Simple Privacy Measures You Should Adopt

 

Note, I said privacy, not security even though there is some blurring at the border because breaching one can yield compromise of the other.

Well, lifehacker put out ten very good steps and very simple ones to preserve privacy.

1. Security questions should be kept as private as passwords. If there’s only a choice between various questions, then give a ‘wrong’ answer only you know.

2. Create strong, easily remembered passwords. Here I differ with them a bit. I think it’s ok to use a password keeper/LastPass type app to generate and keep passwords. Don’t forget, we’re small fish, not major targets, but info can be gotten in big site breaches. When you learn of one, change that password and keep it safe.

3. Use “Temporary” email addresses when dealing with suspect sites, or subaccounts and get rid of it when you get spam.

4. Only give your friends your im address, and only allow friends to see when you’re online.

5. Use AdBlock even if you don’t block ads.

6. Use “https:” whenever possible, even though not nearly enough sites routinely host it.

7. “Change” your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.

8. Use a fake birthday for web sign ups. If the data gets compromised, who cares?

9. Leave your home address off your GPS. Put on a landmark you know how to get home from, instead.

10. Use “Temporary” credit cards to avoid repeat/automatic billing/renewals.

I know I mentioned a few of these here and there back at the holidays and since, but Whitson Gordon put them together and I thought you’d value taking a look at them.

Please take a look at his article on life hacker because there are some good links there.

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5806487

65,065 views 33 replies
Reply #1 Top

Great stuff, I have always told people not to fear buying from online when all they need is a prepaid credit card. Sure you lose a buck or 2 in the process but it's better than compromising your entire life. $2 is worth my security online.

Reply #2 Top

Good stuff.

1. Security questions should be kept as private as passwords. If there’s only a choice between various questions, then give a ‘wrong’ answer only you know.
End of quote
Particularly annoying in that you can end up with loads of different ones with no way to track them. Took me half an hour to figure out my own answer the last time I had to deal with one.

7. “Change” your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.
End of quote
Isn't that procedure a bit drastic?

 

Edit: Fix the quote system, Stardock.

 

:fox:

Reply #3 Top

9. Leave your home address off your GPS. Put on a landmark you know how to get home from, instead.
End of quote

If you use a GPS device to find your own home....

You shouldn't be allowed to own/drive a car.

Reply #4 Top

Really great advice! You can never be too careful! We got nailed last Christmas with credit card charges. Not a fun thing to deal with!  ;P

Reply #5 Top

Quoting Snowman, reply 3
If you use a GPS device to find your own home....

You shouldn't be allowed to own/drive a car.
End of Snowman's quote
It is useful when you're visiting somewhere a long distance away and want the fastest route back to your town, and much more so if you've just moved to a new place.

 

:fox:

Reply #6 Top

Quoting Kitkun, reply 2
Isn't that procedure a bit drastic?
End of Kitkun's quote

In some cases more so than others.

What was meant was when asked if male or female by a site (other than Government/official/employment... I'm sure you understand) state the opposite. The ads you get will be less distracting.

 

Reply #7 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 6
What was meant
End of DrJBHL's quote

We got it - but his comment was worth a laugh! :)

I really like the last one.  Although I do not avail myself of that enough.

Reply #8 Top

The humor did not escape me. ;)

Additional privacy measure:

11. Windowblinds on every window.

@ CharlesCS: Your avatar is particularly auspicious today - June 14th is Flag Day.

Reply #9 Top

Quoting Snowman, reply 3
If you use a GPS device to find your own home....

You shouldn't be allowed to own/drive a car.
End of Snowman's quote

Most people add it so they can calculate the mileage and travel time to and from their destination.

We rent GPS's at the car rental company I work for and as a privacy mesure we reset them when they are returned to us. It's amazing the amount of information people leave in a GPS.

Reply #10 Top

some good points here doc... thanks for bringing it to our attention.... :)

 

Reply #11 Top

Quoting CarGuy1, reply 9

Quoting Snowman, reply 3If you use a GPS device to find your own home....

You shouldn't be allowed to own/drive a car.

Most people add it so they can calculate the mileage and travel time to and from their destination.

We rent GPS's at the car rental company I work for and as a privacy mesure we reset them when they are returned to us. It's amazing the amount of information people leave in a GPS.
End of CarGuy1's quote
sooo, car rental people are not to be trusted, hmmmm.

