#Privacy
Home Improvement | Household Tips & DIY
Patio privacy ideas – 10 ways to turn your outdoor living space into a private oasis
Create a relaxing hideaway in your plot with these patio privacy ideas
Science & Technology | Technology
Can You Really Delete Your Internet History?
The guys at Stuff They Don't Want You To Know talk about whether you can really delete your internet history — and why you want to.
Politics | Politics
Attention CA Residents: Gov. Newsom Gives Your Private COVID Vax Records to a 'Consulting Firm'
Newsom's Public Health Dept. said it
Miscellaneous | Other Stories
If These Apps Are Still on Your Phone, Someone May Be Spying on You
Some of those apps you love and have come to rely on could be posing more of a danger than they're worth. Here's what you need to know.
Science & Technology | Technology
10 Tips to Have Secret Text Conversations on Your iPhone
While Apple works on its privacy features for text messages, you can use these tips and workarounds to have secret conversations on your iPhone.
Science & Technology | Tech
Here’s How to Use Google's New Privacy Tool to Scrub Your Personal Info From Search Results
The search engine's new Results About You tool makes it easier to keep your email and physical address from being seen online.
Science & Technology | Tech
TikTok and others scrape your data, whether you use their apps or not
According to a Consumer Reports (CR) investigation published last week, TikTok has been planting trackers called "pixels" on hundreds of websites. Partnering with security firm Disconnect, CR...
Science & Technology | Science & Technology
Incognito Mode Isn’t As Incognito As You Might Think
Incognito and private browsing modes sound powerful, but they really only do one little thing and aren’t necessarily private.
Travel | Travel
How to spot hidden cameras in your vacation rentals
The summer travel season is heating up, and you might consider renting someone's home to stay in during your next vacation. Experts warn people to keep an eye out for hidden cameras that keep getting smaller and easier to hide.
Science & Technology | Technology
How to hide your house on every map app
Anyone can see your home if it's visible on the Google, Apple, or Bing map apps. Use these tips to blur it out and hide it from virtual visitors.
Science & Technology | Tech
Some Top 100,000 Websites Collect Everything You Type—Before You Hit Submit
A surprising number of the top 100,000 websites effectively include keyloggers that covertly snag everything you type into a form.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Disappear from the internet forever: 6 things you have to do
Getting off the grid isn't as easy as it should be, but we'll show you where to start.
Science & Technology | Social Media
China's Weibo shows user locations to combat 'bad behavior'
Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, told users on Thursday it would start to publish their IP locations on their account pages and when they post comments, in a bid to combat "bad behavior" online.
Science & Technology | Technology
Apple AirPods patent shows how they could track activity | Digital Trends
Apple has revealed a patent explaining how future AirPod models might be able to track a user's physical activity.
News | News
Texas Lawsuit Claims Facebook's Facial Recognition Violated User Privacy and Broke the Law
The suit claims the company violated state laws by gathering and using facial recognition data on millions of users without their consent.
Science & Technology | Science & Technology
Apple, Meta, And The Ten Billion Dollar Impact Of Privacy Changes
The potential loss of $10 billion in ad sales revenue accounts for nearly 8% of Facebook’s yearly revenue — and the market reacted, with the stock price dipping 26%. How big was the impact of Apple's IDFA and where does Facebook and parent company Meta go
Gaming | Gaming
The Unnerving Rise of Video Games that Spy on You
Players generate a wealth of revealing psychological data—and some companies are soaking it up.
Science & Technology | Science & Technology
It's time to delete the scary amount of data Google has on you
Google keeps tabs on what you search, what you watch and your location. We'll show you how to delete that info.
Science & Technology | Tech News
What Does Big Tech Know About You? Basically Everything
Security Baron examined the privacy policies of Facebook, Google, Apple, Twitter, Amazon, and Microsoft; just how much these tech giants actually know about you might be surprising..
Science & Technology | Tech
You're likely being tracked by Google. Turn off these settings to stop it - CNET
Google stores your location and data history when you use any of its apps. We'll show you how to turn off tracking for good.
