100 years ago, your right to privacy wasn’t a political issue, it was pretty much a given.  Other than occasional neighborhood gossip, a person’s life was truly private.  What they did in their own home, what publications and book they read, what health conditions they had, how they conducted their finances, etc… all of these things were completely private unless the person chose to discuss these matters with others in public. 

My how things have changed!  In the new millennium, privacy is a hot topic both politically and ethically.  The phrase, “right to privacy” is bandied about quite a bit in the media, but in effect, your privacy in the information-age is practically non-existent.  On any given day, everything you do throughout the day is recorded in dozens of different databases.  Your financial transactions are recorded, and frequently audited.  Your medical information is easily discernable in all of the interactions for billing and insurance purposes, what you watch on TV is monitored via your cable or satellite provider, movie rentals are tracked, everything you buy online or in a brick-and-mortar store is recorded, the number and types of vehicles you own are tracked, your image and activities are captured on dozens of camera, your every movement is tracked via your cell phone, and all of your online activity is traceable via your unique, if not exclusive, IP address.  Even in the assumed privacy of your own home, government agencies have taken it upon themselves to scan residences with FLIR cameras, infrared sensors that can see heat through walls, to search for possible drug operations, and more recently, to detect people using “environmentally unfriendly” types of equipment (such as incandescent light bulbs and plasma screen TVs).

 

Quite honestly, unless you live off-the-grid up in the mountains, or in a cave somewhere, you effectively have no privacy at all.  What’s even more alarming is that, quite a lot of people would ask, “Why do we need privacy at all?”  Indeed, in law enforcement have held that very attitude for a long time—they believe that, not allowing a search of your person, vehicle or home must mean that you have something to hide. The fact is that, in the information age, privacy is no longer a passive, de-facto right.  If you want any degree of privacy in your life, you will have to take active measures to minimize the inherently intrusive nature of modern day life.  That means sacrificing a bit of convenience, for it is the convenience of our society that makes privacy such a rare commodity these days.

 

Probably one of the best ways to increase your privacy is through the use of cash.  Most people have their paychecks direct deposited into their bank account, where they then proceed to spend the money by paying bills online, and making purchases with their hybrid debit/credit card.  These electronic disbursements speak volumes about who you are and what you like to do.  If, however, you simply cashed your paycheck, then paid bills with generic money orders, and made your purchases with cash.  Then your financial fingerprint says little more than where you work and how much you make.

 

Another thing you can do to minimize your electronic fingerprint is obtain a prepaid cell phone.  Let’s face it, few people want to live without a cell phone.  Many people, myself included, no longer have land-lines, preferring instead to rely on a form of communication that isn’t restricted to a single location.  A prepaid cell phone allows you to enjoy all of the convenience and security of mobile communication, but without the data collection that goes along with it.  A prepaid cell phone can be purchased with cash, and used immediately and completely anonymously.  The minutes on the phones can be reloaded at anytime using cards purchased with cash from various retail stores.

 

Of course, this does seem like a bit much. Probably most people would be willing to tolerate having a little less privacy in exchange for the many conveniences of modern life. Certainly, that is a valid consideration. That's not to say, however, that there aren't other things you can do to help increase your privacy, that aren't so terribly inconvenient. For example, everyone should own a decent paper shredder. There is simply no reason not to have one. They are inexpensive, available at your local Walmart or office supply store, and can help protect you from identity theft in addition to increasing your privacy. Get a good cross-cut shredder (these are the ones that turn paper into confetti rather than just long strips) that can also destroy Compact Discs and credit cards. Anything your discard that has any personal information, whatsoever, should go into the shredder. For a little extra protection (as well as some measure of recycling), the shredded paper can then be used as litter for small pets.

 

Another area of consideration should be the data on your home computer or laptop. This is probably one of the most personal things you own.  Yet, that data can be easily accessible to people with, and even without, physical access to your computer.  Of course, most people worry about hackers gaining access to private information.  And while that is a legitimate concern, the one person you should be more concerned about is your “computer guy.”  When you have to take your computer to a shop for service, there is a high degree of probability that the technician will do a little snooping around on your hard drive.  It happens all the time.  And don’t think for a moment that the simple password protection on your personal files will be anything more than a speed-bump to a skilled technician.  With little effort, they can gain access to your MP3s, your email, your documents (do you keep a file with all of your usernames and passwords?), your spreadsheets, your personal photos and videos, you name it! Just like every person should own a shredder, every computer owner should use encryption. Proper use of strong encryption can secure your personal data files so that even a well-funded government agency would be unable to access them.

 

These are just a few suggestions. There are many other things you can do to increase your privacy. Or, you can be like so many other people out there who choose to ignore the issue, or perhaps just pay it lip-service. If you're one those people, then you are taking an aweful risk, and you need to ask yourself something, "do I feel lucky?"

 

 

E-mail: john@sentinelcomputers.com