Ramblings of an old Doc

 

Note, I said privacy, not security even though there is some blurring at the border because breaching one can yield compromise of the other.

Well, lifehacker put out ten very good steps and very simple ones to preserve privacy.

1. Security questions should be kept as private as passwords. If there’s only a choice between various questions, then give a ‘wrong’ answer only you know.

2. Create strong, easily remembered passwords. Here I differ with them a bit. I think it’s ok to use a password keeper/LastPass type app to generate and keep passwords. Don’t forget, we’re small fish, not major targets, but info can be gotten in big site breaches. When you learn of one, change that password and keep it safe.

3. Use “Temporary” email addresses when dealing with suspect sites, or subaccounts and get rid of it when you get spam.

4. Only give your friends your im address, and only allow friends to see when you’re online.

5. Use AdBlock even if you don’t block ads.

6. Use “https:” whenever possible, even though not nearly enough sites routinely host it.

7. “Change” your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.

8. Use a fake birthday for web sign ups. If the data gets compromised, who cares?

9. Leave your home address off your GPS. Put on a landmark you know how to get home from, instead.

10. Use “Temporary” credit cards to avoid repeat/automatic billing/renewals.

I know I mentioned a few of these here and there back at the holidays and since, but Whitson Gordon put them together and I thought you’d value taking a look at them.

Please take a look at his article on life hacker because there are some good links there.

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5806487


Comments (Page 2)
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on Jun 15, 2011

DaveBax
QUOTE- 7. “Change” your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.

Have done this for years. Love the Victoria Secret adds I get.

Good stuff Doc, couldn't resist,

yea, but do they fit?

on Jun 15, 2011

You're interested...why? hehehe. j/k Dr Guy.

on Jun 17, 2011

Change your gender to make whatever ads you get to less annoying.

All well and good.... until... you're a male getting explicit adds for male escorts.  A friend of mine found out the hard way... and was confronted with nude... um, full-frontal piccies of 'excited' gentlemen.   Nope, that's not something I'd be too keen on receiving in my inbox.

However, I was told that women divulge all sorts of things if you change gender on dating sites.  Yeah, this deviant told me that several women on dating-type sites sent him, as a female mermber, nude piccies of themselves... piccies they probably would never have sent to a man/male members.  I never really understood that... women sending women nuddy pic of themselves... but it takes all types, I suppose.

Anyhow, Doc, some good tips there... thanks for that.

on Jun 17, 2011

starkers
A friend of mine found out the hard way... and was confronted with nude... um, full-frontal piccies of 'excited' gentlemen

Anthony Weiner?

on Jun 17, 2011

Dr Guy
Quoting starkers, reply 18A friend of mine found out the hard way... and was confronted with nude... um, full-frontal piccies of 'excited' gentlemen

Anthony Weiner?

Yep.. Anthony Weiner became WeinerQuitzel.  <-- pun for sydneysiders

on Jun 18, 2011

Dr Guy
Anthony Weiner?

Dunno, but in any event, how appropriate... er, fitting is that name?

Hehe, some weiner named Weiner gets caught out by his weiner...... 

on Jun 20, 2011

starkers
Hehe, some weiner named Weiner gets caught out by his weiner......

America has to keep the rest of the world laughing I guess.

on Jun 20, 2011

If it weren't so sad, it might be funny.

on Jun 20, 2011

Weinergate?  It is very sad, kinda funny, and also a clever and opportunistic use of political 'spin,' misdirection, etc. to distract people from what the politicians are doing to the 'body politic.'   It doesn't get more obvious than this...(sad)

on Jun 21, 2011

DrJBHL
If it weren't so sad, it might be funny.

All politicians are sad [excuses of humanity]... they're never funny [despite being political jokes]

on Jun 22, 2011

starkers
All politicians are sad [excuses of humanity]...they're never funny [despite being political jokes]

I  dunno... I kinda got a chuckle at Rudd now calling The Lodge... Boganville.... 

on Jun 22, 2011

sydneysiders

Quoting starkers, reply 25All politicians are sad [excuses of humanity]...they're never funny [despite being political jokes]

I  dunno... I kinda got a chuckle at Rudd now calling The Lodge... Boganville.... 

Yeah, but he probably only repeated that because he overheard it out here in the public domain.

The sad fact of life is that politicians ARE political jokes.... they don't write, invent, create them... unless they sire/birth sprogs who follow in their footsteps.

I've had personal dealings with several politicians, and every one of them has let me down/betrayed my trust after promising to help resolved the issue that took me to see them in the first place.  The only one who was true to his word was Bill Hayden... I needed assistance and he came through.

So here's another privacy measure everyone should adopt... NEVER, EVER divulge personal details to a politician... they use them to scrutinise you before using them against you.  Let's just say that I was badly treated by 2 government employees [physically], and the member of parliament I sought assistance from used some personal details about me to have me crucified in court.  I should have received damages for the injuries I sustained, but [no] thanks to the politician I mistakenly trusted, I ended up with criminal charges being laid against me and a $500 fine instead.

Where's Guy Fawkes when you need him!!!

on Jun 23, 2011

Use “Temporary” credit cards

  Use a credit card with a small credit limit,  but watch out for your credit card company increasing your limit without first asking you!

on Jun 23, 2011

Strong passwords are never easy to remember. Easy to remember passwords are never strong.

on Jul 20, 2011

  www.ukash.com has info about buying vouchers in shops which can be spent online.  The vouchers are in units,  thus limiting your liability to the value of that voucher without having to give any personal details.  The website has options for several countries.

  I haven't used this system myself;  the nearest I have been is paying in shops to top-up my mobile phone.  I guess you type in the voucher code to spend it. 

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