With privacy being such a hot topic, what is your stance with different devices?

[gc15]

I am curious to see what opinions you all have in the change we are seeing today with privacy? What do you do to protect your private information from the different tech companies, especially ones like Google/Facebook, etc.

I know I stay away from Facebook as much as possible because I personally just can not stand the website. Google on the other hand I have mixed feelings for, because they have such awesome products/phones that I do enjoy using, but I hate being their guinea pig for advertisements. Plus some of the stuff Google now has is crazy big brother. Sometimes I wonder if my information is truly encrypted on my device.

 

[Klyster]

I'm very blase when it comes to privacy. On Facebook, I'm not me so I don't worry too much about it. I might get stung one day but I can't be bothered stressing out about my personal privacy, if I get too worried I'll just smash my devices and become a luddite.

I can't wrap my head around people who post everything they do on Facebook without using a pseudonym.

 

[MRU]

It's an oxymoron.

Essentially people want free services such as YouTube, Google Photos & Gmail, people want in general social media ...

At the same time many will complain about privacy.

Essentially the price you pay for living in a society where you can avail of these myriad of services and social media sharing hubs is your data being mined and evaluated for ads and general info / marketing & research analysis.

If you want to live off piste then fine give up all these free services and cocoon yourself, but the energy you will spend trying to achieve that seems utterly pointless.

The million gigs of stuff posted generally on the internet & stored in cloud services each day is not of interest to anyone other than research analysis groups wanting to target advertising in a more responsive way or work out generic research from our demographics.

If your really concerned then you could always go the way of DARK NET ... and if you are the type to go down that road, i think its we (sharing food snaps and social media posts) that should be more worried about why your going off piste and what you are attempting to conceal on the DARK NET

 

[Tsepz]

If you want privacy, get off the internet, cut up your bank cards, throw your phone out and get off the grid in general.

Honestly, almost any company you give your details to seems to sell it on.

 

[jamezr]

It's an oxymoron.

Essentially people want free services such as YouTube, Google Photos & Gmail, people want in general social media ...

At the same time many will complain about privacy.

Essentially the price you pay for living in a society where you can avail of these myriad of services and social media sharing hubs is your data being mined and evaluated for ads and general info / marketing & research analysis.

If you want to live off piste then fine give up all these free services and cocoon yourself, but the energy you will spend trying to achieve that seems utterly pointless.

The million gigs of stuff posted generally on the internet & stored in cloud services each day is not of interest to anyone other than research analysis groups wanting to target advertising in a more responsive way or work out generic research from our demographics.

If your really concerned then you could always go the way of DARK NET ... and if you are the type to go down that road, i think its we (sharing food snaps and social media posts) that should be more worried about why your going off piste and what you are attempting to conceal on the DARK NET

Areed with all you said!
Then if you do travel down the DARK NET rabbit hole.....beware of those that are with you. They are there for a reason. They might be more a threat to your privacy/security than the Facebook crowd.

 

[0007776]

I dont care if companies use my information to give me more relevant advertisements. As for sites like Facebook I set the privacy settings as high as they go and assume that anything that I post is publiclly available.

 

[Savor]

In Google I trust.

Yeah, right!

Actually I don't really care for the privacy concerns but I don't use Facebook. Waste of time in my eyes.

Watch the 60 Minutes on hacking into phones. Hackers can even hack into your front camera and see what you are doing while the screen is off. Everyone is vulnerable and hackable. Remember all the actresses who got their iCloud account hacked for their nude selfies? Or how about when Sony's PlayStation Network got hacked?

Gullible to think that ANY specific platform or company is safer over the other. The best way to not be vulnerable is to turn off your phone AND unplug your computer. Log off at everything and be as anonymous as you can. Nobody is ever truly safe when going online.

 

[I7guy]

In Google I trust.

Yeah, right!

Actually I don't really care for the privacy concerns but I don't use Facebook. Waste of time in my eyes.

Watch the 60 Minutes on hacking into phones. Hackers can even hack into your front camera and see what you are doing while the screen is off. Everyone is vulnerable and hackable. Remember all the actresses who got their iCloud account hacked for their nude selfies? Or how about when Sony's PlayStation Network got hacked?