Reply #12 Top

Not the question, OMG_blackmage. Your privacy is the concern. Trust takes time to be earned.

@sydneysiders - Welcome, ma'am! 

Reply #13 Top

QUOTE- 7. “Change” your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.

Have done this for years. Love the Victoria Secret adds I get.

Good stuff Doc, couldn't resist,

Reply #14 Top

re #10, credit cards and automatic renewals...... you even have to be careful with paid anti-virus / internet security programs and unwanted auto-renewals after you decide to switch to another product, BUT...

... last time I checked, most of the internet security programs were cheaper on Amazon than download from the vendor.  Cheaper even after adding in shipping costs.  Actually cheaper to buy "new" from Amazon again next year than the discounted renewal price from the vendor.  In no sane planet is manufacturing a disk and shipping it cheaper than a download, who says this planet is sane ?

Buy new from Amazon every year and only Amazon knows your credit card # and the vendor can't auto-renew you even if they want to.

Reply #15 Top

Quoting Lord, reply 14
re #10, credit cards and automatic renewals...... you even have to be careful with paid anti-virus / internet security programs and unwanted auto-renewals after you decide to switch to another product, BUT...

... last time I checked, most of the internet security programs were cheaper on Amazon than download from the vendor.  Cheaper even after adding in shipping costs.  Actually cheaper to buy "new" from Amazon again next year than the discounted renewal price from the vendor.  In no sane planet is manufacturing a disk and shipping it cheaper than a download, who says this planet is sane ?

Buy new from Amazon every year and only Amazon knows your credit card # and the vendor can't auto-renew you even if they want to.
End of Lord's quote

Correct, and a good addition to the thread... but the way things are going it'll be Amazon and lulzSec. ;)

Reply #16 Top

Quoting DaveBax, reply 13
QUOTE- 7. “Change” your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.

Have done this for years. Love the Victoria Secret adds I get.

Good stuff Doc, couldn't resist,
End of DaveBax's quote

yea, but do they fit? ;)

Reply #17 Top

You're interested...why? hehehe. j/k Dr Guy. ;)

Reply #18 Top

Change your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.
End of quote

All well and good.... until... you're a male getting explicit adds for male escorts.  A friend of mine found out the hard way... and was confronted with nude... um, full-frontal piccies of 'excited' gentlemen.   Nope, that's not something I'd be too keen on receiving in my inbox.

However, I was told that women divulge all sorts of things if you change gender on dating sites.  Yeah, this deviant told me that several women on dating-type sites sent him, as a female mermber, nude piccies of themselves... piccies they probably would never have sent to a man/male members.  I never really understood that... women sending women nuddy pic of themselves... but it takes all types, I suppose.

Anyhow, Doc, some good tips there... thanks for that. :)

Reply #19 Top

Quoting starkers, reply 18
A friend of mine found out the hard way... and was confronted with nude... um, full-frontal piccies of 'excited' gentlemen
End of starkers's quote

Anthony Weiner?

Reply #20 Top

Quoting Dr, reply 19
Quoting starkers, reply 18A friend of mine found out the hard way... and was confronted with nude... um, full-frontal piccies of 'excited' gentlemen

Anthony Weiner?
End of Dr's quote

Yep.. Anthony Weiner became WeinerQuitzel.  <-- pun for sydneysiders

Reply #21 Top

Quoting Dr, reply 19
Anthony Weiner?
End of Dr's quote

Dunno, but in any event, how appropriate... er, fitting is that name?

Hehe, some weiner named Weiner gets caught out by his weiner......  :w00t:

Reply #22 Top

Quoting starkers, reply 21
Hehe, some weiner named Weiner gets caught out by his weiner......
End of starkers's quote

America has to keep the rest of the world laughing I guess. ;)

Reply #23 Top

If it weren't so sad, it might be funny.

Reply #24 Top

Weinergate?  It is very sad, kinda funny, and also a clever and opportunistic use of political 'spin,' misdirection, etc. to distract people from what the politicians are doing to the 'body politic.'   It doesn't get more obvious than this...(sad)

Reply #25 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 23
If it weren't so sad, it might be funny.
End of DrJBHL's quote

All politicians are sad [excuses of humanity]... they're never funny [despite being political jokes]