tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post9166837611027593715..comments2024-03-28T02:15:06.910-07:00Comments on Tossing It Out: What's the Use of Trying to Hide?Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-12762418893711591622014-03-01T23:42:20.171-08:002014-03-01T23:42:20.171-08:00I live in Singapore, where nothing is private, and...I live in Singapore, where nothing is private, and I'm used to it now.<br /><br />What you're talking about is very real-- anyone with a credit card, a phone number and an address where they pay bills from is an open book for others to read about.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-54506255444310390602014-02-26T16:20:34.323-08:002014-02-26T16:20:34.323-08:00Just heard of a new encrypted phone for over $600 ...Just heard of a new encrypted phone for over $600 - offers more privacy, supposedly. Bet the makers know all you do, when, how, and why, but now keep all that information from the others, but I'm sure at some point will sell it for a price. Cookies are giving away all your secrets, but hey lets make a hero out of a traitor and let the retail giants control the world! Privacy does not exist!Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-11997092427889860912014-02-25T22:30:04.647-08:002014-02-25T22:30:04.647-08:00Shannon -- National Security is essential I think,...Shannon -- National Security is essential I think, but it can also be used against the populace. I'm becoming more wary of our government as time goes on.<br /><br />Patricia -- Some precautions are wise, but going overboard with it is somewhat ludicrous.<br /><br />Rachna -- The internet is not the only place where we are being kept track of.<br /><br />Shelly -- My activity gets limited mostly because of slow internet or computer or something.<br /><br />C.Lee -- Civil privacy between individuals I understand and respect, but those aren't the ones I fear.<br /><br />Jo -- So true. We should be more concerned with our card information being entrusted to a person that we don't know than online.<br /><br />MJ -- I sign up for less than I used to, but still if I can get a good deal or something free I might take advantage of that.<br /><br />Anita -- No SS#'s and I rarely give out my cell phone. Try to avoid giving my email too much so I don't get more junk email.<br /><br />GB -- Once again as I've said previously, those aren't the people I'm that concerned with. Government can oppress us more when it wants to.<br /><br />Steven -- Even in undeveloped parts it's getting easier to track down people. Since cell phones are so ubiquitous they can be used to get info on people. It's prudent to watch our surroundings but the forces we can't see or hear are the ones who can catch us unawares.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-31944031388830582702014-02-25T21:25:24.515-08:002014-02-25T21:25:24.515-08:00Interesting, because my WIP touches on this very t...Interesting, because my WIP touches on this very thing. While I don't buy every conspiracy theory out there, recent events involving the NSA should concern anyone. I try to watch my back, but I've had people stalk me for various reasons and anyone who is determined can track down a person living in a developed part of the world. Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06837639807533435390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-3991829106948480402014-02-25T18:02:00.511-08:002014-02-25T18:02:00.511-08:00I've strived to keep a low online profile ever...I've strived to keep a low online profile ever since I got completely wiped out in the chat rooms. About 99% of what I put out there has been regurgitated to the nth degree, so there really isn't nothing new for people to latch onto.<br /><br />Still....old thoughts of paranoia die hard, so as much as possible I make it very difficult to find me. For example, you can find me on Facebook, but I disabled the search engine mechanism so that if my name does crop, no FB related links will pop up (much).<br /><br />I also make it difficult for people to leave disgusting insults/comments/spam on my blog.G. B. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09783331838434598963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-12359983087329466612014-02-25T15:55:25.607-08:002014-02-25T15:55:25.607-08:00I doubt that there is any real privacy left, which...I doubt that there is any real privacy left, which is what I hear you saying here. Therefore, I don't try to limit it - as far as stores are concerned. However, I stop putting in my email address to get to a web site. I resent having to give that info just so that I can see the site. It's not that important. There's 50 more like it elsewhere.<br />Bottom line: If I need something or want something, I go for it at the risk of ending up on a mailing list. SS#, address, cell number... things like that, I keep private.Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180243708565855383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-64033730370580072102014-02-25T13:34:55.608-08:002014-02-25T13:34:55.608-08:00Sometime's a blogger has to do what a blogger ...Sometime's a blogger has to do what a blogger has to do. I'm not real worried about it, though I do hate getting spam. I don't enter a lot of contest, and I avoid signing up for things. It's easier that way. It's not about being invisible. As you say, that idea has pretty much gone out the window. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-68876631305281044432014-02-25T09:11:58.172-08:002014-02-25T09:11:58.172-08:00I do so agree with you Lee, nothing we do is priva...I do so agree with you Lee, nothing we do is private any more, not that I particularly care, I have nothing to hide anyway. I sure haven't any money to steal either. I do all my stuff on line and am always surprised by people who are "scared" to use the computer for banking or shopping. The don't want to use their credit card on line but they give it to a waiter to disappear with. I guess that's gradually changing of course.<br /><br />I use Ufile online to do my taxes, costs me $25 for both of us.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-19481517202041191902014-02-25T08:35:40.452-08:002014-02-25T08:35:40.452-08:00When I started helping my mom with her taxes, I we...When I started helping my mom with her taxes, I went to Turbo Tax to save her some money. It worked fine. Her taxes were simple and I didn't see any reason to pay a tax preparer to do them.<br /><br />As to privacy, that is extremely precious to me. While I'm on social media, I'm there as a professional. I keep my family and friends separate from what I do as a writer. While I enjoy the people I meet online, I also respect their privacy, and if I receive personal messages, they are treated as such. Still I'm nervous when I phone a company for services and they know my address before I tell them. <br /><br /> We live in the great "Cookie" age and there's not a lot we can do about unless we totally disengage and don't even pay our taxes. cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-89796301150749880322014-02-25T06:17:43.894-08:002014-02-25T06:17:43.894-08:00I limit what I say and do out in cyber-land. Since...I limit what I say and do out in cyber-land. Since I work and write, I don't have a ton of time or the energy to keep up.shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09596621767297173021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-87881006331699722772014-02-24T22:41:24.394-08:002014-02-24T22:41:24.394-08:00Like Alex even I try to keep a low profile on the ...Like Alex even I try to keep a low profile on the internet as it keeps a track of the sites we visit.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-88823040813341342942014-02-24T19:13:19.912-08:002014-02-24T19:13:19.912-08:00I don't try to keep a low profile, but I do ta...I don't try to keep a low profile, but I do take precautions to (hopefully) protect myself from hackers, scam artists, stalkers, and thieves. I love social media and blogs too much to give up my computer and hide in a cave. Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-13779428518236801682014-02-24T18:12:46.686-08:002014-02-24T18:12:46.686-08:00I try to be safe about what I share. My birth year...I try to be safe about what I share. My birth year, for instance, my mom's maiden name, things that are used as password hints, my children's photos. But on the other hand, I am not bending over backward to insure I don't put out any detail that can come back on me, because it doesn't have to be digital to do so. I was on plenty of mailing lists well before I spent any time online. If people want data, they'll get it. Plus, my dad was NSA when I was a kid, so I don't have the apparent "in" hatred that's going around these days. Besides which, I've always lived in a household where one person had a security clearance, so I guess I've always taken it for granted that nothing I do is really secret. Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-82856395547030999462014-02-24T16:04:46.522-08:002014-02-24T16:04:46.522-08:00Buck -- We should take precautions on and offline ...Buck -- We should take precautions on and offline to prevent being defrauded, but I think doing things online is essentially "safe" though not especially conducive to hiding oneself.<br /><br />Jagoda -- I'm not that savvy about protecting myself, but I don't know that it matters. Anyone can get scammed or hacked, even corporations and government agencies with theoretically great security.<br /><br />Kelly -- Yes, I've found that research can lead to getting some funny recommendations. I've also noticed I get a lot of ads in Spanish. Not sure if that's because I use Google Translate for Spanish to English or if it's a matter of my geographical location.<br /><br />Rob -- With convoluted reasoning like that you probably leave a confusing trail.<br /><br />Liz - I'm for the benefits and not going to worry myself over the possible downsides.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-5414682234285295102014-02-24T15:54:12.485-08:002014-02-24T15:54:12.485-08:00You can spend time worrying about it or you can re...You can spend time worrying about it or you can realize that if someone wants information about you, they'll find some way to get it. Nowadays it's so much easier to find things with the internet and all, but we left tracks before. <br /><br />I weigh the sides on the loyalty card thing. Yes, they track you. But they reward you by saving you a little money. It's all a balance.Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-25948727699999559632014-02-24T15:52:50.912-08:002014-02-24T15:52:50.912-08:00I am happy to leave a trail as me and me are not e...I am happy to leave a trail as me and me are not entirely the same person although we are both me. Its just that one me knows the other me and some know both me's and some know just me or me but not both me and me. Rob Z Toborhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570498194207996145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-91925254091563559252014-02-24T15:09:47.708-08:002014-02-24T15:09:47.708-08:00The Google ads are based on what you search, and t...The Google ads are based on what you search, and they build a profile of you based on that, which you can actually see if you want to (search "Google ad settings). I checked mine out of curiosity, and they had me pegged for 20 years younger than I am (cool!). Some of my interests were dead-on, but some of them were laughable, and obviously related to things I had to search for various freelance assignments.Kelly Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01752857506190488860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-80187608007946735072014-02-24T14:40:15.866-08:002014-02-24T14:40:15.866-08:00I'm with you, Lee. I prefer to save time and u...I'm with you, Lee. I prefer to save time and use online bill pay and such. Those bitter cookies are a fact of online life nowadays. I do worry about identity theft and do what I can to limit my risk but I refuse to live a fear-based life.Jagodahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18352786929899391940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-43331604840006663672014-02-24T14:20:03.876-08:002014-02-24T14:20:03.876-08:00Great post Lee! I'm a little more private wit...Great post Lee! I'm a little more private with my personal items so I don't go into it that much on my blog or social media sites. I'm going back and forth because some of my better material is the more personal stuff. As for internet security, I'm with you. The convenience and time savings for doing things online trump the threat of identity fraud. However, we should still be careful. Better safe than sorry. Thanks for the reminder on taxes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-2224539412298787452014-02-24T14:06:02.664-08:002014-02-24T14:06:02.664-08:00StMc -- All signs point to something happening soo...StMc -- All signs point to something happening soon whether it be tomorrow or 100 years from now. 2029 may be the time but no one knows for sure.<br /><br />Susan GK -- I think most of us are fairly resigned to the fact that we do not control our privacy. Convenience and good deals are something that most of us welcome if that's he easy way.<br /><br />Angela --And it's all been said often.<br /><br />Andrew -- So true. Checks in the mail can disappear more easily than an online transaction. The computers have no mind to con us unless they've been programmed to do so.<br /><br />CW - Google sees all and knows all and if they don't then they can look it up.<br /><br />Lee<br /><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-41527731112950639052014-02-24T12:35:30.118-08:002014-02-24T12:35:30.118-08:00First, to Arlee- excellent post. I agree 100%. O...First, to Arlee- excellent post. I agree 100%. One of my best friends always reads my blog but refuses to comment save through e-mail because of being afraid to have a Google account. Fact check- I think we all probably "have" Google accounts whether we have one or not.<br /><br />Second, to STM- while I do lean more to your guess than the other, I always remind myself that people in 1000 AD, 1346, and 1940 all thought the end was coming to their doorstep soon. When the whole picture fits the whole prophecy, look out!CWMartinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798867734074134647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-71155587753242591472014-02-24T12:07:47.653-08:002014-02-24T12:07:47.653-08:00So much of our data is public knowledge, none of t...So much of our data is public knowledge, none of this stuff really matters. I mean, I get snail mail all the time urging me to re-finance my house, because mortgages are public knowledge. Since I live in an area where house prices are rising, we get spammed about loans ALL the time. And that just because some company looked at a list.<br /><br />Basically, anyone that WANTS to find out about you CAN, no matter how private you think you're being.<br /><br />And, I have to say, doing finance stuff online is way safer than using checks these days.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-47941476265366690912014-02-24T11:21:49.132-08:002014-02-24T11:21:49.132-08:00Well said, and nuff said :-)Well said, and nuff said :-)Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-83242604075180960442014-02-24T09:06:38.959-08:002014-02-24T09:06:38.959-08:00I really don't like how 'they' know so...I really don't like how 'they' know so much about us but like you I use those store cards that give me discounts. I use a credit card that isn't my bankcard for online purchases. Probably won't matter if someone hacks me. Are we all to accepting of our loss of privacy?Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-19470111241294111262014-02-24T08:54:25.548-08:002014-02-24T08:54:25.548-08:00>>... StMc-- I don't know about 2029. Yo...<i>>>... StMc-- I don't know about 2029. You may be giving this world more time than it's got coming.</i><br /><br />Possibly true, no doubt.<br /><br />But at the same time, God has already shown MORE patience with us than we deserve. He has Divine Patience, which is hard for us 'believers' to understand. (As The Bible says, even those souls who were martyred on His behalf will question the length of his patience.)<br /><br />Surely you know I have read The Bible more times than (probably) anyone else you know. That doesn't make me right (ABSOLUTELY NOT!), but rest assured, I did not just pluck that date, 2029, out of thin air; it was based on some intricate prophetic Bible verse calculations (which I myself cannot take personal credit for!)<br /><br />We'll see... but either way, anyone who reads and understands The Holy Bible can see the prophetic "signs" manifesting in OUR TIMES, and they know that - regardless of the date - it is "late in the day", and the "Apocalypse" is not far off.<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.com