How many years you lived? How many more you think you'll do? Is not the next day that should worry you, but all the ones from there onwards. And the people you will care about, including the ones that survives you. The thing is that you don't know what could happen, but digital records are there for the future, and what happens on it, different policies, different social trends, different governments and so on. Thing…
Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
51–60 of 65 posts
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#52I agree with your lack of motivation because ultimately everything is connected so there cannot be any privacy actually. One thing this means is that privacy is egoity and the ego is a mental fabrication, totally illusory, however of convenience with a body in the world. In other words, don't worry about it. There is an assumption of practical common sense along with this viewpoint. Namely there is no expectation of…
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#53This is a totally acceptable attitude. It’s your data, you can give it away or sell it or whatever. It’s your choice. It matters to me so I pay attention to news about products and companies with regard to privacy. Privacy, like free speech, is a universal human right. The fact that you choose to share information doesn’t mean you lose that right. Any more than not speaking does not mean you lose the right to free sp…
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#54I think it's important to take time and think about some of the potential outcomes of bulk data collection. Take this for example: there is currently a trend in the insurance industry to require an activity tracking device in order to activate certain life insurance plan discounts and other benefits. The data pulled from the activity trackers is almost certainly going to be used to enhance profitability for insurance…
From what you said though, it sounds like when you opt out of data tracking, you're at a disadvantage from those who are being tracked. (i.e. those being activity-tracked and proved to be healthy get lower insurance premiums) This seems to be the opposite of what OP wants -- be motivated to stop being tracked. At a higher level view, this appears to be a prisoner's dilemma. If everyone opts out, everyone is eventuall…
It's a super tough sell for most people though, so the majority is likely going to just opt in, or remain opted in by default. Which I suppose means that we should all just try to reap whatever benefits we can now and wish our future selves all the best when it comes time to legislate this whole thing.
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am afraid grocery stores will start this. (Or perhaps they already do.) Virtual sales for certain people for specific products. But it is hard not to pass up the huge savings the "bonus" card gets you.
Kroger does this with their Kroger card. They send you coupons for things in your purchase history, and similar items they think you might like.
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#56Real time pricing and personalized pricing. The more marketers learn about you, the more they will be able to set custom prices for you that may not be in your benefit. Think airline tickets, that's the model people are after. What if I told you that in 10 minutes you could get most of the way to great privacy without leaving Google services or social networks at all? Also your pages will load faster, you will be pay…
Ok, pricing thing is scary. 1. Interesting 2. I've it installed already 3. How does vpn help? 4. Does having safari, help? 5. I use safari as default. does that work? 6. I don't use FB, Twitter. Only Youtube, Gmail
4. What you are trying to do is clear cookies and history regularly so trackers can't vacuum that data up. You can probably set similar defaults in Safari but I don't know how.
5. I advocate for Firefox because they have protections against browser's fingerprinting. I don't know if Safari has these, you would have to check.
6. You should use encrypted chat, it doesn't really matter which you choose.
This is a pretty great video which walks through everything I just said and more in 15 minutes: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gFsRXfifcYg
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok, pricing thing is scary. 1. Interesting 2. I've it installed already 3. How does vpn help? 4. Does having safari, help? 5. I use safari as default. does that work? 6. I don't use FB, Twitter. Only Youtube, Gmail
3. VPN helps by obfuscating IP address which is one way you can be tracked. 4. What you are trying to do is clear cookies and history regularly so trackers can't vacuum that data up. You can probably set similar defaults in Safari but I don't know how. 5. I advocate for Firefox because they have protections against browser's fingerprinting. I don't know if Safari has these, you would have to check. 6. You should use…
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#58The thing is, it probably won't affect your life. There's millions of people willingly giving up their information to the internet, and it's not like every single one of them, or even a majority, will face any consequences. But what if you suddenly decided to change the world and become a politician? Well, I sure hope you never directly googled for some particular genre of pornography, specially if it's something tha…
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#59i cant, others have tried to convince me and i know how to do security very well, ive set up many a system for friends who are the sort of people who put tape over their cameras (why do you do this people? an image of your gormless mug staring at a screen is no use to anyone, if you want to do something more useful disable or remove your microphone) even if anyone had all my info they couldnt really do much with it,…
Re: Ask HN: I'm not motivated enough to take privacy seriously
#60You don't understand all the complexities in how legislation is created or why the executive does certain things. You may have disagreements with many of those laws and actions — if not now, you will the next time power changes hands/parties. How can you prevent yourself from being manipulated all the time ? How can you prevent yourself from being extorted or blackmailed for something society (or your circle) doesn't…