I, too, have been paying attention to the news. Not good for so many people.
In particular, I'm following the story about Facebook. I have many idiotic relatives as 'friends' on facebook and they are always doing the stupid surveys. I've given up warning them that the information they give can be used to profile them or even steal identity. The news this time mentioned that it wasn't just the info from the people doing the survey but that of their
facebook friends which really spooked me.
I went through my privacy settings once more and realize I wouldn't have been handed over because I don't allow sharing of my info when my friends are using apps (yes, that's one of the settings.) I also don't use Facebook apps at all. So I can't use Facebook to sign in to other websites, thus giving facebook access to other places I comment or services I use.
I already knew facebook read all my cookies each time I logged in and have learned they read all my cookies from after each session as well. Therefore, I now open facebook in an incognito window every time and then close that window so facebook can't associate the cookies put on my computer by other websites with me and add that to the profile of me they sell to advertisers.
I'm in the process of downloading all the data facebook has on me. Instructions are here:
https://www.facebook.com/help/405183566203254I was spurred to do that by this article today:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/lamvo/3-simple ... .mhLjNAkR5I feel I have to be on facebook for a few reasons:
1. My refugees used it to communicate with me (that will end in a week.)
2. the Residents' association has an open page for chatting and communicating
3. Dd posts a whack of stuff, including videos, to a private group, so we get to see what dgs is up to. While that's interesting anytime, I really loved it when I was away and couldn't see him each week.
4. I like keeping in touch with the people on my friends list (even if some of my cousins are idiots and play games all the time and do stupid surveys.) For instance, dfs announced they are expecting a baby in October over the weekend. I didn't get an email or phone call, it was on facebook. The first time they were expecting, I was the first to know but it was too early and she lost that, plus a subsequent baby. To be honest, I think they announced too early this time; if it is an October due date, they announced right at the 12 week mark or a few days early.
Since I feel I have to be on it, I need to do everything I can to protect myself. It will be interesting to see everything FB has on me (all the photos I've uploaded is one of the things I'll see, whether or not I deleted them.)