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The annoying thing is that, even if we prevent them from harvesting data on us, there's nothing to prevent them from convincing our friends/parents/coworkers fr

The annoying thing is that, even if we prevent them from harvesting data on us, there's nothing to prevent them from convincing our friends/parents/coworkers from sharing that information on our behalves.

drdaeman 12y ago
Except for the lack of data. Don't share things you consider private (and that are indeed private and not just things you don't want to expose but can't really do so, like your own face) with those who you don't trust. This is the most secure approach among all possibilities.
- angersock 12y ago
  So, consider "Hey, tomorrow is angersock's 34th birthday! We're organizing a surprise party in his hometown of jonestown!". Now, they've given away my age, birthdate, and where I was born. That's the sort of information that, while private and something I don't give away, they know and give away without thinking.
  - diminoten 12y ago
    Who is it you don't want to have that information? The government already knows (it's part of your SSN information), and any private company that cares will just make you give that info to them as part of the cost of service. You'll do it too, because you don't want to be unable to drive or have a mortgage.
    - angersock 12y ago
      I know about those entities, though--and I know that, in the case of private companies, they're probably going to share it (and we can make laws to that effect). My original point is that those protections won't apply when just crawling through friends and acquaintances mentioning things. EDIT: For another example, consider "Thank God, my friend angersock had a car accident today but only scratched the bumper". That's something I don't want as public knowledge, and that my insurance provider could (theoretically) use to raise my rates.
      - schoen 12y ago
        Also, revealing your birthdate to the general public could help people convince your bank they're you, or bust a pseudonym that you had been trying to keep separate from your legal name.

drdaeman 12y ago

Except for the lack of data. Don't share things you consider private (and that are indeed private and not just things you don't want to expose but can't really do so, like your own face) with those who you don't trust. This is the most secure approach among all possibilities.

angersock 12y ago
So, consider "Hey, tomorrow is angersock's 34th birthday! We're organizing a surprise party in his hometown of jonestown!". Now, they've given away my age, birthdate, and where I was born. That's the sort of information that, while private and something I don't give away, they know and give away without thinking.
- diminoten 12y ago
  Who is it you don't want to have that information? The government already knows (it's part of your SSN information), and any private company that cares will just make you give that info to them as part of the cost of service. You'll do it too, because you don't want to be unable to drive or have a mortgage.
  - angersock 12y ago
    I know about those entities, though--and I know that, in the case of private companies, they're probably going to share it (and we can make laws to that effect). My original point is that those protections won't apply when just crawling through friends and acquaintances mentioning things. EDIT: For another example, consider "Thank God, my friend angersock had a car accident today but only scratched the bumper". That's something I don't want as public knowledge, and that my insurance provider could (theoretically) use to raise my rates.
    - schoen 12y ago
      Also, revealing your birthdate to the general public could help people convince your bank they're you, or bust a pseudonym that you had been trying to keep separate from your legal name.