A favorite southernism of my Dad was that’s like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.
The biggest barn door may be the one we try to close on our privacy.
Not only the horse, but the entire team escaped that one.
When One Door Closes
I was the victim of identity theft – three times.
Knock on wood, it’s been awhile, but that’s not something you forget.
The scammers of the world will always find a way to cheat, but why do we need to make it so darn easy for them?
- Want to add a social media platform? Give away multiple ways to find you.
- Searching online for the perfect gift? Get tracked everywhere you go.
- Want to take a fun quiz on BuzzFeed? Not without creating an account.
If you are on Facebook, you may have noticed those BuzzFeed quizzes are taking over your Friends’ timeline. If you click on the link, you are urged to login or signup.
One more place to share your contact information and probably your friends’, too.
Even Dr. Oz joined the data-scraping party. A recent post to his timeline urged you to discover your “RealAge”. Several users complained about the requirement to sign on for access to RealAge.
A few years ago there was a report that those who did sign up for RealAge had their information sold to pharmaceutical companies.
Eyes Wide Shut
I am old enough to remember when you were encouraged to keep your social security card in your wallet. Seriously.
Maybe that’s not a bad idea. It’s probably the last place the thieves would look.
Privacy? Even this Pollyanna knows that horse has escaped.
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Live…Laugh…Love
Two thoughts. I pay my isp for extra spam protection – seems necessary these days.
I was taught re online stuff, before the web, not to put anything online I’m not willing to see on the front page of the New York Times… and yeah, I haven’t adhered to that completely by a long shot, but it’s good to think about it.
Was actually talking about this issue with a friend and I’ve mostly given up expecting privacy… not happy about that, but I don’ t know how to protect myself without
Very good practice, Anne, but unfortunately it seems you cannot get anything online without coughing up at least your contact information. So, I basically end up asking myself Is this worth giving up my information that will probably result in more emails (at a minimum)?.
I’m not happy about knowing the privacy horse has escaped either, but what can we do? *Sigh*
I used to carry my SS card too, Cathy. We were told to once upon a time. And as recently as 2006, I had my SS# show up on a W2 from a temp agency I’d worked for. I found them a few months ago when I started shredding old tax papers. Scary, isn’t it?
A friend just reported that someone has been trying desperately to open credit card accounts, buy things, and use her name on credit applications. Wisely, she’d decided to have her credit monitored. Saved her untold amounts of money and stress!
For a long time, your social security number was used everywhere – on your insurance ID cards and one national hotel chain actually used it as your preferred member # on their perks card. 😀
Sad we have to be so worried about who is trying to get our data. Thanks for sharing your story, Lori.