Science & Technology | Tech
The Telescreens in Your Home Are Watching Your Every Move
If they can listen to you turning on a light, they can listen to you doing anything, and people with an agenda can twist anything into a weapon against you.
Science & Technology | Technology
The $29 Apple AirTag can make a good, cheap stolen vehicle locator
The Apple AirTag was designed to help people keep track of things like keys and wallets, but it really doesn't matter how big those things are.
News | News
If You Own An Apple iPhone Your Right To Privacy Is Dead
Apple announced Thursday is it planning to scan all iPhones in the United States for child abuse imagery, raising alarm among security...
Science & Technology | Social Media
Exactly How Facebook Learned Every Single Thing About You
In 'An Ugly Truth,' reporters Cecilia Kang and Sheera Frenkel chart the rise of Facebook and how the company sacrificed user privacy and facts for engagement.
Food & Drink | Food and Drink
Restaurant menu QR codes and the risks to your privacy
FOX Business' Kurt Knutsson breaks down the risks associated with QR code menus.
Health & Fitness | Health News
Amazon devices will soon automatically share your Internet with neighbors
Amazon's experimental wireless mesh networking turns users into guinea pigs.
Science & Technology | Technology
These Apps Collect the Most Personal Data
Tired of your favorite apps grabbing your personal data and selling it to third parties? Take a look at these privacy-focused alternatives.
Science & Technology | Tech
Amazon will share your home Wi-Fi with strangers' devices — this is how to opt out
Amazon has one of the largest ecosystems of smart home gadgets on the market today. From Echo speakers to Ring's lineup of security cameras and doorbells,
Politics | The China Threat
Despite ‘Uncompromising Commitment To Security And User Privacy,’ Apple Is Handing Over Data To China
Apple claims to be committed to both “human rights” and privacy. In their “Our Commitment to Human Rights” document, they declare that they “feel a deep
Science & Technology | Science & Technology
iPhone apps are tracking you. Here's how to stop them in iOS 14.5
It takes less than a minute to change a setting that will enhance your privacy and help prevent ads from following you across the internet. Here's how to do it.
Science & Technology | Technology
Apple debuts creepy ad showing how your data is tracked — why iOS 14 is the solution
Apple debut new, unsettling ad that showcases how data tracking would operate if it happened in real life.
Science & Technology | Technology
Report says Facebook’s creepy data collection lets Big Pharma target your illness
Facebook is at the center of two different privacy issues that have the same thing in common: Facebook appears to want unchecked access to your information.
Science & Technology | Technology
iOS 14.5 Lets You Stop Ads From Tracking You—So Do It | WIRED
Facebook and other advertisers fought the move, but App Tracking Transparency is finally here.
Science & Technology | Tech News
This site tells you if Google’s new ad tech is ‘spying’ on you
Google vowed a few weeks ago to stop allowing advertisers to track users online with third-party cookies, a move intended to improve user privacy. But Google also said at the time that it would introduce FLoC (or Federated Learning of Cohorts), a new tech
Science & Technology | Technology
Another 500 million accounts have leaked online, and LinkedIn’s in the hot seat - The Verge
An individual on a hacker forum is selling personal data they claim is scraped from 500 million LinkedIn profiles. LinkedIn says the data includes information from many places and not just the professional-focused social network.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Personal data of 533 million Facebook users leaks online
Personal data from 533 million Facebook accounts has reportedly leaked online for free. Records included phone numbers, Facebook IDs, full names, locations, birthdates, bios, and email addresses.
Science & Technology | Technology
How to opt out of Chrome’s user tracking tool that replaces cookies – BGR
Google promised a few weeks ago that it would not develop new user-tracking tools once it kills third-party cookies in the near future. Cookies are part of the current web-browsing experience on desktop and mobile.
News | News
‘Show Us Your Papers’: New York Rolls Vaccine Passport
The State of New York under Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), had taken a dangerous step in unwittingly challenging the privacy of every...
Science & Technology | Technology
DuckDuckGo uses App Store privacy labels to call out Google for ‘spying’ on users - 9to5Mac
Google is slowly updating its many iOS applications with App Store privacy labels, detailing the type of data it collects from users. The Google and Chrome applications were recently updated with these new labels, and DuckDuckGo is already using them to i
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple must face consumer privacy lawsuit in open court, judge rules
Apple has been denied an effort to move a consumer privacy lawsuit to private arbitration today. The case involves customer complaints against Apple and T-Mobile over iMessage and FaceTime not being as secure as they’re marketed. Reported by Bloomberg, th
Science & Technology | Tech
How to Delete Your Old Online Accounts (and Why You Should)
You’ve probably signed up for a lot of online services that you no longer use. Most of those accounts probably still exist, and they likely contain a mix of your personal data, identity details, and credit card numbers. Don’t leave juicy targets lying aro
News | News
Google Says It's Committed to Privacy. What It Isn't Saying Should Worry You
The company says it will stop tracking users across third-party websites, but that's not the important part.
Science & Technology | Tech
Facebook will pay $650 million to settle class action suit centered on Illinois privacy law | TechCrunch
Facebook was ordered to pay $650 million Friday for running afoul of an Illinois law designed to protect the state’s residents from invasive privacy practices. That law, the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), is a powerful state measure that’s trip
Science & Technology | Tech
How to stop your emails from being tracked - The Verge
One of the basic steps you can take to avoid trackers is to stop your email from automatically loading images since that’s where the majority of these pixels hide.
News | News
Instagram Now Reads Your Private Messages To Detect And Ban ‘Hate Speech’
Instagram, a subsidiary of the wide reaching Facebook empire, has announced that they will be eavesdropping on private direct messages
Politics | Politics
RED FLAG LAWS: Supreme Court to Decide Whether Police Can Enter Your House, Seize Your Guns Without a Warrant
A case before the US Supreme Court Supreme Court will decide whether law enforcement officers have the right, under the
Business & Finance | Business
Apple versus Facebook on ad-tracking: Harvard sides with Apple
We've seen an increasingly heated Apple versus Facebook battle over the upcoming App Tracking Transparency feature, which will require app ...
Science & Technology | Tech
The Best VPNs to Protect Yourself Online
A VPN won’t solve all of your privacy problems, but it can help make you a less tempting target for hackers.
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple’s next iOS 14 beta will begin forcing developers to ask for permission to track you - The Verge
Apple’s planned privacy feature requiring developers ask iOS device owners for permission to track them for ad targeting is at last going live in the next iOS 14 beta, with a planned full release some time this spring for non-beta users. Called App Tracki
Science & Technology | Tech
Yes, You Can Still Use WhatsApp—But Change These 3 Critical Settings First
While you don't need to quit WhatsApp—you do need to make these changes now...
Politics | Politics
CONFIRMED: Google Notifies Children If Parents Are Monitoring Their Accounts
Google confirmed this month that they inform children when their parents are monitoring their account activity. The tech giant claims
Science & Technology | Tech News
How to check iOS app privacy details for iPhone and iPad
This detailed guide with screenshots walks through how to check iOS app privacy details, what they are, and where to find them.
Miscellaneous | Interesting Links
5 Ways To Check For Hidden Cameras In Your Hotel Room Or Dressing Room
Privacy is perceived differently across the world. For example, in Germany, very few offices have open doors, while in America, this is quite common. However, nobody would be okay with secretly being watched, especially during private activities.
