Take a step: Get yourself off data brokers’ and people-search sites. Use this link to get 60% off right now. Def worth it! I get no more spam calls or texts since I did this.
Shortcut to reading annoying privacy policies
Tech privacy policies are confusing on purpose. I know, big shocker! But I’m always surprised by just how difficult these things are to comb through and what they hide.
Today, I’m calling out the biggest offenders — and sharing one of my favorite, easy-to-use privacy tools.
The worst of the worst
I read these privacy policies so you don’t have to. Some of these companies are collecting far more than you might realize.
- Disney shares your data with third parties. After that, they have no control over how it’s used.
- Instagram tracks your exact location and may share it for targeted advertising.
- Zoom records and shares your meeting data (including video, audio, and chat logs!) with third parties.
- Wikipedia automatically logs and stores your IP address.
- UPS transfers your personal data to other countries, where data protection laws might not be as strict.
- Uber Eats keeps your info indefinitely — even after you deactivate your account.
- Netflix shares your viewing habits and personal information with TV networks, ISPs and other partners.
- Spotify collects and stores voice data, including conversations, through its voice assistant.
- Microsoft collects massive amounts of data, including what you type, your app usage and what’s on your clipboard.
- Yahoo reserves the right to update its privacy policy at any time, without notifying you.
Feeling a little creeped out? Me, too.
Cut to the chase
It’d be nice if we could wave a magic wand to see all the hidden privacy gotchas. The next best thing? These easy tips:
⌛ Time-saving tip: When you’re reviewing a company’s privacy policy on your computer, use Ctrl + F on Windows or Cmd + F on a Mac to quickly search for buzzwords like “sell,” “partners” and “affiliates.” Words like “geolocation” and “geotargeting” indicate your location information will be collected. Def search for those.
💬 Know the terms: Sections with names like “How we collect your personal data” show what a company gathers from you and how they do it. “How we use your personal information” is their take on why they need your data in the first place. “Business purposes” usually means they share it with third parties.
🎮 Protect the kids: Look for references to “COPPA” or the “Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act” to see how a company protects your kid’s data.
Phew, that’s a lot. I’m always on the hunt to shortcut some of the hard work of securing your privacy. That’s where Incogni comes in.
Data brokers are selling your life. Here’s how to stop them.
The data broker industry is worth almost $400 billion. Whether it’s your Google Search history, movies you’ve streamed or a summary of your last doctor’s visit, they’re keeping tabs on your life.
Feel violated? You should. These brokers even sell your data to scammers so they can use it to target you. No wonder most people get overloaded with spam texts and calls every day.
Your driving apps are spying on you
Apps like MyRadar and GasBuddy are sharing your driving data with data brokers. Find out exactly what they’re reporting.
We’re skewed: The U.S. House of Representatives just put its foot down, banning data brokers from selling your info to China, North Korea, Russia and Iran. Rulebreakers will face heavy penalties from the Federal Trade Commission. Spoiler: It’s too late.
How the government spies on you
When I shared my tip on opting out of the Transportation Security Administration’s new facial recognition tech at airports the other week, I got a ton of questions. First and foremost, though, a lot of you said, “I didn’t know I could do that.”
Your data: It’s all posted online - But there's a simple way to remove it
A loyal reader, Racquel, emailed me recently after dealing with a very angry customer at work. “Last week, she left me a voicemail and said that I was behind all her problems and she was ‘going to find’ where I lived.”
Your data is worth big money — and you can take it back
“Call me for a good time.” That simple message prompted more creepy calls and texts than you can believe. A woman contacted me after someone posted that message — alongside her cellphone number — on a porn site.
Car-tracking shocker: Automakers are sharing our driving habits with insurance companies. With help from data brokers (NY Times, paywall link) like LexisNexis, insurers know every move we make — speeding, hard braking, rapid acceleration, you name it. The kicker? This could spike your insurance bill. I suppose we should’ve known this was happening.
Privacy, please: Laura in Austin asked me why she got this message from our sponsor, Incogni: “We found multiple records that might belong to you. Please identify and select the ones that best match your profile.” That’s a great thing — they’ve uncovered more ways data brokers are selling your personal info. Get 60% off Incogni using promo code KIM60 if you want to remove your info from data-broker sites, too. It’s amazing.
Take back control of your online privacy
Newsflash: Your data is constantly being collected and sold. “Gee, thanks, Kim. I know,” you might be thinking. “What do I do about it?” Lucky for you, I spend a lot of time trying to answer that exact question.
If you’re tired of spam calls, unwanted emails and that nasty feeling of always being tracked, keep reading. I’ve got a simple way to take a massive chunk out of this data collection mess, thanks to our sponsor, Incogni.
Simple digital privacy step everyone should know about
Data brokers, people search sites and online background check services, oh my. At the end of the day, they all do the same thing — scoop up your personal info and sell it to anyone interested. Marketers are at the top of the list, but scammers can also find your information this way.
Bad news: Here's how much your social media logins cost on the Dark Web
What if I told you for just $12, someone could buy your Instagram login. They could read all your messages, look through everything you’ve “liked” and even post as you.
Whizcase gathered prices from Dark Web marketplaces to see how much your online identity is worth, and it’s grim.
One-click cleanup: This free app deletes your digital history
Asking all the companies you interact with to protect your data sounds like a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole. Who has that kind of time or energy? Thankfully, a new app will do it for ya.
The Permission Slip app was created by Consumer Reports (so you know it’s good!). It contacts companies on your behalf to ensure your personal info isn’t sold to third parties, aka anyone willing to pay for it. They can even get your data erased for you.
Removing your info from the web takes forever - Unless you do this
I’ve warned you about all the scummy sites that collect your personal details for years. I’ll never forget, not too long ago, when my son Ian asked about a house I lived at in my 20s. I couldn’t remember where it was.
FemTech is exploding, but is your private data safe?
This privacy alert is for our female readers, but guys, you can read it too!
“FemTech” is the broad term for apps and programs catering to women’s health. Consumer Reports recently raised concerns about the privacy practices of women’s health apps, specifically period trackers.
Delete this secret ID hiding on your phone that gives away your personal details
From social media platforms to email providers, tons of places on the web want to scoop up your private data. Don’t forget about online stores and personal services, either. Your details are major commodities to most online businesses, and many have little regard for your privacy.
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from ZabaSearch
As you surf the web and social media, companies and data brokers are building a robust online profile. They use everything from the ads you click on to the topics you spend the most time browsing to hit you with related ads.
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from Intelius
When was the last time you searched for your name online? It’s a little eerie to click through the results. You’ll find some things are just plain wrong, but there’s likely plenty of accurate information about you floating around the web that you never realized.
Opt-out Tuesday: How to remove yourself from BeenVerified
There is a scary amount of personal information on the internet. You don’t need a degree in information technology or network administration to find someone’s email address, telephone number or where they live.
Whether you consider them shady or not, people search websites have a lot of information on all of us. The worst part is that most don’t even know their details are publically available.