How Paranoid Are You ?

[Jimbo791]

Everything about a person is already known the first time one applies for a credit card, loan, or mortgage. Thinking that all of this data, already in the public domain, will somehow be reversed by adding a VPN is absurd.

Guys- it pains me to say this, but we are just not that important. No one- except those that wish to sell us something (like shoes)- couldn't give a damn about what websites we visit.

As I said before, you cant stop TPTB, but I see no reason for freely giving all your info away to any old punk who wants it. Protect yourself the best you can and understand what the world is, and just get on with life

 

[cruelsister]

I was the victim of fraud at one time. I used my AMEX card at Sally Beauty to get lipstick (not that I need it, of course) when I was on the road. Sadly this was at a time when they were breached, and a few months later I had a charge on that card for a first Class airline ticket from Beijing to Toronto (I am neither Chinese nor Canadian). Even though I saw this fraudulent charge as the plane was still in the air, I contacted AMEX and offered to call the RCMP for them, they told me not to worry about it as it happens all the time (seriously).

Point being, neither a VPN nor a Tin Foil Hat would have protected me from the deficiencies of others.

 

[codswollip]

So no point in moving from Gmail to Protonmail if I'm just an average user?

 

[Jimbo791]

At the end of the day its what makes you feel safe and happy. Just remember that protonmail might be run by the CIA or the FSB

 

[Deleted member 178]

So no point in moving from Gmail to Protonmail if I'm just an average user?

if you want hide from CIA/NSA , indeed, no point.
if you want to hide from other "normal" people, so you can use it.

 

[Deleted member 178]

Everything about a person is already known the first time one applies for a credit card, loan, or mortgage. Thinking that all of this data, already in the public domain, will somehow be reversed by adding a VPN is absurd.

what i keep shouting all day long here, im glad im not the only one.

people can only control what is on their side , not the rest.
As @cruelsister said, you can have a fortress of privacy and security, if the ones you send your datas (let say shops, etc...) are compromised , your fortress is useless.

 

[cruelsister]

Great Minds Think Alike!

 

[ForgottenSeer 58943]

At the same time we should caution that the futility displayed here by some, and the 'why bother' or 'if they want it they can' closely mirror the 'I have nothing to hide' arguments. Certain agencies and groups like to encourage a false belief that they have more capabilities and power than they do to encourage futility in the masses.

The reality is, the more common sense precautions you take, the more encryption you use, the more private you are with your critical data adds up in the end to data gaps from potential abusers. Those data gaps are quite annoying to those entities, especially if they can't fill them with ancillary technology/sources.

People still lock their doors, even if a crook can throw a rock through a window and climb in. A criminal would benefit greatly if you would take the futile mentality and simply leave your doors unlocked and your windows open.. Ok?

 

[Deleted Member 3a5v73x]

When I was a kid, I was very feared that my parents sometimes left our private house main doors unlocked at a night, so I sometimes woke up in meedle of night and first thing I did was to check if doors are actually locked. We never got robed or anything, we didn't have computer or internet until my 15's so I cannot explain from where my paranoia began, but now I live in pretty safe district in apartments with police station just over my street and kindergarten seen from balcony, so I sometimes even forget locking my doors at night because I feel safe and same for my family.

 

[Deleted member 178]

People still lock their doors, even if a crook can throw a rock through a window and climb in. A criminal would benefit greatly if you would take the futile mentality and simply leave your doors unlocked and your windows open.. Ok?

wrong example, my house has a lock built-in, i use it; however i don't need to add 10 layers of titanium on each doors, 50 cameras, 10 movement detectors and buy 10 attack dogs; that is paranoia.

If you need to stockpile dozen of security and privacy apps , VPNs, encryption tools; you are a paranoid and then insane. Now if you accept to be insane , good for you.

 

[Jimbo791]

wrong example, my house has a lock built-in, i use it; however i don't need to add 10 layers of titanium on each doors, 50 cameras, 10 movement detectors and buy 10 attack dogs; that is paranoia.

If you need to stockpile dozen of security and privacy apps , VPNs, encryption tools; you are a paranoid and then insane. Now if you accept to be insane , good for you.

I see a good AV and a good VPN as the same as having good locks on my home.

 

[Deleted Member 3a5v73x]

Some here and on Wilders still baiting him, for what reason? You haven't been in he's shoes. Insanity is other way around. Paranoia in it's greatest example.

 

[cruelsister]

If we can only realize that we are actually only Peasants with our whole life already accessible to those who know how to seek, life would be much happier.

But whatever, time for my Dim Sum brunch.

Bon Appétit.

 

[509322]

At the same time we should caution that the futility displayed here by some, and the 'why bother' or 'if they want it they can' closely mirror the 'I have nothing to hide' arguments. Certain agencies and groups like to encourage a false belief that they have more capabilities and power than they do to encourage futility in the masses.

The reality is, the more common sense precautions you take, the more encryption you use, the more private you are with your critical data adds up in the end to data gaps from potential abusers. Those data gaps are quite annoying to those entities, especially if they can't fill them with ancillary technology/sources.

People still lock their doors, even if a crook can throw a rock through a window and climb in. A criminal would benefit greatly if you would take the futile mentality and simply leave your doors unlocked and your windows open.. Ok?

"Common sense security precautions" - yes.

Convoluted precautions that people think are helpful, but actually do nothing in the grand scheme of things - no. Most of that stuff is more or less a psychological pacifier.

 

[Deleted member 178]

I see a good AV and a good VPN as the same as having good locks on my home.

Indeed, the point of the thread is that you dont need dozen of them just to feel you are dodging PRISM, especially when you use Windows or Google.

If you really want to disappear from the net surveillance , you can but you have to sacrifice a lot, not just stockpiling some tools.

 

[Jimbo791]

Indeed, the point of the thread is that you dont need dozen of them just to feel you are dodging PRISM, especially when you use Windows or Google.

If you really want to disappear from the net surveillance , you can but you have to sacrifice a lot, not just stockpiling some tools.

Well said, the fact is the more security you use the more you draw interest from TPTB and others out there. There is a line between been safe and waving a red flag about how much security you have

 

[509322]

If you are that paranoid, or worry that much about digital privacy, and really want to solve those problems... there is one - and only one way - to accomplish that goal.

And that is to get rid of any device and never use or do anything that generates data, withdraw completely from digital society, and move to some region of the world where your nearest neighbor is hundreds of miles away. You will hunt for your food. You won't see another human being for long periods of time. You will have to become an off-grid ghost... not having contact with anyone.

 

[bribon77]

This is security and privacy Informatica.

 

[oldschool]

This is security and privacy Informatica.

!

 

[tonibalas]

What i have learned here in MT over the years.
Stockpiling software probably means making your system more vulnerable to attacks.
So in my case less is better
Adding software and extensions for security for me is making my system like swiss cheese