Privacy

[bestof2005]

Dont mind the fact that this is an alt, i havent made a thread here in months anyways. Im aware that people sometimes merit these threads, I ask that these be given to the people who reply sharing information contributing to this topic as they'll make use out of the merits and the forums here far more than me.

I never cared about privacy because I was going through a completely horrible bad luck time in my life for a long time and I'm also still no ones target.

Sometimes I come back here spending a minute or two viewing the forums, and recently viewed a thread by Leo talking about how websites can sell data and so on, and it made me realize how I never cared to think about all this even though I see plenty of websites I visit have some small info box about selling data and having some opt out/reject thing. I may not be anyones target right now but in 3-10 years or so i won't be surprised if i become a target.

The browser I use is chrome, I have been aware of for a long time sucks for privacy, I just dont know the full extent of how bad it is. I would certainly like to change this up for a browser that just auto blocks giving away cookies. Does anyone know of some good browsers?

It made me start wondering. Another thing im wondering about is how websites can store information of the people who live in countries, such as the USA and I do remember seeing one for Canada before. Theres plenty of these websites. How are they exactly harvesting this data? I see that they even have me and my families' information. I want to find the source of how they're doing this so that they stop gathering information on me. There are plenty of these sites. Having to send emails or do whatever to get my information taken off all these websites is going to be really annoying

I continue to make small steps to improving my privacy, such as deleting my information off popular database search engines(I know well that this doesn't delete it from the DBs themselves, but I assume this step does stop most people when they see 0 results on whatever they're using), and deleting my old online accounts off websites, use fake personal info instead of real info on websites, never use the same alias or email address once its leaked in a DB, having multiple alt emails that have nothing of value on them. have mullvad installed(which i dont entirely use safely, i use it on websites that i dont feel entirely safe with them using when i make online accounts but i dont do anything thats illegal so i have nothin to worry about), and so on

What about websites where you can apply for jobs at? (E.G popular American supermarket Walmart) Am I at risk if I were to share them my personal information to apply for careers?

[apogio]

First of all, well done for your decision to take your privacy seriously.
You must already know that there is no full privacy on the internet.
Unfortunately, privacy is almost impossible to be achieved, but on the other hand, it is astonishingly easy to be lost.

1. Use VPNs or TOR as much as you can.
2. Use a public locker as a mailing reception point, so you don't have to share your address with anyone on the internet.
3. All the big-tech companies collect ALL your data. That's a fact. Use them wisely - or don't use them at all, if possible.
4. Use more open-source products instead of the "famous" ones. There is a catch here though, since you must be careful. Open-source doesn't necessarily mean better, but it certainly sets the stage for a more private experience.
5. Pay with bitcoin or monero, whenever you can.
6. If you need to use a card (which is mostly the case), then you could use prepaid cards, or digital cards that get "deleted and regenerated with new details" after each payment.
7. I don't like cloud storage for any personal info. I have external hard drives for this purpose. Google or Microsoft don't need to know anything about my vacations, so there is no need to store my photos.
8. Use Linux. I know, difficult for most people, but it is surprisingly easy if you try.
9. There is no reason to use a real photo as an avatar in any website. Just use a funny avatar picture.
10. Don't share the nicknames you use, don't let anyone connect your real name with your nicknames. And YES, use multiple nicknames, not only one.
11. Don't talk to anyone about your belongings, just keep a low profile.
12. Use strong passwords! I mean STRONG. (myStr0ngP4ssw0rd is not a strong password)
13. Government is not your friend. Keep this as a knowledge, but don't do any illegal actions just because you don't like the government. Once again, low profile.
14. Your communication apps should be encrypted. It's best to use PGP encryption, but for a more realistic suggestion, just make sure the apps encrypt your communications. Pidgin used to be a good communication software, but now there is plenty out there.
15. Your phone includes super sensitive information. Keep it safe, or remove the information. Don't share your phone with people you don't trust.

[Findingnemo]

People lost their privacy when they started using Google, Facebook and etc which all offer services for free then how do they make money if they provide everything for free and it takes millions of dollars to keep things operational.

