Privacy and Security Discussion

[Axel PC]

What do to protect your identity online? What's your threat model? How did you come up with your threat model? What are your primary concerns with your information being online and the online services and apps you use? How do you protect yourself online? Do you use Gmail or Protonmail? Do you use your bank/credit card or a service like Blur.com/Privacy.com? Do you use a password manager like Keypass/Lastpass or an Excel spreadsheet or "old fashioned" paper and pencil? Have you had to change how you do things online because of the changing times or an incident happening to you? Do you have any great tips to share?

Just thought I'd try getting a good and varied discussion about privacy and security. Mainly looking for an on going discussion, discovering some cool services and new tips. Thanks

 

[Neemobeer]

Well I don't believe Google sells users info, but I also don't think there is enough transparency with companies, Google included, as far as what they do with out information. I use a lot of Google services since they are useful and they take security seriously.

 

[Neemobeer]

Unfortunately a lot of more seemingly innocent companies do like to sell your information such as when you sign up for the savings card at the grocery store, that magazine subscription you may have. Those companies make a fortune off your info.

 

[Axel PC]

Yeah Google does have some of the best services. I've used a lot of different calendars, for desktop, cellphone, cloud etc. And no one comes close to creating something that competes to a busy calendar. So I understand how Google having access to how it's users are actually using their software allows them to creates features that we want and great improvements. But yeah more transparency would be nice like, we use X algorithm in Gmail to help Y feature. I don't know, but yeah more information to help us understand what they are doing with it would be nice.

And I agree that Google's security is top notch! No one can accuse them of being lax in that area. And they're not going anywhere anytime soon or in the future so they have longevity as well.

 

[Axel PC]

Yeah the grocery store savings type plans. I wonder how secure they databases of customer information is too?! Considering that's not their main business.

 

[Neemobeer]

The point is they knowingly sell your personal information.

 

[Axel PC]

I think as a society we have moved into a space where we didn't think about the personal information part because of the convenient service we recieved for "just" signing up. But I think this is changing with all the data base leaks, hacks, or systems being manipulated for users personal information.

 

[Neemobeer]

The average user probably only sees the high profile data thefts that are on the news and likely only becomes conscious of the problem for a short while after. They will just rationalize that "I'm not that important, so no one will want my info" and they will just shrug it off. Seen it happen.

 

[Axel PC]

Yeah, it probably gets drowned out in the daily noise of information we're inundated with.

 

[rjlocal22]

Check out this notification that alerts you upon a breach in your data. Interesting Newscast Concerning A Breach Of Your Security

 

[Axel PC]

Yeah haveibeenpwned is great! I go there regularly to check my emails against it.

 

[nmsuk]

All of mine pass

 

[rjlocal22]

Now we have quicker notification which gives less time for the crooks to do their dirty work.