#personal security

In the ever-connected world we live in, maintaining online privacy is becoming increasingly challenging. From social media platforms to e-commerce sites, every action we take online leaves a digital footprint. This collection of personal information can be exploited by hackers, advertisers, and even government agencies, putting our privacy at constant risk. Thankfully, there are steps you can…

Update in my ongoing “you need to protect yourself” research:

In June 2020, Google was hit with a $5 billion class action lawsuit (source: Rueters June 2020) accusing them of “illegally invading the privacy of millions of users by pervasively tracking their internet use through browsers set in “private” mode.”  That number isn’t arbitrary, either, it’s calculated by charging $5,000 of “damages per user for violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws.” Google just settled the case in October 2020. Sort of. (source: Business Insider Oct 2020).

Here is a list of how to find and delete all the data (source: CNET, June 2020) that Chrome grabs from you. Important note: Google owns that data, and yes, they absolutely do attach it to a name and an address, as of 2016 when they quietly slipped that change in. (source: Propublica, Oct 2016). Oh, and in 2019 Chrome made some changes to its permission system (source: the literal Chrome coding team’s blog, Feb 2019), which remove the brower’s ability to block a request before it’s loaded. “For end users, this effectively cripples all non-compliant ad-blocker extensions on Chrome.” (source: Lifehacker, March 2020).

Once you’ve deleted your harvested personal data from everywhere that you can, I personally recommend you then delete Chrome, and any chrome-coded browser such as Vivaldi, Brave, or Microsoft Edge (list of chromium-based browsers, source: ZDNet, Jan 2019).

Yes, yes, there’s a whole argument that just because a browser is chromium-based doesn’t mean it reports directly to Google, but look, Google has made it a high priority to wipe out every non-chromium-based browser coding on the internet (source: Wall Street Journal, 2019) while never making a single peep about all these supposed ‘rivals’ that are just Chrome at the core. Draw your own conclusions.

Further useful links:

Easy way to compare browsers (such as Chromium v TOR) Allows you to pick 2 browsers and see their base code, their owners, some features, settings, etc. Source: Slant.com

How to move from Chrome to another browser. Source: The Verge, Jun 2019.

Here is a truly horrifying list of apps that make it incredibly easy to look up your name, phone number, address, work place, and so on, just by typing in your name. Fortunately, it also tells you how to “opt out” of these “helpful” apps. Did you know the white pages were still around, but in searchable digital form available to anyone with an internet connection? Source: Poynter (website for journalists), Oct 2020

You think this doesn’t matter? This doesn’t apply to you, a nice quiet citizen of whatever country who always obeys the law? May I ask: have you ever searched, read, liked, reblogged, commented on, or otherwise interacted with a post/article/tweet critiquing a current government? Google knows. They know, they have attached that information to your profile, and they can sell it to...well, you don’t know.

Remember:

This could not be more applicable in my life right now. From recent personal experience, ALWAYS honor your boundaries. Trust in yourself and be bold in expressing your needs.

"This takes the month and day of your birth and gives you an ominous phrase!"

"This fandom name generator uses your age and your mother's maiden name!"

Data Retention and Intelligence Laws DRD: EU Citizen Data Retention Directive; Minimum 6 Month - Maximum 24 Months DPD: EU Citizen Data Protection Directive; Suspended By The DRD 25, May 2018 FISC: United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court FISA: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 USAFA: USA Freedom Act That Restricts Surveillance UKUSA: Agreement Between 5 Eyes

Data Collected By ISPs and Internet Trackers: Browsing history Search queries Device name and unique ID IP address and location Videos watched, songs listened to Purchases Downloads Social media posts

How Long Wireless Providers Keep Logs FreedomPop: None US Cellular: 1 year Verizon: 1 year Sprint: 1.5 years MetroPCS: 2 years Credo Mobile 3 years AT&T: 5 years T-Mobile: 7-10 years Tracfone (shares AT&T backbone): "No Comment" Safelink/LifeLine: “No Comment”  

How Long ISPs Keep Logs RCN: Account Life +7 years (ID +15 years "for taxes") Time Warner/Sprectrum - up to 6 months Comcast - 180 days/6 months retention policy Verizon’s - 18 months Qwest/CenturyLink - approximately 1 year Cox - 6 months Charter - 1 year DSL Extreme - 2 weeks on their DSL service. Teksavvy (Canada) - two years