Are Facebook users that stupid?
Are Facebook users that stupid?
How naive do you have to be to think that FB isn't selling your information? All this stuff in the news lately with everyone acting so shocked just cracks me up. Then I see Sheryl Sandberg being interviewed and she answers one of the questions regarding revenue... "we're just like the stations on the TV and Radio, that's how we generate revenue". Yeah, but the TV and Radio don't ask for my information and they don't sell it to someone else.
Don't worry, I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I just think anyone who uses the internet and thinks they are the only ones privy to that information needs to wake up.
Don't worry, I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I just think anyone who uses the internet and thinks they are the only ones privy to that information needs to wake up.
You are right that personal privacy is hard to achieve online and in this digital age. It is not just the internet though.
Here is what Comcast Xfinity discloses it collects, for example (source: https://www.xfinity.com/Corporate/Custo ... merPrivacy )
The question then becomes how all this personal information they have on you is disclosed to third parties, and used? Do they only disclose non-personally-identifiable info?
Actually, Cable TV companies have pretty good idea what you are watching and when, and they can link it personally to you. They can (and do) sell that info as well, theoretically only "aggregate" information.Easto wrote:Yeah, but the TV and Radio don't ask for my information and they don't sell it to someone else.
Here is what Comcast Xfinity discloses it collects, for example (source: https://www.xfinity.com/Corporate/Custo ... merPrivacy )
When you combine this info with Location info, information about you they obtain from third-parties, etc. they can get a pretty good picture of who you are, they can target advertising to you and resell some of your info.Your account number;
billing, payment, and deposit history;
maintenance information;
the types of Services to which you subscribe;
the device identifiers and network addresses of equipment used with your account;
voice commands;
video and audio recordings;
records indicating the number and types of devices connected to our network;
technical information about your Service-related devices, including customization settings and preferences;
network traffic data;
information about your use of the Services and their features, including video activity data, as well as Internet or online information such as web addresses and other activity data in order to render Internet service; and
additional information about the Service options you have chosen.
When you use the Services, our cable system automatically generates, transmits, and collects much of this information as part of providing the Services to you. For example, we receive information about the use of set-top boxes, remote controls, program guides, video players, applications, and other devices and software connected to our cable system (“video activity data”. The video activity data includes, for example, which channels, programs, and advertisements are viewed and for how long. It may also include information about navigation through program guides and applications, and use of devices like remote controls and tablets. If you select various features of our equipment, such as voice commands or search, we also will collect and process the data needed to fulfill your requests.
The question then becomes how all this personal information they have on you is disclosed to third parties, and used? Do they only disclose non-personally-identifiable info?
I cut the wire as well.. I was just making an observation that everyone is competing for gathering your personal data, it being FANG (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google) or service providers. They need it for their big data/machine learning/AI algorithms to spoon feed us relevant information/ads, analyze it, or, simply sell it as in that latest Facebook fiasco. Naturally in the process privacy gets stomped over to some degree.
I think another huge privacy/hacking target is all those millions of connected "smart" IoT devices, including cloud cameras, heart/baby monitors, alarms/sensors, car computers, smart speakers, etc. distributed with very little scrutiny or security audits, often with gaping backdoors built in, readily handing out a peak into your private space/life to any company that creates enough buzz.
I think another huge privacy/hacking target is all those millions of connected "smart" IoT devices, including cloud cameras, heart/baby monitors, alarms/sensors, car computers, smart speakers, etc. distributed with very little scrutiny or security audits, often with gaping backdoors built in, readily handing out a peak into your private space/life to any company that creates enough buzz.
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The take-off and power of intelligence/information gathering is getting scary.
Before the Prez election, I remember pointing out a few times about one of Trumps biggest donors....Mercer from Renaissance Technology.
And now in the midst of all this breach of info ...Cambridge Analytica...created by Robert Mercer.
