Sometimes it feels like the concept of privacy has disappeared from the world. Advertisers certainly seem to know everything about you, and your phone's microphone is on, making you think that marketers are actively listening to your every tweet. We will provide you with the most accurate advertisements.
They still aren't. However, they are engaged in something called “data mining”. It is a process that collects vast amounts of anonymous data from all your connected activities and analyzes that data to infiltrate advertising and other influences into your life. And it's not just American companies. Criminals can mine your data to steal money from you.
If it bothers you, and it should, you can take some steps to minimize data mining in your life. You can't completely escape this danger, unless you plan to live off-grid with zero internet connectivity, but you can reduce your exposure.After all, it is your You don't get paid for your data, and it's creepy that an anonymous marketing team knows you're into RPGs and craft beer.
Please read the EULA
One of the biggest vectors for data mining is smartphones, especially the apps installed on them. Each time you install an app, you agree to its terms, including the End User License Agreement (EULA) and other requirements.
Your first line of defense against data mining is to take the time to review your EULA. It's not negotiable, but if you're being asked for blanket permission to send data back to the mothership, you might at least look for alternatives. The main warning signs that this app is just a data mining device are that it does not monitor your internet activity, explicitly collect personal information, or use your computer or device for its own purposes. This means that you are giving permission to do so. If something gives you pause, think twice before agreeing.
Check settings
When you install an app on your device, you'll likely click a set of permissions to give the app access to everything it needs to collect data about you. This is a data mining treasure trove.
For example, a study a few years ago found that about 5,400 apps were siphoning data (1.5 gigs of data in total) from just one person's smartphone. And back in 2017, an app maker called Alphonso was caught enabling smartphone microphones to track what people were watching on TV.
If an app requires a lot of unnecessary permissions (do games really need access to your microphone, location, and camera?), you should assume it's more of a data mining app than anything else. Your next line of defense is to stop installing junk apps and spend that money. All apps are trying to get money from you, and if you haven't paid upfront, you're probably paying in other ways, like deleting your data.
get bored socially
Social media is clearly a trash can when it comes to privacy. You're literally posting a photo of yourself in a store with the hashtag #LiveToShop, so it shouldn't be a surprise if ads for that store start popping up all over your life.
If you're concerned about data mining, you can take a few simple steps to reduce data miners' access to your social media.
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Set your profile to private. If your primary purpose on social media is to connect with friends and colleagues, limit your posts to just those people.
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Be a snob. You don't have to accept every request you receive for a connection. If you don't know the person, there's no need to include them in your inner circle.
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discretion. Don't overtly promote your travel plans, spending habits, or product reviews.
Using social media can infringe on your privacy, but at least you can easily opt out if you're mindful of the information data miners ask for.
Logout
When you log into a platform like Google or Facebook, it's very easy for that platform to track your actions. As long as you're signed in, your functionality will remain even if you leave the site. These companies are actually data mining companies and have perfected the technology to track users.
This is annoying, but logging out when you're not actively using these services (and clearing your cookies and browsing history regularly) can slow down the process of vacuuming your data. While this is inconvenient by design, it has a significant impact on how much information is mined from your online activity.
avoid memes
Data mining is not just for advertisers to sell products. Scammers can also obtain your personal information and weaponize it for use in blinding you, identity theft, or identity theft. after that I will rob you of your blindness.
One easy way to do this is to wait to respond to phishing memes. These memes look like innocent, fun quizzes where you enter some seemingly innocuous personal information and get a laugh in return. Common examples include posting your “porn name” (a combination of answers to common secret questions such as middle name and first car model) or using the last digit of your phone number to This includes performing magical magic.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to avoid data mining by phishing memes. It's about ignoring the meme. In any case, your life will actually gradually improve.
technology solutions
One of the most effective ways to reduce your exposure to data mining requires a little more effort. There are a variety of privacy tools that can actually stop the flow of data into the unquenchable black hole that is marketing.
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VPN. Virtual private networks help protect your privacy by obfuscating your location and IP address. many It becomes difficult for data miners to collate the data obtained. Because the data appears to come from a wide range of random locations, it's impossible to build a consistent profile of preferences and habits. Installing her VPN on your computer, phone, or device will go a long way in cutting off the flow of your personal information.
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Tor. The Tor browser routes your web surfing traffic through many encrypted nodes, making it essentially impossible to track your movements on the Internet. If you really want to go into the dark, pair Tor with a VPN and you'll be virtually invisible. If you're not ready to use Tor as your everyday browser, use a privacy-focused browser like DuckDuckGo or Brave, or at least adjust your browser's privacy settings to make it as secure as possible.
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Ad blocker. Almost every website you visit tracks your activities and collects data about you. Using a privacy browser is an effective way to curb it, but ad blocking plugins can go a step further by completely denying intrusive access to your browsing experience.