Advice & Self-Help | Advice & Self-Help
My Employer Asks Personally Invasive Questions; Do I Have to Answer? - Workplace Coach Blog
Question: My employer emailed me a health status questionnaire that’s due Friday. I’m used to and feel okay about questions …
Advice & Self-Help | Advice & Self-Help
Protecting My Privacy from a Coworker's Prying Eyes - Workplace Coach Blog
Question: What rights do I have when my employer’s receptionist repeatedly invades my privacy by opening my personal mail? I …
Science & Technology | Social Media
Instagram kept deleted photos and messages on its servers for more than a year - The Verge
A security researcher found that Instagram was keeping copies of photos and direct messages he’d deleted from his account for more than a year. The researcher discovered and reported the problem last October, and Instagram now says it’s fixed the bug as o
Business & Finance | Business
Airbnb finally settles lawsuit against NYC and hands over host data
The battle that's raged for nearly two years comes to a close.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Twitter's Newest Trick Relies on Tracking More of Your Clicks | WIRED
The social media company is testing warnings for users who try to share links to articles they haven't read. To do that, it has to know what you've read.
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple Sneaks COVID-19 Contact Tracing into Latest Phone Update
If you install updates on your phone without reading the details then you might get an unwanted surprise. The latest involves contact tracking technology. Contact tracing technology, in theory, will notify users when they have entered the presence of a pe
Science & Technology | Social Media
How to Set Your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to Control Who Sees What | WIRED
Pick who sees your tweets, posts, and stories—and choose what you want to see, too.
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple strongly denies that iPhone Mail vulnerabilities have been exploited
A security company which discovered iPhone Mail vulnerabilities claimed that they have been 'widely exploited' in real-world attacks. Apple has now denied
Science & Technology | Technology
Apple and Google build more privacy and flexibility into Bluetooth contact tracing tech | VentureBeat
Apple and Google will bring more privacy and public health official control for Bluetooth contact tracing apps. An early iOS version is due out Tuesday.
Science & Technology | Tech
How to Lock Down What Websites Can Access on Your Computer | WIRED
If you're not careful, websites can grab all kinds of permissions you don't realize or intend. Take back control in your browser.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Twitter notifies users that it’s now sharing more data with advertisers - The Verge
Twitter removed a privacy feature from its data-sharing settings that let users opt out of sending advertising measurement and engagement data to its partners.
Science & Technology | Tech
Zoom's iOS app is sending your data to Facebook, because privacy is a myth
Zoom’s video conferencing app has grown more popular than ever lately, while people are staying home to flatten the curve. But you should know that there’s a major privacy concern with the service. Last night, Vice reported that Zoom‘s iOS app is nonconse
Science & Technology | Science & Technology
Businesses Say Privacy Is the Biggest Concern With 5G. Here's What That Means For You
5G is sure to bring plenty of huge benefits, but there are still real concerns.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Facebook will pay users for submitting their voice recordings - TechSpot
It seems pretty much every big company, including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, has been listening to and transcribing users’ voice recordings without their consent. It’s a way to improve speech recognition systems, but many customers were ang
Science & Technology | Technology
Google Just Gave Millions Of Users A Reason To Quit Chrome
Google Chrome is now running software inside it which may make many users uncomfortable...
Science & Technology | Technology
Google knows what you look like. Here's what it means and how to opt out - CNET
Google's Face Match technology isn't everywhere yet, but it's always looking. Find out what's happening with your face data and what you can do to stop it.
Science & Technology | Technology
Web scraping is now legal - Towards Data Science
In late 2019, the US Court of Appeals denied LinkedIn’s request to prevent HiQ, an analytics company, from scraping its data. The decision was a historic moment in the data privacy and data…
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple and Google’s location privacy controls are working
As users opt out of tracking en masse, advertisers will have to make do with limited location data.
Science & Technology | Tech
Facebook tracks you offline: How to make it stop
You may not agree with Facebook’s practices, but it’s hard to argue against its effectiveness. Advertisers are willing to pay big bucks to access your data collected through the social media platform.
Business & Finance | Business
'Do Not Sell My Info': US Retailers Rush to Comply With California Privacy Law
U.S. retailers including Walmart Inc will add "Do Not Sell My Info" links to their websites and signage in stores starting Jan. 1.
