Take a step: Get yourself off data brokers’ and people-search sites. Use this link to get 60% off right now. Def worth it! I get no more spam calls or texts since I did this.
How the government spies on you
When I shared my tip on opting out of the Transportation Security Administration’s new facial recognition tech at airports the other week, I got a ton of questions. First and foremost, though, a lot of you said, “I didn’t know I could do that.”
You can and you should (steps below). But your face isn’t the only data metric the government collects about you. Here are a few things we know they know.
What you look like and where you are
Many other places use facial recognition, like grocery stores, banks, sports and concert venues. I’m pretty sure you’ve gone to at least one of those in the past year.
Government AI tools add pictures you’ve shared on social media to a facial-recognition database that’s then paired with CCTV cameras everywhere. This tech can pinpoint your location, associations and activities with creepy precision.
Who you’re talking to (and what you’re saying)
After 9/11, Congress enabled warrantless monitoring of foreign communications. The National Security Agency (NSA) exploits a loophole to conduct mass surveillance of Americans, too.
They copy some info directly from fiber-optic cables (crazy, right?) and get other stuff from companies like Google. They also have access to real-time internet activity with a “secret” program called XKeyscore.
What you’re posting and who you’re following
The government monitors Facebook, X, Instagram and all the rest. Even if your account is private, the government can ask companies for access. Remember, friend: What you post on social media is out there forever.
What you’re buying and browsing
Data brokers buy info from your internet service provider, Big Tech companies and even smart appliance manufacturers. Then, they package it up and sell it to advertisers — and the U.S. government. This is another reason to get your personal information out of all these invasive databases.
Your data: It’s all posted online - But there's a simple way to remove it
A loyal reader, Racquel, emailed me recently after dealing with a very angry customer at work. “Last week, she left me a voicemail and said that I was behind all her problems and she was ‘going to find’ where I lived.”
Your driving apps are spying on you
Apps like MyRadar and GasBuddy are sharing your driving data with data brokers. Find out exactly what they’re reporting.
We’re skewed: The U.S. House of Representatives just put its foot down, banning data brokers from selling your info to China, North Korea, Russia and Iran. Rulebreakers will face heavy penalties from the Federal Trade Commission. Spoiler: It’s too late.
Your data is worth big money — and you can take it back
“Call me for a good time.” That simple message prompted more creepy calls and texts than you can believe. A woman contacted me after someone posted that message — alongside her cellphone number — on a porn site.
Shortcut to reading annoying privacy policies
Privacy policies are no joke when it comes to how lengthy they are. Most people ignore them altogether because they’re too long. Get this: It would take about nine hours to read the privacy policies of the top 20 most visited websites in the U.S.
Car-tracking shocker: Automakers are sharing our driving habits with insurance companies. With help from data brokers (NY Times, paywall link) like LexisNexis, insurers know every move we make — speeding, hard braking, rapid acceleration, you name it. The kicker? This could spike your insurance bill. I suppose we should’ve known this was happening.
Privacy, please: Laura in Austin asked me why she got this message from our sponsor, Incogni: “We found multiple records that might belong to you. Please identify and select the ones that best match your profile.” That’s a great thing — they’ve uncovered more ways data brokers are selling your personal info. Get 60% off Incogni using promo code KIM60 if you want to remove your info from data-broker sites, too. It’s amazing.
Take back control of your online privacy
Newsflash: Your data is constantly being collected and sold. “Gee, thanks, Kim. I know,” you might be thinking. “What do I do about it?” Lucky for you, I spend a lot of time trying to answer that exact question.
If you’re tired of spam calls, unwanted emails and that nasty feeling of always being tracked, keep reading. I’ve got a simple way to take a massive chunk out of this data collection mess, thanks to our sponsor, Incogni.
Simple digital privacy step everyone should know about
Data brokers, people search sites and online background check services, oh my. At the end of the day, they all do the same thing — scoop up your personal info and sell it to anyone interested. Marketers are at the top of the list, but scammers can also find your information this way.
Bad news: Here's how much your social media logins cost on the Dark Web
What if I told you for just $12, someone could buy your Instagram login. They could read all your messages, look through everything you’ve “liked” and even post as you.
Whizcase gathered prices from Dark Web marketplaces to see how much your online identity is worth, and it’s grim.
One-click cleanup: This free app deletes your digital history
Asking all the companies you interact with to protect your data sounds like a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole. Who has that kind of time or energy? Thankfully, a new app will do it for ya.
The Permission Slip app was created by Consumer Reports (so you know it’s good!). It contacts companies on your behalf to ensure your personal info isn’t sold to third parties, aka anyone willing to pay for it. They can even get your data erased for you.
Removing your info from the web takes forever - Unless you do this
I’ve warned you about all the scummy sites that collect your personal details for years. I’ll never forget, not too long ago, when my son Ian asked about a house I lived at in my 20s. I couldn’t remember where it was.
FemTech is exploding, but is your private data safe?
This privacy alert is for our female readers, but guys, you can read it too!
“FemTech” is the broad term for apps and programs catering to women’s health. Consumer Reports recently raised concerns about the privacy practices of women’s health apps, specifically period trackers.
Delete this secret ID hiding on your phone that gives away your personal details
From social media platforms to email providers, tons of places on the web want to scoop up your private data. Don’t forget about online stores and personal services, either. Your details are major commodities to most online businesses, and many have little regard for your privacy.
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from ZabaSearch
As you surf the web and social media, companies and data brokers are building a robust online profile. They use everything from the ads you click on to the topics you spend the most time browsing to hit you with related ads.
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from Intelius
When was the last time you searched for your name online? It’s a little eerie to click through the results. You’ll find some things are just plain wrong, but there’s likely plenty of accurate information about you floating around the web that you never realized.
Opt-out Tuesday: How to remove yourself from BeenVerified
There is a scary amount of personal information on the internet. You don’t need a degree in information technology or network administration to find someone’s email address, telephone number or where they live.
Whether you consider them shady or not, people search websites have a lot of information on all of us. The worst part is that most don’t even know their details are publically available.
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from TruthFinder
People search sites advertise as services for finding people you’ve lost touch with.
These sites scrape personal information from local, state and federal public records, court records, social media, data brokers and forums. Tap or click here for detailed instructions for removing your information from these creepy sites.