Live data from Hacker News

When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

news.harvard.edu

151–160 of 264 posts

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well it definitely put the nail in the coffin of social media (except HN) for me. I was already creeped out after the Snowden revelations but hearing Schneier in person was like a smack to the face. I use DuckDuckGo instead of Google in most cases, and I avoid Facebook (and particularly Messenger) unless absolutely necessary, and I have become much more conscious of my online activity.

Why particularly Messenger?

Facebook is a glorified address book. Messenger is a convenient way to get in touch with friends from outside the United States, because we aren't always on Skype and regular cell/SMS costs money.

But nowadays Messenger is more of a way to start by saying "let's Skype"

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps this is a good reason to have some sort of technocracy element to the federal government. I lean extremely far right, but in this case, this seems like one of the few things that the federal government should be doing-- breaking up stout monopolies that can't be competed with. I'm unfamiliar with the decision, but why split up a company like Microsoft in 1999, but leave Facebook and Google alone?

"I lean extremely far right, but in this case, this seems like one of the few things that the federal government should be doing-- breaking up stout monopolies that can't be competed with." Doesn't sound like you are far right at all then. I'm wondering if we're actually a good judge of our own political leaning. I think that I'm libertarian (little 'l'), but Facebook ad policy thinks I'm far left . Maybe Facebook kn…

The original libertarians were actually far left. There is a large portion of the left that hates the State as much as American "Libertarians" do, but from a different perspective (which I believe is far more consistent). It seems to surprise a lot of Americans to learn that you can be socialist and libertarian at the same time:

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

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#153
post #60

"Opting out doesn’t work. It’s nonsense to tell people not to carry a credit card or not to have an email address. And “buyer beware” is putting too much onus on the individual. People don’t test their food for pathogens or their airlines for safety." This is a brilliant line and it works so well because he is absolutely right: it should not be on the burden of the consumer to make sure their products are safe, be it…

>I don't know what needs to happen for people to get outraged, but privacy needs to be a mainstream political issue.

Almost totally orthogonal to discussions about how bad lack of privacy is getting, but the answer to the question posed is certainly any tangibly bad results of lack of privacy in my everyday life, ever. Which there really are none, so far. Certainly none that the average person would attribute to lack of privacy.

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#154
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> money talks >>> representatives that are supposed to care You can do the math.

I think there's more to it than that. A significant portion of the public sincerely believes that the government should not regulate anything.

Yeah - its not an easy statement...

For your privacy protections you must fill out the proper regulations in triplicate:

* Be white

* Be American* (all restrictions apply)

* Be not poor

* Be ignorant (Provision already covered under the US Department of Education, so likely you qualify if you dont meet "not poor" provision)

* Do not understand politics

* etc other factors

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#155
post #60

"Opting out doesn’t work. It’s nonsense to tell people not to carry a credit card or not to have an email address. And “buyer beware” is putting too much onus on the individual. People don’t test their food for pathogens or their airlines for safety." This is a brilliant line and it works so well because he is absolutely right: it should not be on the burden of the consumer to make sure their products are safe, be it…

> Perhaps we need to see what Google and Facebook actually have on us...

Maybe we should hit them where it hurts by actively promoting and cajoling friends and family to use adblockers. Collect all the information you want, Big Internet, but good luck monetizing it.

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#156

I appreciate Bruce Schneier's pragmatism and his acknowledgement that the problem is bigger than an individual can reasonably be expected to solve, if that individual wishes to participate in modern society. Too often, privacy concerns are met with, "Use Tails + Tor + a hosts file + a burner phone + a burner laptop, etc. etc." But Grandma isn't going to do that, and frankly neither am I. While an individual chooses t…

One particularly horrifying example of this is dating. In Brooklyn where I live, dating has moved online so thoroughly that many women I've talked to simply refuse to consider men they meet in person as potential partners. It's definitely still possible to date the old fashioned way, but it's obviously more difficult. I don't date online, but I've been blessed with fairly good looks, a successful career, and decent s…

How old are you / the women in the demographic you are talking about, if you do not mind me asking?

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#157

I appreciate Bruce Schneier's pragmatism and his acknowledgement that the problem is bigger than an individual can reasonably be expected to solve, if that individual wishes to participate in modern society. Too often, privacy concerns are met with, "Use Tails + Tor + a hosts file + a burner phone + a burner laptop, etc. etc." But Grandma isn't going to do that, and frankly neither am I. While an individual chooses t…

One particularly horrifying example of this is dating. In Brooklyn where I live, dating has moved online so thoroughly that many women I've talked to simply refuse to consider men they meet in person as potential partners. It's definitely still possible to date the old fashioned way, but it's obviously more difficult. I don't date online, but I've been blessed with fairly good looks, a successful career, and decent s…

> many women I've talked to simply refuse to consider men they meet in person as potential partners.

There's no way for me to phrase this question without it sounding very insulting, so I apologize in advance, but - is this something women have told you, or are you inferring this from being turned down by women you meet in real life?

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One particularly horrifying example of this is dating. In Brooklyn where I live, dating has moved online so thoroughly that many women I've talked to simply refuse to consider men they meet in person as potential partners. It's definitely still possible to date the old fashioned way, but it's obviously more difficult. I don't date online, but I've been blessed with fairly good looks, a successful career, and decent s…

If you are planning on sleeping with them I find it quite curious that you do not want them to know who you are.

There's a difference between getting to know a prospective partner and loading your personal information into a computer system so it can automatically match you with potential partners (and also do who-knows-what-else).

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One particularly horrifying example of this is dating. In Brooklyn where I live, dating has moved online so thoroughly that many women I've talked to simply refuse to consider men they meet in person as potential partners. It's definitely still possible to date the old fashioned way, but it's obviously more difficult. I don't date online, but I've been blessed with fairly good looks, a successful career, and decent s…

If you are planning on sleeping with them I find it quite curious that you do not want them to know who you are.

[deleted]

Re: When it comes to internet privacy, be afraid, analyst suggests

#160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One particularly horrifying example of this is dating. In Brooklyn where I live, dating has moved online so thoroughly that many women I've talked to simply refuse to consider men they meet in person as potential partners. It's definitely still possible to date the old fashioned way, but it's obviously more difficult. I don't date online, but I've been blessed with fairly good looks, a successful career, and decent s…

> many women I've talked to simply refuse to consider men they meet in person as potential partners. There's no way for me to phrase this question without it sounding very insulting, so I apologize in advance, but - is this something women have told you, or are you inferring this from being turned down by women you meet in real life?

It's something women have told me. Women have good reasons; it's much safer to vet people online before you risk interaction in places that you go in your day-to-day. What I said should not be construed as a criticism of women's choices to date online. If anything, I think online dating is the way of the future; I just hope it moves toward decentralized models that give people more control of who they share their information with.
Post reply on HN