Gullible to think that ANY specific platform or company is safer over the other. The best way to not be vulnerable is to turn off your phone AND unplug your computer. Log off at everything and be as anonymous as you can. Nobody is ever truly safe when going online.

iCloud is NOT your phone and Apple didn't secure it properly. Today with 2fa and trusted devices you cannot hack iCloud. Unless the nsa tampered with your iPhone or its jail broken it cannot be hacked while on your person. Not referring to the LE stingray towers or the government surveillance programs.

 

[jamezr]

iCloud is NOT your phone and Apple didn't secure it properly. Today with 2fa and trusted devices you cannot hack iCloud. Unless the nsa tampered with your iPhone or its jail broken it cannot be hacked while on your person. Not referring to the LE stingray towers or the government surveillance programs.

First link on google search
Apple iCloud Hacked: Millions Of iOS 8.3 Passwords Targeted As Part Of White Hat Security Research Effort
http://www.ibtimes.com/apple-icloud...ords-targeted-part-white-hat-security-1960278

 

[Phoenixx]

I used to be a lot more worried about online privacy than I am these days. I came to the conclusion that although companies are collecting a lot of data, it is far better protected online than anywhere else. In addition, companies don't have people looking at your data at all, it is analyzed by computers using automated processes.

If you are worried about privacy, you would be far better to lock yourself at home and have as little to do with other people, as possible - that's where the privacy concerns really lie, not with data that is encrypted, only looked at by a machine, and stored in largely impenetrable data centers.
[doublepost=1467377673][/doublepost]

In Google I trust.

Yeah, right!.....Gullible to think that ANY specific platform or company is safer over the other. The best way to not be vulnerable is to turn off your phone AND unplug your computer. Log off at everything and be as anonymous as you can. Nobody is ever truly safe when going online.

Personally, the company I trust the least with my data is APPLE. Why? Because they aren't up front about what data they are collecting, don't allow me to access a list of what they have and allow me to remove anything, have minimal privacy options, and don't give any indication about how they are protecting my data in their data centers. In addition, their very public stance on privacy is largely a marketing ploy. If they were REALLY concerned about it, we would have client side encryption on everything, including iCloud, and a built in and automatic VPN on every device.

 

[I7guy]

First link on google search
Apple iCloud Hacked: Millions Of iOS 8.3 Passwords Targeted As Part Of White Hat Security Research Effort
http://www.ibtimes.com/apple-icloud...ords-targeted-part-white-hat-security-1960278

Thank you for supporting this exact point with that article written one year ago.

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/gmail-hacked-not-quite-says-google-change-your-password-n200571
[doublepost=1467379816][/doublepost]

I used to be a lot more worried about online privacy than I am these days. I came to the conclusion that although companies are collecting a lot of data, it is far better protected online than anywhere else. In addition, companies don't have people looking at your data at all, it is analyzed by computers using automated processes.

If you are worried about privacy, you would be far better to lock yourself at home and have as little to do with other people, as possible - that's where the privacy concerns really lie, not with data that is encrypted, only looked at by a machine, and stored in largely impenetrable data centers.
[doublepost=1467377673][/doublepost]

Personally, the company I trust the least with my data is APPLE. Why? Because they aren't up front about what data they are collecting, don't allow me to access a list of what they have and allow me to remove anything, have minimal privacy options, and don't give any indication about how they are protecting my data in their data centers. In addition, their very public stance on privacy is largely a marketing ploy. If they were REALLY concerned about it, we would have client side encryption on everything, including iCloud, and a built in and automatic VPN on every device.

With Apple you are the customer with Google you are the product. I don't see any difference between the two companies given the preceding sentence, other than Apple has a campaign to let people know they care about security. Whether you believe its marketing is up to you and the remainder of your post is just meh after IF they really...

 

[jamezr]

Thank you for supporting this exact point with that article written one year ago.

A hack does not mean the hacker compromised the integrity of the technology. A hack can be a way of socially engineering a person to give you their information. This is the way most peoples information is compromised. Any and all things can be hacked. Especially with a combination of both an exploit and social engineering.

so this statement below is not correct as anything can be hacked

iCloud is NOT your phone and Apple didn't secure it properly. Today with 2fa and trusted devices you cannot hack iCloud. Unless the nsa tampered with your iPhone or its jail broken it cannot be hacked while on your person. Not referring to the LE stingray towers or the government surveillance programs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICloud_leaks_of_celebrity_photos


http://bgr.com/2016/03/16/jennifer-lawrence-nudes-icloud-hack/

Apple explained at the time that its iCloud security was not breached and that hackers probably employed phishing schemes to obtain the usernames and passwords from their victims.