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple Preaches Privacy. Here's Why Your iPhone Is Tracking Your Location Anyway
Ultra-wideband technology enables some pretty cool features, but it also means that your phone is always tracking you.
Science & Technology | Technology
When Algorithms Decide Whose Voices Will Be Heard
As AI’s reach grows, the stakes will only get higher.
Science & Technology | TECH
How SMS Works—and Why You Shouldn’t Use It Anymore
It's time to understand how SMS messaging works. Here’s the breakdown, and what kind of safer text messaging to use instead.
Science & Technology | Tech
Shady app lets stalkers view private Instagram accounts in exchange for their own data
Facebook doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to minding its users' privacy, and Cambridge Analytica exploiting the social network's third-party
Travel | Travel
Is your Airbnb host spying on you with a hidden camera? Use this simple trick to find out.
A cybersecurity expert has identified a simple trick anyone can use to find out whether their Airbnb host might be monitoring them from afar.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Facebook gave Tinder and other dating apps special access to user data
New documents reveal that Facebook gave Tinder and other popular dating apps special "whitelist" privileges to access user data.
Science & Technology | Tech
Clicking this link lets you see what Google thinks it knows about you based on your search history — and some of its predictions are eerily accurate
By clicking a link from Google's account settings page, users can find out what the tech giant thinks it knows about them.
Miscellaneous | Interesting Links
Neighbors are using these smart cameras to track strangers' cars — and yours
Neighborhoods around Los Angeles are signing up for a new service: security cameras that automatically read the license plates of every car that drives by from a company called Flock Safety
Science & Technology | Tech
Another convincing deepfake app goes viral prompting immediate privacy backlash - The Verge
Zao is a new deepfake face-swapping app that’s able to to place your likeness into famous movies and TV shows based off just a single photograph. The app went viral in China over the weekend after releasing on Friday.
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple contractors were allegedly listening to 1,000 Siri recordings a day — each
That likely means about two per minute per person.
Science & Technology | TECH
Bluetooth is bad and you should stop using it
Everyone uses Bluetooth. Perhaps they shouldn't.
Science & Technology | Technology
Facebook has been collecting, listening, transcribing Messenger chats - Business Insider
The company reportedly didn't disclose to users that it was sharing any collected audio from Messenger voice chats with third parties.
News | News
Capital One announces hack affecting 106 million U.S. and Canadian customers | VentureBeat
Capital One said that personal information of about 100 million individuals in the United States and 6 million people in Canada were obtained by a hacker.
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple Siri Eavesdropping Puts Millions Of Users At Risk
Apple is employing contractors to listen to Siri conversations, it has been confirmed. However, the voice assistant is picking up private conversations including people talking to their doctor, drug deals and sexual encounters. Here’s what to do.
Miscellaneous | Other Stories
You could make $125 by filling out this Equifax data breach claim form
Equifax this week agreed to pay nearly $700 million to settle claims related a massive data breach at the consumer credit reporting agency in 2017.
Science & Technology | TECH
Facebook Knows More About You Than the CIA
Facebook hired Yael Eisenstat, a CIA veteran, to help it address election meddling. Now she's deeply worried about the company's sway over our lives.
Science & Technology | Tech
Facebook vs the feds: The tech giant will have to pay a record fine for violating users’ privacy. But the FTC wanted more.
The settlement the FTC brokered marks the most significant privacy punishment ever levied against a tech giant. But the story behind it -- described by 10 people familiar with the matter -- illustrates the challenges facing a 105-year-old agency tasked wi
Science & Technology | Technology
Internet group brands Mozilla ‘internet villain’ for supporting DNS privacy feature | TechCrunch
An industry group of internet service providers has branded Firefox browser maker Mozilla an “internet villain” for supporting a DNS security standard. The U.K.’s Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA), the trade group for U.K. internet service p
Science & Technology | Tech News
Amazon is watching, listening and tracking you. Here's how to stop it
You can turn off some of the tracking, but then many Amazon features won't work. And if you want to delete your Alexa recordings, you need the app.