Before the Prez election, I remember pointing out a few times about one of Trumps biggest donors....Mercer from Renaissance Technology.
And now in the midst of all this breach of info ...Cambridge Analytica...created by Robert Mercer.
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I guess what I was trying to say was that I think there are a LOT of people out there who live under the misconception that their internet activity is not be used, harvested or sold in one way or another. I guess the IoT and a refrigerator that tells you when your milk expires just adds to the information that is being passed around. Every email I send I treat as if someone who shouldn't see it... see's it and it could come back to bite me at a later day. I was even caught up in the Experian breach. I mean if they can't keep their files safe, I'm not expecting much more from COSTCO etc.
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Here's another point to ponder...
Alexa. Currently known as that Amazon toy adults purchase to have in the home, to talk to it. Play a song, interact with other smart home things, and getting to Amazons real goal..order stuff from Amazon with it (they're securing your sale).
But...let's back up a bit. Back in the 90's...the dial up days of Windows 95 computers, there was a company that came out with one of the first grand daddies of "tracking" programs. Called "Alexa Internet". 1996 "Alexa initially offered a toolbar that gave Internet users suggestions on where to go next, based on the traffic patterns of its user community."
Back then, the Alexa toolbar was one of the early "adware" programs that we would clean up. Back in the early days of malware/adware cleaning programs would see it and remove it, such as Lavasofts Adaware, and the early Spybot S&D programs.
In 1999, Amazon purchased the company.
...and now we have this thing that sits in many users homes. It may or may not be coincidence that Amazon broke into the top 5 companies in the world less than 2x years after they released that Alexa home appliance.
Alexa. Currently known as that Amazon toy adults purchase to have in the home, to talk to it. Play a song, interact with other smart home things, and getting to Amazons real goal..order stuff from Amazon with it (they're securing your sale).
But...let's back up a bit. Back in the 90's...the dial up days of Windows 95 computers, there was a company that came out with one of the first grand daddies of "tracking" programs. Called "Alexa Internet". 1996 "Alexa initially offered a toolbar that gave Internet users suggestions on where to go next, based on the traffic patterns of its user community."
Back then, the Alexa toolbar was one of the early "adware" programs that we would clean up. Back in the early days of malware/adware cleaning programs would see it and remove it, such as Lavasofts Adaware, and the early Spybot S&D programs.
In 1999, Amazon purchased the company.
...and now we have this thing that sits in many users homes. It may or may not be coincidence that Amazon broke into the top 5 companies in the world less than 2x years after they released that Alexa home appliance.
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How about the "Last Pass" breach? Ya know..that secure password storing service? I know..the breach was just usernames and salts...not the actual passwords, but still..it's a shot across the bow.Easto wrote: I was even caught up in the Experian breach. I mean if they can't keep their files safe, I'm not expecting much more from COSTCO etc.
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You guys aren't going deep enough... Millions to Billions almost overnight... Just from ads... How much have you ever paid to use FB?
With all of the facial recognition software that the gov is using, putting up cameras in all of the major cities, all it needed was a data base... Keep posting selfies, providing contact info, friends, hang-outs and such...
Soon when you get pulled over by the po-po, they will know where you are coming from, who was with you, how long you were there...
"I just left my house, officer"! "Wrong, you were at Kelly's bar and grill for 3 hours and I don't think eating was the only thing that you were doing for that long... Step out of the car for a breathalyzer test"...
Just wait for it as it won't be long, and that is just one example...
With all of the facial recognition software that the gov is using, putting up cameras in all of the major cities, all it needed was a data base... Keep posting selfies, providing contact info, friends, hang-outs and such...
Soon when you get pulled over by the po-po, they will know where you are coming from, who was with you, how long you were there...
"I just left my house, officer"! "Wrong, you were at Kelly's bar and grill for 3 hours and I don't think eating was the only thing that you were doing for that long... Step out of the car for a breathalyzer test"...
Just wait for it as it won't be long, and that is just one example...