 

[I7guy]

A hack does not mean the hacker compromised the integrity of the technology. A hack can be a way of socially engineering a person to give you their information. This is the way most peoples information is compromised. Any and all things can be hacked. Especially with a combination of both an exploit and social engineering.

so this statement below is not correct as anything can be hacked


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICloud_leaks_of_celebrity_photos


http://bgr.com/2016/03/16/jennifer-lawrence-nudes-icloud-hack/

We are not talking social engineering at least I wasn't and you agreed with your post of a brute force attack for the first link. You changed the goal posts, sure if I give you my Passcodes, phone and user ID you have free reign. This is a discussion about brute force attacks, which is consistent with the first link you posted.

For JL probably wouldn't have happened if 2fa was turned on, so it's a user security issue combined with social engineering.

 

[jamezr]

We are not talking social engineering at least I wasn't and you agreed with your post of a brute force attack for the first link. You changed the goal posts, sure if I give you my Passcodes, phone and user ID you have free reign. This is a discussion about brute force attacks, which is consistent with the first link you posted.

For JL probably wouldn't have happened if 2fa was turned on, so it's a user security issue combined with social engineering.

But whether you give me your passwords or not it is still a hack. I didn't change the goal posts at all.
I still stand by my statement that any and all things can be hacked. A hack can be multiple things.
Security is only as good as the person using it.

It was not a brute force hack discussion......
You said iCloud could not be hacked...............I disagree. Anything can be hacked.

 

[Surf Donkey]

Anyone knows what goes on with Apple's account recovery? Holy **** it is painful. Is that because it is secure, or because they just don't have proper processes in place?

I reset my iPad because it was becoming mind numbing-ly slow. The phone number on my account went to an old phone number I don't have. So they couldn't text or call my 2fa. So I provided my credit card details, zip code and new phone number and it went into recovery.

It took THREE BUSINESS DAYS to get my link at my new number to reset my account! What is going on here? Manual fraud protection? Some other type of review? Joe Genius just manually processing a queue of requests?

 

[I7guy]

But whether you give me your passwords or not it is still a hack. I didn't change the goal posts at all.
I still stand by my statement that any and all things can be hacked. A hack can be multiple things.
Security is only as good as the person using it.

It was not a brute force hack discussion......
You said iCloud could not be hacked...............I disagree. Anything can be hacked.

Sure it was a brute force hack discussions, you started it with the link you posted and ended up discussing social engineering. However in that instance if someone had applied proper security it wouldn't have happened. Saying anything can be hacked can't be disproven, but it also doesn't take in account infinite resources are not at our disposal.

 

[jamezr]

Sure it was a brute force hack discussions, you started it with the link you posted and ended up discussing social engineering. However in that instance if someone had applied proper security it wouldn't have happened. Saying anything can be hacked can't be disproven, but it also doesn't take in account infinite resources are not at our disposal.

Nope our discussion started with you stating iCloud could not be hacked. I have disproven that already with links and new articles. Hacks do not have to be brute force....such a misnomer that a hacker is some guy pounding away on a keyboard hacking some system. Its much more sophisticated and multi pronged using a multitude of angles. Anything can be hacked and your right it can't be disproven....because it is true.

 

[I7guy]

Nope our discussion started with you stating iCloud could not be hacked. I have disproven that already with links and new articles. Hacks do not have to be brute force....such a misnomer that a hacker is some guy pounding away on a keyboard hacking some system. Its much more sophisticated and multi pronged using a multitude of angles. Anything can be hacked and your right it can't be disproven....because it is true.

iCloud cannot be hacked, it could have been hacked a year and a half ago, but it can't be hacked today in the same way. There is no brute force way to hack iCloud and if 2fa is applied even social engineering won't help.

And just because something is true doesn't mean it's probable or even possible or realistic correlation and causation and logic and all that stuff.