History | History
Nest Just Sent Out This Email and It's a Reminder of Why People Just Don't Trust Google
Nest is now sending marketing emails for Google products, in the surest sign that it is officially dead as an independent brand and product.
Science & Technology | Tech
Here's how to view, download, and delete your personal information online
Download your personal data from Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, and other tech heavies.
Science & Technology | Tech
Flipboard hacks prompt password resets for millions of users | TechCrunch
Social sharing site and news aggregator Flipboard has reset millions of user passwords after hackers gained access to its systems several times over a nine-month period The company confirmed in a notice Tuesday that the hacks took place between June 2, 20
Science & Technology | Tech
Apps Are Using Background App Refresh to Send Data to Tracking Companies
When Background App Refresh is enabled, some iOS apps are using the feature to regularly send data to tracking companies, according to a privacy...
Science & Technology | Social Media
Snapchat Employees Abused Data Access to Spy on Users - VICE
Multiple sources and emails also describe SnapLion, an internal tool used by various departments to access Snapchat user data.
Science & Technology | Tech
Google Is Probably Tracking Your Location Right Now—Here’s How to Stop That | Mental Floss
Google says it uses around-the-clock location tracking to improve the services it offers consumers. But if you're uncomfortable with that idea, there's a way to turn it off.
Science & Technology | Tech News
The US Urgently Needs New Genetic Privacy Laws | WIRED
The laws governing DNA data in the US are patchy and incomplete. Yet people keep putting their DNA on the internet, compromising everyone's genetic anonymity.
Science & Technology | Technology
Smart TVs Are Cheaper Than Ever, and It's Because They're Selling Your Data | Mental Floss
Those big-screen televisions are sold at or near cost because manufacturers know they can profit from your personal data, including your viewing habits.
Science & Technology | Tech
If You Care About Privacy, Throw Your Amazon Alexa Devices Into the Sea
Remember a couple of weeks ago when we learned that humans were monitoring Amazon Alexa commands, essentially spying on users in the name of product improvement? Well, we’ve got some more bad news about the always-on microphone that we’ve all invited
Science & Technology | Social Media
Facebook exposed millions more Instagram passwords than we realized
Facebook today revealed it'd discovered millions of improperly secured passwords on its server. So, you know... business as usual.
Science & Technology | Tech
How Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung treat your voice data | VentureBeat
Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, Amazon, and Google traffic in lots of voice data, but they handle it differently. Here's what you need to know.
Miscellaneous | Interesting Stuff
That Email You Didn’t Reply To? The Sender Could Be Tracking It—Here’s How to Find Out
With a special email tracking service, senders can see if you opened their email and chose not to respond. Here's how to stop that from happening and continue to ignore your emails in peace.
Science & Technology | Tech
With facial recognition, shoplifting may get you banned in places you've never been - CNET
There are hundreds of stores using facial recognition -- none that have any rules or standards to prevent abuse.
Science & Technology | Tech News
You May Have Forgotten Foursquare, but It Didn’t Forget You | WIRED
The once-hyped social media company, known for gamifying mobile check-ins, is still alive and well as an incomprehensibly vast data empire.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Some major Android apps are still sending data directly to Facebook - The Verge
Major Android mobile apps from companies including Yelp and Duolingo send data to Facebook immediately after a user logs in, according to a new report from the London-based UK charity and watchdog group Privacy International (PI). This data transfer happe
Science & Technology | Tech
How to disguise your personal web-surfing at work
When you read your favorite site at work, you don't necessarily want your boss to find out about it. Here's how to sneakily browse the web.
Science & Technology | Technology
New flaws in 4G, 5G allow attackers to intercept calls and track phone locations | TechCrunch
TechCrunch - Reporting on the business of technology, startups, venture capital funding, and Silicon Valley
Travel | Travel
Discovery of cameras built into airlines’ seats sparks privacy concerns - The Verge
Cameras pointed at passengers have been noticed in the inflight entertainment systems used by some American and Singapore Airlines aircraft. Both airlines have confirmed that the cameras exist, but they say they have not been activated.
