We talk to Darius from Incogni, who tells us how you can remove your personal data from the internet. Plus, a family claims an Amazon driver stole their cat, people are yelling a lot at Siri, and there’s a new sober dating app.
So much data left exposed for anyone to see
© Andrey Popov | Dreamstime.com
Another day, another monumental data breach. Just because they’re getting more common doesn’t mean you can tune it out. In fact, it’s time to get even more serious about your private information and what’s posted online.
An estimated 106,316,633 records from U.S. citizens were exposed through “human error.” In this case, someone left a file totally unprotected online. Data of 2,319,873 people and organizations who subscribed to MC2 Data for background check services was exposed, too. Talk about a massive screwup.
Cybersecurity researchers say the company left a whopping 2.2 terabytes of private information open for anyone. MC2 Data owns several background check sites, including PrivateRecords.net, PrivateReports, PeopleSearcher, ThePeopleSearchers and PeopleSearchUSA.
Like thousands of other background check companies, MC2 Data gathers data from government sources, criminal records, employment history and family data.
The personal data left out in the open for anyone to access includes, but is not limited to:
- Names
- Email addresses
- IP addresses
- Encrypted passwords
- Partial payment information
- Home addresses
- Birth dates
- Phone numbers
- Property records
- Legal records
- Family, relative and neighbor data
- Employment histories
So far, MC2 Data hasn’t released a formal response to the breach. The story is still developing, but I wanted to make sure you knew about it.
Security tip: How to set up a VPN on all your devices
If you’re security and privacy-conscious, you need to take all the steps you can to keep yourself safe online. That starts with the right VPN.
Not using a VPN is like leaving your front door unlocked every time you go out. Sure, nothing might happen for years, but when something does happen, it’s devastating.
Naughty WFH trend, suicide hotline data fiasco & Google's life questions
Plus, are we alone? I talk UFOs and aliens with Dr. Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer for the SETI institute. A Georgia man sued Meta — and won his case. US buys up personal data, dating profile blunders and how to remove photos from real estate sites.
This California startup will pay you for your personal data
Curious about what’s in it for you? In this one-minute podcast, I’ll reveal the intriguing offer.
How the government and companies buy your personal data
We think of our gadgets as helpful tools that make our lives easier, but they can also be turned against us. The data your devices collect is so valuable it could be used against you in a criminal trial, requested by police or even bought by the government through a data broker. Kim’s interview with technologist Bennett Cyphers from the Electronic Frontier Foundation reveals all the secrets you’re losing — and which devices do the most stealing.
Google finally reveals everything it knows about you
After years of speculation, Google has finally admitted just how much personal data it collects from your iPhone. Here’s a hint: everything.
Guess which site sells the most of your personal data
The investigations and lawsuits launched against Big Tech have their roots in how these companies have abused your personal information. So today, a look at the most popular apps that collect and grab your personal info.
Only 1 week left to file for damages in the 2017 Equifax breach
Equifax’s 2017 data breach compromised the credit and personal data of millions of Americans. Now the settlement has been agree upon, and your window for making a claim is rapidly shrinking. If you were impacted, file your claim now. Here’s how.
Revealed: Dark Web prices for stolen IDs
Take a guess — how much do you think cybercriminals would pay for your user names, passwords and other personal data? This is one area where you want to be undervalued. Kim has the story.
Facebook wants more of your personal data
Facebook wants to harvest your personal data, even if you’re not a user. Belgium decided to be the first country to take Facebook to court over its new data-gathering plan. And it’s only the beginning.
Watch out for retailers where your personal data is likely to be stolen
Nowadays we hear of retailers getting hit by data breaches on a regular basis. But how do we keep track of which ones, and whether or not your data is at risk? Kim Komando has made it easy. Here are the top retailers that likely had been hit. Check your credit cards!