Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

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Feeling like Privacy is a lost war. (infosec.pub)

submitted 1 year ago by beefpeach@infosec.pub to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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So, I recently moved about 6 months ago. Have only given my real address and name to the DMV, Phone Company, Internet, and rental property(obviously knows my real address)

Ran Optery and found out that over 80 data brokers have my legit new address already.

Feeling like privacy is just some kind of wet dream at the moment. I do everything right, I think but no matter what the 4 companies I have given my information too will constantly sell my personal data no matter what.

It’s truly sad the direction America is going towards, all for some more money.

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[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

IMHO it'd be worthwhile to investigate which one actually did leak it without your consent. It might be pointless for your current address but surely would be for the next one, and everybody else.

More pragmatically even though it's wrong I'm not sure how impactful it is. Namely you can receive spam regardless of where you live. What's worrisome is arguably when companies know more about you, e.g tastes, political leaning, sexual orientation, etc. This is a lot more than a name on an address. I believe this is harder to get, especially if you are mindful of what you share. So... is it bad? Sure, is it lost? IMHO no.

[–] beefpeach@infosec.pub 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yeah, I completely agree. I did this also right before I moved and found out my mental health records were being bought by data brokers.

I totally fell down a rabbit hole with that one. Basically, the 3rd-party software that hospitals and clinics use are subject to sell the data that gets imported into the software.

But, you’re definitely right. I’m pretty sure it’s my rental agency along with everybody else.

When, I first moved here with in the first week I received mail from a bunch of local dealers about my Hyundai which completely freaked me out that they all of a sudden knew what I drove as soon as I entered the state.

I’m not sure how data brokers actually work but they definitely operate like organized crime organizations.

[–] DogMom@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

The DMV and the post office(if you submitted am address change) are the most likely offenders.

[–] drwho@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

It's only a matter of time before those records (and my mental health records too) get involved in a breach.

This does not leave me sleeping well at night.