Techsurvivors
Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: jchuzi on July 03, 2019, 05:52:45 AM
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IMHO, the Constitution should be amended to insure a right to privacy. Here's the latest (new to me, at least): ‘Fingerprinting’ to Track Us Online Is on the Rise. Here’s What to Do. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/03/technology/personaltech/fingerprinting-track-devices-what-to-do.html)
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Hasn't this been a problem for years? The only difference is the speed and form of the intrusion. Years ago you'd go to local dress shop (or any kind of shop), sign up for a monthly mailer or allow them to keep a file on your sizes and preferences, and soon your mailbox was being bombarded with mail from dress, shoes, etc, companies. Why? Because the local dress shop sold their customer list.
Yes, it was harder. A mailer had to be typed/printed, then folded, stuffed into an envelope (which might have been hand addressed or done on a machine), a stamp was licked, the flap of the envelope was licked and it was dropped at the PO. If the company had enough, they had a bulk license; if not, it was first class.
Then came credit cards, and the junk mail in the box exploded. Soon we had cards for discounts at the local grocery store, and more junk mail arrived.
Now we have electronic devices, and other then it's easier -- it's no different. Do we absolutely NEED these electronic devices? No. I know loads of folks who don't have any electronic gadgets, and some don't even have credit cards, and they are quite happy with their lives. It's a choice each of us makes.
I'm aware I'm $$ to credit card companies, Apple, sites I visit, faceplant, twitter, etc -- but I’m okay with it. If I ever get annoyed enough, I'll stop using/visiting and go back to a quieter time in my life. I imagine I'll be just as happy, if not happier.
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I have never, ever had any junk mail from folks wanting to sell me dresses! Our local dress shop is much more customer respectful for that kind of thing!!!
The collecting of data is not new, but there are lots of folks who have no idea it is even happening. I know that's hard to believe, but it is true. And many of these people are much younger and use their mobile devices more than you can imagine and still have no idea of what is happening. I suppose it is the tendency to trust others as much as you think they trust you. Many never learn that there are folks who are not trustworthy enough to clean your windshield much less hold your credit card!
Being aware that we are the profit center for the likes of FB, Twit, etc. is one thing. But not being concerned about who and how our information is being handled is much different and dangerous. Meanwhile the 800lb gorilla is vacuuming up data from not just our purchasing patterns but also from their access to the files/data that hundreds of companies keep on their vast AWS machines. Usually, those companies don't even know it!
Of course, Apple, Mozilla, government, etc. are always playing 'catch-up'. So it is important to inform ourselves about what is going on and how we can keep as much control over our privacy as possible.
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Many never learn that there are folks who are not trustworthy enough to clean your windshield much less hold your credit card!
On our recent vacation in the US, we were very surprised when some places asked us to sign paper slips for card payments. It's so long since I've had to do that in the UK I struggled to recall my signature :D .
Even small shops here will present a hand terminal so that you either swipe the card over the reader (up to 30GBP) or slot it in and key in your PIN. The card never needs to leave my hand.
However, I continue to decline offers of an app for banking through my iPhone...
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Theoretically, all cards except Visa, should not be asking for signatures any longer in the US of A. But that probably requires a US bank as the issuer; you never know who really owns those furin' places!!!
I might as well not have the "Please check ID" as my 'sig' on the back! :whistling: :dntknw: When the occasional clerk does ask for "ID" I tell them that I stole the card and the ID at the same time. The hard part is finding someone as ugly as me! :rofl: :laughhard:
As for our youth and their 'education', I know of a person who proudly stated that they got their taxes done "for free" by the major 'tax preparer' in the US. They didn't seem to know that they could have picked up the paper form (half a page?) at many supermarkets and libraries. And they would not have added any of her important personal info to any data bank. :wallbash: There are still 'educated' people who think there are some free things in life! :WOW:
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Theoretically, all cards except Visa, should not be asking for signatures any longer in the US of A.
Can you point to a source for this information? In my small area, there are very few places with the swipe machines, and most of those also require me to either sign a paper receipt to formalize the transaction, or to sign on their computerized terminal. Hasn't mattered whether I use a Visa or Mastercard.
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I will search for that info, I don't remember exactly where I read it last year. Of course, ones credit record may cause different experiences... :p
Most of the card readers that allow reading 'chipped' cards have to be paid for by the merchant. Smaller more rural places stores may decide to just keep using the old slide readers. I have actually seen a multi-layer, self-printing, rubber roller, manual card copying machine in use last December! :Look: :D
Signature info links:
https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/signing-off-mastercard-moves-beyond-signatures-worldwide/ (https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/signing-off-mastercard-moves-beyond-signatures-worldwide/)
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10691-no-signature-credit-card-transactions.html (https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10691-no-signature-credit-card-transactions.html)
https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/signatures-soon-may-not-be-required.php (https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/signatures-soon-may-not-be-required.php)
https://fortune.com/2018/04/10/credit-card-signatures/ (https://fortune.com/2018/04/10/credit-card-signatures/)
Gotta go, the 39th National Independence Day celebration is about to start! :fireworks: