Cortana - disposal

RobTang

pappa_golf wrote: »

I did not say that , I replied to your question "How do I prevent both Google and MS from spying on me ?"


I note you have been given a possible solution above

Yahoo uses Bing as part of its backend and loads and loads and loads and loads of site use Google analytics. You can be tracked by inference from your friends / family etc so even if you don't use these tools someone else you know probably will.


Only real solution to avoid tracking is to not use the internet (better still don't own a computer) and never have any friends of family.

Mr_Toad

50Twuncle wrote: »

No it most certainly is not MY friend
How do I prevent both Google and MS from spying on me ?

A lot of people swear by a tin foil hat or there are drugs for the paranoia.

What is it you're scared of 'them' finding out?

In my case all they'll find is that like most people I'm boringly average. They can dip their bread as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure they're ecstatic to know about the bits I buy for my boat or the new Scalextric Mk1 Ford Escort Monte Carlo rally car I've just bought via fleabay.

And, for what it's worth, I bought it because 'they' knew I'd been looking for one and popped an ad for me telling me it had just been listed asking me if I was still interested.

Also by now 'they' must be delighted to know that I like brown bread and free range eggs and consume higher than the national average of fish finger sandwiches. Oh, and the only people who'd benefit from reading my emails are insomniacs.

You're only playing at it. If you were that bothered you wouldn't have a computer or mobile or any other connected gadgetry. Your wallet would be devoid of plastic and you'd only use cash and never go anywhere that had CCTV.

50Twuncle

Mr_Toad wrote: »

A lot of people swear by a tin foil hat or there are drugs for the paranoia.

What is it you're scared of 'them' finding out?

In my case all they'll find is that like most people I'm boringly average. They can dip their bread as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure they're ecstatic to know about the bits I buy for my boat or the new Scalextric Mk1 Ford Escort Monte Carlo rally car I've just bought via fleabay.

And, for what it's worth, I bought it because 'they' knew I'd been looking for one and popped an ad for me telling me it had just been listed asking me if I was still interested.

Also by now 'they' must be delighted to know that I like brown bread and free range eggs and consume higher than the national average of fish finger sandwiches. Oh, and the only people who'd benefit from reading my emails are insomniacs.

You're only playing at it. If you were that bothered you wouldn't have a computer or mobile or any other connected gadgetry. Your wallet would be devoid of plastic and you'd only use cash and never go anywhere that had CCTV.

Whilst I have absolutely nothing to hide - I feel that, like most other people - my privacy is sacrosanct - why should anyone else be able to simply log in to find out where I am and what I am doing ?

Mr_Toad

50Twuncle wrote: »

Whilst I have absolutely nothing to hide - I feel that, like most other people - my privacy is sacrosanct - why should anyone else be able to simply log in to find out where I am and what I am doing ?

Who's logging in, and to what, to find out where you/we are?

And why would they? Most of us are creatures of habit and finding us isn't difficult, home, pub, friends, family etc.

I'm not having a go at you personally I'm genuinely interested in who it is you think 'they' are and why 'they' want to know where you are and what you're doing.

Your assertion that "like most other people - my privacy is sacrosanct" is clearly untrue. Most people don't mess about with their PC trying to hide their tracks, they buy it and use it, and they broadcast the whole of their life in pictures on social media. Even those like a friend of mine who doesn't use social media is all over the internet in various public forums, like this one so not difficult to find if you can be bothered.

50Twuncle

Mr_Toad wrote: »

Who's logging in, and to what, to find out where you/we are?

And why would they? Most of us are creatures of habit and finding us isn't difficult, home, pub, friends, family etc.

I'm not having a go at you personally I'm genuinely interested in who it is you think 'they' are and why 'they' want to know where you are and what you're doing.

Your assertion that "like most other people - my privacy is sacrosanct" is clearly untrue. Most people don't mess about with their PC trying to hide their tracks, they buy it and use it, and they broadcast the whole of their life in pictures on social media. Even those like a friend of mine who doesn't use social media is all over the internet in various public forums, like this one so not difficult to find if you can be bothered.

Would you leave your garage door open to let anyone wander in at will ?
Even if it was totally empty ?
That is the same as letting anyone have a look through all of the files on your PC - even if they PROMISE not to alter or copy anything !!

Mr_Toad

As it happens my garage doesn't lock, hasn't for years and both cars are still there and I doubt the lock on most garages would present much of a problem to anyone wanting to get in.

But you still haven't answered the questions.

Who is 'they'?

Why do you think they'd pick on you out of the millions of more interesting targets with a computer?

How do they 'simply' log in? Don't you have a password or any basic security or is it something obvious and therefore a waste of time?

And, once logged in how does it tell them where you are and what you're doing as per post #14?

kwikbreaks

Mr_Toad wrote: »

Who is 'they'?

For the most part advertisers and people selling marketing information.

RumRat

kwikbreaks wrote: »

For the most part advertisers and people selling marketing information.

??? When does that happen then?

Mr_Toad

kwikbreaks wrote: »

For the most part advertisers and people selling marketing information.

No, advertisers do not, to quote the OP, 'simply log in' nor do they 'look through all the files on your PC'.

What they do is analyse your browsing to target the sort of ads they push at us.

They can do this as much as they like as far as I'm concerned as it's very easy to deal with. I have ad blockers in my browser and my email providers junk filter deals with the emails. I see almost no spam and haven't for a long time and my browsing is uninterrupted by pop ups and adverts.

kwikbreaks

Agreed. Advertisers merely spy on browsing habits if you let them then display ads based on that - again if you let them. It's HMG who have the technology to simply log in and look through all your files if Snowden is to be believed and he likely is. I seriously doubt that HMG target the subjects for their snooping randomly or employ enough snoopers for that to be much of a threat to the majority though.

I regard blocking the advertiser snooping more of a hobby than a necessity and don't doubt that my own efforts are far short of 100%. Still doesn't stop me trying of course.