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Soon the NSA may request copies/recordings of your voice that were harvested while using Alexa. They will search your Costco shopping habits and find out you buy the 1.75 ltr bottles of Grey Goose every other week. While at the same time you're telling your doctor you don't drink. Next think you know, you health insurance premiums go up. Those are some of the things I'm worried about. I couldn't care less if they know I frequent this forum, search for boots at REI or that I'm looking for a new car.
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I remember that alexa toolbar. Disposed of many of them!YeOldeStonecat wrote:Here's another point to ponder...
Alexa. Currently known as that Amazon toy adults purchase to have in the home, to talk to it. Play a song, interact with other smart home things, and getting to Amazons real goal..order stuff from Amazon with it (they're securing your sale).
But...let's back up a bit. Back in the 90's...the dial up days of Windows 95 computers, there was a company that came out with one of the first grand daddies of "tracking" programs. Called "Alexa Internet". 1996 "Alexa initially offered a toolbar that gave Internet users suggestions on where to go next, based on the traffic patterns of its user community."
Back then, the Alexa toolbar was one of the early "adware" programs that we would clean up. Back in the early days of malware/adware cleaning programs would see it and remove it, such as Lavasofts Adaware, and the early Spybot S&D programs.
In 1999, Amazon purchased the company.
...and now we have this thing that sits in many users homes. It may or may not be coincidence that Amazon broke into the top 5 companies in the world less than 2x years after they released that Alexa home appliance.
Nothing in my home with a built in microphone except my laptop.
You guys watch the HBO show Silicon Valley? Last episode was all about smart refrigerators recording everything and sending it to the cloud.
No one has any right to force data on you
and command you to believe it or else.
If it is not true for you, it isn't true.
LRH
and command you to believe it or else.
If it is not true for you, it isn't true.
LRH
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- YeOldeStonecat
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Actually, it's pretty much inline with the whole "harvesting" issue. I just think that it's rather funny that all these advertisers are trying to achieve and target an exact demographic, whether that be an age, brand, shopping habits etc. Although I'm sure it may benefit them in one way or another... I still think how they're missing the 1 main issue that 1 computer is used by multiple family members. When I use my wife's eyePad I'm always getting advertisements for all kinds of makeup offers (and they're not even my brand!, LOL). I'm about as interested in what Revlon has to sell as my wife is interested in the bicycle tire tubes I've been researching.Randy wrote:side topic -Banks track your purchases and create profiles on your shopping habits etc..
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Facebook has already done their part, so why not Amazon...
https://gizmodo.com/amazon-shareholders ... 1826920326
https://gizmodo.com/amazon-shareholders ... 1826920326
Utilizing echo chambers and troll-bots, they are controlling thoughts as well.
I feel a special blessing having got most of the online debating out of my system before FB
I feel a special blessing having got most of the online debating out of my system before FB
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I don't think that is necessarily true. We have to remember that correlation does not imply causation, and it may be that the most they can do is reinforce ideologies that already existed. Certainly propaganda can motivate people but how much and in what way is a hard thing to determine. It could be that what it mostly does is excite those who were already predisposed to its rhetoric.David wrote:Utilizing echo chambers and troll-bots, they are controlling thoughts as well.
I feel a special blessing having got most of the online debating out of my system before FB
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Confusing correlation and causation is the most common mistake in data science, by both the professional and the layperson, and so we should be cautious when drawing such conclusions. I have no doubt these data are being collected; however, collecting data and using them are two very different things, and I question how much influence they actually have. Propaganda is not a new concept, this is a different approach, but the base idea is not new, and I assume that propaganda has limits. I would just like to understand those limits better before concluding that they are using data science to control people's minds. I think statistics is great, I have nearly finished my degree in it, but people may be exaggerating its abilities. I would just like to understand the interaction of the data analysis and public opinion a bit better before concluding it as "controlling thoughts".
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." - Stephen Hawking