothing wrong? Well don’t believe it because “wrong” is being defined by the wrong people, so you lose!
      Remember “Your terrorist is my freedomfighter.”
      Boy are we screwed!

      Report Post » historyguy48  
    • thegreatcarnac
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 2:06pm

      If they decide a person is racist…then what. WHat about black racists? It is not against the law to be a racist. ONe person‘s racist remark may be the other guy’s comic relief. Screw the state. It is no one’s business who is racist. Who decides. For instance…if you are against bussing…then some blacks may decide your racist when you may not be. What is wrong with state of Tennessee?

      Report Post »  
    • blackyb
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 2:09pm

      The ones doing this are the racists and are turning it around on others. How silly of them. They think they are so clever. They are aborigines and don’t like it.They want to be another ethnic and cannot stand to think how stupid they are. The problem is they are the ones who are making themselves stupid by believing the left who is trying to install a Socialist government using these tactics against fellow Americans and tying up the courts systems with frivilous law suits. Obama is a phoney and is not even eligible to be in the White House, yet their stupidity keeps urging them to follow him to the their detriment.

      Report Post » blackyb  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:26pm

      @TheGreatCarnac, That’s exactly right, but apparently the Shelby County Commission thinks that “their desire to know the names in order to make their case” trumps personal privacy. Many commenters feel that this is also to intimidate people from expressing their opinions on the subject of the school merger. Some articles state that the Commission only wants the names of those who posted racist comments, but Imad Abdullah – the attorney representing the Commission, said that they want the names of ALL who posted on the articles:

      http://nashvillepost.com/blogs/postpolitics/2012/7/30/why_would_you_want_to_know

      Report Post » Tigress1  
    • LibbyRose
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 11:49am

      The Shelby County Commission is looking for racists? That’s their argument? Though racism is is one of the most despicable traits one can have, I don‘t believe it’s against the law. Whenever we see something like this we need to address it right away and let “them” know they can’t get away with it. After all, we now have the time to pay real attention to gov’t actions and transgressions since so many of us are out of work.

      Report Post »  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 11:09am

    Whatever –

    A Socialist – a Muslim and an Illegal Immigrant walk into a bar.

    The bartender says “What will you have Mr President?”

    Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  

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