AFAIK, you can't have complete privacy if you want to be on the internet, cause you always need an ISP who knows everything and to some extent, TOR can provide you anonymity but it's not the same way like Chrome works.

I don't even know where to start and I am not really an expert though but I know these tech companies knew about ourselves more than us which means they keep collecting everything and who know what else they planned to do with apart from selling for ad companies.

[348Judah]

I continue to make small steps to improving my privacy, such as deleting my information off popular database search engines(I know well that this doesn't delete it from the DBs themselves, but I assume this step does stop most people when they see 0 results on whatever they're using), and deleting my old online accounts off websites, use fake personal info instead of real info on websites, never use the same alias or email address once its leaked in a DB, having multiple alt emails that have nothing of value on them. have mullvad installed(which i dont entirely use safely, i use it on websites that i dont feel entirely safe with them using when i make online accounts but i dont do anything thats illegal so i have nothin to worry about), and so on

What about websites where you can apply for jobs at? (E.G popular American supermarket Walmart) Am I at risk if I were to share them my personal information to apply for careers?

The best way to stay safe from the likes of these is by avoiding any centralized platform which take in our own information and store on their central server, even if we succeeded in deleted from our own end, what about the ones on their own system, can we permanently delete them, obviously no, then when it comes to privacy, almost all of us have once been in this same category before the emergence of a decentralized network comes in place, such as we have in bitcoin, we all have in one point or the other been under some of the centralized organizations and their platforms and lost our privacy the very first time we start using them, but the worst is for us to engage on the same the second time.

[RockBell]

People lost their privacy when they started using Google, Facebook and etc which all offer services for free then how do they make money if they provide everything for free and it takes millions of dollars to keep things operational.

AFAIK, you can't have complete privacy if you want to be on the internet, cause you always need an ISP who knows everything and to some extent, TOR can provide you anonymity but it's not the same way like Chrome works.

I don't even know where to start and I am not really an expert though but I know these tech companies knew about ourselves more than us which means they keep collecting everything and who know what else they planned to do with apart from selling for ad companies.

Only few people even value privacy now and people that actually value their privacy are anonymous and they are not on any social platforms. Because they don't want their identity to be exposed, I have been wondering the same that how do all this social medias make their money. And they have staffs and other things they spend their money on like maintenence and many more. And they still pay some people. The whole thing is just a mystery.

The internet exposes you in person because is either we are on social media or we are using browsers that exposes everything and if you look at it tor is a very good option when considering privacy. A lot of this apps are used to spy on  us most of them know to much about us just because everything we do always involve the internet and we are always accepting their stupid terms and conditions their are countries that they are regulated on how they use the internet. Just because they want to keep the secret of their country safe they feel most of the social media apps might be use to spy on their country they banned most of the social media apps.

[Hatchy]

 Ones your data gets expose to the Internet, it remains there forever. You might think that by just deleting them, you have actually removed them and protected your privacy, but nahh. The internet to me is just like a time machine there's always a way to go back and restore data. Just like @ apogio said, there isn't anything like total privacy on the internet. You just have to minimize how much of your personal data you put out there. Our phones, laptops gadgets and many other smart devices records so many informations that we are not aware of.  They don't need your permission all the time to access them. The only way you can archive full privacy is to let go of Internet. Or we just go back to the stone age where nothing works automatically.

[Mr.right85]

You must already know that there is no full privacy on the internet.
Unfortunately, privacy is almost impossible to be achieved, but on the other hand, it is astonishingly easy to be lost.

The underlined portion to this statement comes with some deep meaning I tell you. It’s shocking how much that could be reviled when the need arises, especially with the authorities having to pull few strings either using legal means or going through the back door, you just might be surprised at what they would find.
Even then, it doesn’t stop you from doing the most you can to safeguard your privacy. It’s all that matters in the cryptospace and one can not lose sight of how important privacy and security actually is since, everything is on the web.

[BlackBoss_]

Privacy guides
Why privacy matters?
Protect your privacy

Recommended books on privacy for reading.
https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/wiki/recommended_reading/