Tag: FCC

We all know that Google, Amazon and Facebook are tracking us, but have you really thought about your ISP? That’s short for “internet service provider.” Depending on where you live, you may have a few to choose from — or maybe there’s only one.

Take a second to think about the power an ISP has over you. You have to use their lines to get on the web. They keep track of every single thing you do online.

Your entire internet history is saved on their servers. Every website you visit, every search you make, anything you do on social media, what profiles you set up and where you buy anything. Even your porn habits are tracked and stored.

What happens with all this data?

All this data you handed over then gets bundled up and sold off. There’s no transparency about who gets your private information — or what they’ll do with it. You may think to yourself, “Hey, that’s not right!” But here’s the skinny: Back in 2017, the Federal Communications Commission said it was OK.

According to the FCC, ISPs don’t have to get your permission to profit off your data. And get this, they don’t even have to tell you how long they’re keeping your data, either.

Can you opt-out of this tracking?

Probably not. Plus, even if you want to, some ISPs have the nerve to charge you more for your internet connection.

You have two options:

1. Don’t use an ISP. This means you can’t get online.
2. Get online and use the internet the smart way. You can take back your privacy through a VPN.

While you’re using a VPN, your ISP cannot track you. The ISP cannot see what sites you visit or anything you do while connected. It can only see that encrypted data is traveling to a server.

Think of it this way: You’re traveling in a car on the freeway. You can see everything around you and know the roads you’ve been on and what’s shown on the speedometer.

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