The Real Price of 'Free' Online Services by Kyle Gonzales

The Real Price of 'Free' Online Services by Kyle Gonzales read full article here

If You Aren't Part Of The Solution, You Are Part Of The Problem
If you go to Spokeo's Privacy page (where you can find out how to remove your records from their service) you can see all the ways they collect information about you for their service – namely, by aggregating data from the following sources:

• Phonebooks
• Social Networks
• Real Estate Records
• Marketing Surveys
• Online Maps

There are ways to solve the privacy issues around your home phone number being published (most phone companies can provide you with an unlisted number) and having real estate records in your name (using an New Mexico LLC to hold the property, for instance)... but the ones I am most troubled by are the social networks and the marketing surveys. Why?

• Because they are the most detailed sources of information about you.
• And because they are damage you are inflicting on your own privacy.

You see, when you fill out an online survey in hopes of winning something for free and that company tells you they need your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address so they can contact you in case you win... you just gave away your privacy. Your contact information and all of your survey answers ends up on a service like Spokeo and now anyone in the world with a credit card can access personal details about you for any purpose they choose.
When you spend hours a day on Facebook, posting where you are at any given time, commenting on articles and clicking the "Like" button, companies can access that information for their own use. Facebook starts sending ads to your "friends" based on this information, and even uses your name and photos in the ads. And soon, all of that information will end up in the hands of DataSift.