Travel | Travel
Discovery of cameras built into airlines’ seats sparks privacy concerns - The Verge
Cameras pointed at passengers have been noticed in the inflight entertainment systems used by some American and Singapore Airlines aircraft. Both airlines have confirmed that the cameras exist, but they say they have not been activated.
Science & Technology | Tech
The Trump administration is trying to give AI a boost in the US
The order is designed to protect American technology, national security, privacy and values when it comes to artificial intelligence.
Science & Technology | Tech
Many popular iPhone apps secretly record your screen without asking
Many major companies, like Air Canada, Hollister and Expedia, are recording every tap and swipe you make on their iPhone apps. In most cases you won’t even realize it. And they don’t need to ask for permission. You can assume that most apps a
Science & Technology | Technology
Anyone Can Spy on You With FaceTime. Here's How to Turn It Off
A new bug allows anyone to listen in on your iPhone and, for now, there's no fix.
Science & Technology | Tech News
In 2019, Best Single Way To Block, Stop Robocalls, Spam On The iPhone, Android
While apps provide some level of protection against robocalls, spam, and scams, they're not bulletproof. When all else fails, try this nuclear option.
Science & Technology | Tech
Change your phone settings so Apple, Google can't track your movements
Most tech companies make it difficult for users to say no to aggressive surveillance practices. But it is helpful to know about the default settings on your smartphone and how to change them.
Science & Technology | Technology
AT&T is cutting off all location-data sharing ties in March
After senators called the practice an invasion of privacy, the mobile carrier is ending the service.
Science & Technology | Tech
6 Times “Opting Out” Doesn’t Actually Stop Data Collection
Telling a company you want out doesn’t necessarily mean it stops collecting, or even sharing, your data.
Science & Technology | Tech
How to download your personal data from Apple
Apple has a new process for requesting all the data the company has on you, and it's very simple. Here's how to do it.
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple launched a new privacy website that lets you find all the data the company has on you
Apple's privacy website relaunch is another step in the company's bid to differentiate its brand as one that avoids dealing in the sale of personal information of its customers.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Here’s how to find out if your Facebook was hacked in the breach | TechCrunch
Are you one of the 30 million users hit by Facebook’s access token breach announced two weeks ago? Here’s how to find out. Facebook breach saw 15M users’ names & contact info accessed, 14M’s bios too Visit this Facebook Help center link while
Science & Technology | Social Media
Facebook, the Company That Keeps Selling and Losing Your Data, Wants to Put a Camera in Your Home
Facebook Portal (and a larger model, Portal Plus) is an in-home smart display designed for video chatting, better known as the worst part of the Jetsons' vision of the future.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Facebook Hacked, 50 Million Users Affected - Motherboard
Facebook "discovered a security issue" that the company said allowed attackers to "take over people's accounts."
Science & Technology | Social Media
Twitter says bug may have exposed some direct messages to third-party developers | TechCrunch
Twitter said that a “bug” sent user’s private direct messages to third-party developers “who were not authorized to receive them.” The social media giant began warning users Friday of the possible exposure with a message in the app. “The issue
Science & Technology | Tech
Dozens of iPhone Apps 'Constantly' Sending Location Data to Data Monetization Firms
Dozens of popular iPhone apps are sharing the location data of millions of mobile devices with third-party data monetization firms, according to a...
Miscellaneous | Interesting Links
How to Stop Google From Tracking Your Location
A new report shows that Google still tracks your location even if you thought you opted out.
Science & Technology | Social Media
The Simplest Way to Hide Old Facebook and Twitter Posts | Mental Floss
Test your knowledge with amazing and interesting facts, trivia, quizzes, and brain teaser games on MentalFloss.com.