 

[jamezr]

iCloud cannot be hacked, it could have been hacked a year and a half ago, but it can't be hacked today in the same way. There is no brute force way to hack iCloud and if 2fa is applied even social engineering won't help.

And just because something is true doesn't mean it's probable or even possible or realistic correlation and causation and logic and all that stuff.

nope disagree icloud can be hacked and they don't have to do it the same way. Systems with better security are hacked daily. Again it doesn't have to be with brute force.....they don't have to compromise the technology. There are many moving parts and anything can be hacked. Governments are being hacked daily....The US Gov has been hacked several times by other governments. Do you not think their security is better than Apple's tech?


https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...006cb4-316e-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles...acked-again-and-what-the-feds-can-do-about-it

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/fb...oup-has-had-access-to-us-govt-files-for-years

 

[HiDEF]

Been following closely US Politics and I am disappointed that Google was scrubbing search terms. No matter the reason, information shouldn't be hidden from the people. So as of late, been using my iPhone and trying to avoid using Google services as much as possible.

Edit: I will admit, though, as I typed the above, I have been eyeing the OPO3. We'll see what happens.

 

[xaqt93]

I will say, that tech is tech. As of right now, we have not created one thing is impossible to hack. I will say, iCloud is definitely incredibly difficult. Social Engenering is really the only way to get into iCloud these days. Not saying other ways wouldn't be possible, just saying it would be close to impossible. And as of the Governemtns security being better than Apples, I'm not saying I disagree, I'm just saying that in the world of tech, the government doesn't have the best like it used too. Tech companies are creating there own means of security and protection. To be honest, who ever has better security is anyone's guess.

 

[I7guy]

nope disagree icloud can be hacked and they don't have to do it the same way. Systems with better security are hacked daily. Again it doesn't have to be with brute force.....they don't have to compromise the technology. There are many moving parts and anything can be hacked. Governments are being hacked daily....The US Gov has been hacked several times by other governments. Do you not think their security is better than Apple's tech?


https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...006cb4-316e-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles...acked-again-and-what-the-feds-can-do-about-it

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/fb...oup-has-had-access-to-us-govt-files-for-years

Those don't really bolster your case. Saying anything can be hacked is like saying your gonna die.

Somebody naive enough to give up their credentials or social engineering some obscure email address is way different than a brute force attack. They need to be differentiated because in one instance you can be smart about it, the other Instance is out of your control. I do t think we will agree of the scope of the definition of hacked, it's far too broad a word to be useful in this context.

 

[jamezr]

Those don't really bolster your case. Saying anything can be hacked is like saying your gonna die.

Somebody naive enough to give up their credentials or social engineering some obscure email address is way different than a brute force attack. They need to be differentiated because in one instance you can be smart about it, the other Instance is out of your control. I do t think we will agree of the scope of the definition of hacked, it's far too broad a word to be useful in this context.

lol....saying iCloud can't be hacked is like saying ...I'm never gonna die....
I can play hyperbole too.....
There is only the one definition of hacked......and it fits exactly into the discussion. Your original statement was icloud could not be hacked. But it has been in the past and it will again.

 

[Vegastouch]

I am curious to see what opinions you all have in the change we are seeing today with privacy? What do you do to protect your private information from the different tech companies, especially ones like Google/Facebook, etc.

I know I stay away from Facebook as much as possible because I personally just can not stand the website. Google on the other hand I have mixed feelings for, because they have such awesome products/phones that I do enjoy using, but I hate being their guinea pig for advertisements. Plus some of the stuff Google now has is crazy big brother. Sometimes I wonder if my information is truly encrypted on my device.

Best way is to NOT use a device at all and it doesnt really matter which one you get. I really like Googles services so im fine with it.

 

[I7guy]

lol....saying iCloud can't be hacked is like saying ...I'm never gonna die....
I can play hyperbole too.....
There is only the one definition of hacked......and it fits exactly into the discussion. Your original statement was icloud could not be hacked. But it has been in the past and it will again.

She begat is your definition of hacked? If you give your neighbor your alarm code and keys and he goes in and steals your stuff was your house hacked? giving away your credentials is far and away different than taking advantage of a security loophole; you seem to be lumping them together...but okay your definition is your definition.