Science & Technology | Technology
What you need to know about your browser's digital fingerprints
Your browser has a fingerprint. It’s not as obvious as the real ones on your fingertips, but it exists nonetheless.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Facebook bug switches 14 million users' default sharing settings to public - TechSpot
Facebook is informing 14 million users that what they assumed were private posts could have been viewable by the public. A bug caused the users' “suggested” sharing option to be set to “public” by default, rather than basing the suggestion&hel
Science & Technology | Tech News
Alexa recorded a woman’s private conversation and sent it to a random contact
A woman claims that her Amazon Echo recorded her voice and sent it to a random contact without her knowledge.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Report: Facebook App Exposed 3 Million More Users' Data
Researchers at the University of Cambridge, via a myPersonality app on Facebook, reportedly used data from 3 million users to power a spin-off company that
Science & Technology | Tech
Apple is removing apps that share your location data without consent
Apple has recently started removing apps from the App Store for violating the Terms of Service — or, more specifically, the rule against sharing location data with third parties without the consent of the app users. According to 9to5Mac, several app dev
Science & Technology | Social Media
This Company Will Give You $100,000 to Build a Better, Alternative Facebook - Motherboard
A startup incubator is giving seven companies $100,000 in seed money to build a privacy-oriented, democratic Facebook alternative.
Science & Technology | Technology
This is how Facebook collects data on you even if you don’t have an account
There’s little you can do about it.
Science & Technology | Technology
Did Facebook share my data with Cambridge Analytica? How to check
Cambridge Analytica harvested personal information from 87 million Facebook users. Here's how to tell if you were affected.
Science & Technology | Tech
This change can make your online browsing faster and more private
There is a small, simple step you can take right now that promises to make your online browsing faster and more private.
Science & Technology | Technology
This new privacy tool would speed up your internet, too
It's no joke how much data your internet service provider can collect about you. A new service from Cloudflare aims to change that.
Science & Technology | Technology
Google Knows Literally Everything About You - Here's How To Delete That Data
Take back control of your information with these easy steps.
Science & Technology | Tech News
No, Facebook, It's Not OK to Track Users' Calls and Texts for Years Because They Let You Share Contacts
Some users who've quit Facebook got a surprise when they looked at their data.
Science & Technology | Technology
How to use Facebook while giving it the minimum amount of personal data
The Cambridge Analytica revelations illustrate why we can’t trust Facebook to police its own platform
Science & Technology | Social Media
Why Facebook Owes You More Than This | WIRED
You give Facebook all of your data in exchange for using their service—an exchange that seems increasingly out of whack.
Science & Technology | Apps I Like
Secure messaging app Signal is the most important app of 2017
Pull out your smartphone and scroll through your list of recently downloaded apps. What do you see — Snapchat, HQ Trivia, or maybe some random face-filtering nonsense? Is Signal in there? If not, you've messed up in a major way.
Science & Technology | Tech
What Amazon Echo and Google Home Do With Your Voice Data—And How to Delete It | WIRED
Like the idea of Amazon Echo and Google Home, but feel uneasy about all that recording? Here's what they listen to—and how to delete it.
Science & Technology | Tech
Everybody lies: how Google search reveals our darkest secrets | Technology | The Guardian
What can we learn about ourselves from the things we ask online?
Miscellaneous | Interesting Links
Naked sunbathing and other naughty things you should never, ever do on a ship's balcony
Catching some rays in your birthday suit may seem like a good idea, but it's not. You're not exactly hidden from view. And there are other things that will land you on the bad passenger list.
Miscellaneous | Interesting Links
How to See What the Internet Knows About You (And How to Stop It)
Welcome to second edition of the Smarter Living newsletter.
Science & Technology | Social Media
Snapchat’s newest feature is also its biggest privacy threat - The Verge
Earlier this week, Snapchat introduced Snap Map, an opt-in function that allows you to share your location with your friends on a map. Snapchat’s introduction video to Snap Map, seen above, focuses...
Science & Technology | Technology
Google to stop scanning users' Gmail inboxes to send ads - Business Insider
Google will use data other than your email messages — like your search history — to figure out which ads to show you.
