How paranoid should I be? i have a bandaid over the camera and mic of my lap top. Is this crazy?

[IndyJay]

I've read a couple online articles that attempt to define the "metaverse", seems to be some Zuckerburg vision for incorporating virtual reality into online activity, whatever that means. The whole concept was, at least to me, about as obtuse as trying to explain blockchain.

I've come across some of those sites while Googling someone, never paid the fee to see any of the "hidden" info. Seemed like a scam of some sort so I never went any further.

It is scary how much relatively easy to access public info there is about you.

Metadata basically means "the data about the data". So as the internet sweeps up all of these little pieces of data, there needs to be a means to collate the data to make it more usable. Facebook has positioned itself nicely to pull it all together your online activity into a single profile.

I remember a dozen or so years ago when facial recognition technology was beginning to make strides, there were lots of articles that said "yeah, that's great but there was limited use for it without a way to catalog or identify random faces". I remember shortly after that Facebook was constantly prompting users to "tag" everyone in every picture. Probably just a cooincidence but I have an inherent mistrust of big tech and all of these cool features that they spend millions of dollars developing so that they can give it away for free. What are they getting out of it? When the product is "free", then maybe you are the product.

 

[Jchonline]

I own my own cable modem & router, and never set up wi-fi. I want to be able to control what gadgets in my house can access the internet.
I agree that desktop computers can be used much more securely than other devices. and at least to me are so much more versatile & easier to use than a smartphone or tablet. No camera or microphone, and a good ad/cookie blocker go a long way. Of course, you really don't have any control over what websites you visit do with your IP address (which they all log).

IMHO, a lot of the issues people here are complaining about could be minimized by NOT using a cellphone for internet access and/or not installing a bunch of "free" aps, all of which "need" a lot of personal info in order to operate. These gadgets use the aspect of "convenience" as a trojan horse to track your every move. I'm not into conspiracy theories, and won't speculate on any tech industry/government collusion, but just the ad targeting alone is enough reason to not trust these gadgets.

You can use a VPN service to obfuscate your actual IP.

 

[Oaktree]

Probably just a cooincidence but I have an inherent mistrust of big tech and all of these cool features that they spend millions of dollars developing so that they can give it away for free. What are they getting out of it? When the product is "free", then maybe you are the product.

No "maybe" about it!

You can use a VPN service to obfuscate your actual IP.

Yeah, I just don't go to enough places on line to be worth the bother.
Also, I've read some sites, especially those that utilize some sort of geoblocking automatically block known VPN hosts.

 

[Dftodd]

Metadata basically means "the data about the data". So as the internet sweeps up all of these little pieces of data, there needs to be a means to collate the data to make it more usable. Facebook has positioned itself nicely to pull it all together your online activity into a single profile.

I remember a dozen or so years ago when facial recognition technology was beginning to make strides, there were lots of articles that said "yeah, that's great but there was limited use for it without a way to catalog or identify random faces". I remember shortly after that Facebook was constantly prompting users to "tag" everyone in every picture. Probably just a cooincidence but I have an inherent mistrust of big tech and all of these cool features that they spend millions of dollars developing so that they can give it away for free. What are they getting out of it? When the product is "free", then maybe you are the product.

I don't have a Facebook account. But my identical twin brother does.

FB tags any family photos my wife posts with my brothers name

 

[Jstpssng]

I remember shortly after that Facebook was constantly prompting users to "tag" everyone in every picture.

That was in the time period that I was on. All that I remember is being asked if I wanted to "tag" my friend's wife. Somehow, I don't think that he would have appreciated that.

 

[rontaki]

Facebook's parent site is "Meta"... what do you think that stands for?

That's a no-brainer! Meta stands for Metastasis. A spreading social media malignancy.
But most folks have been tricked into thinking it's something else.

 

[Oaktree]

I don't have a Facebook account. But my identical twin brother does.

FB tags any family photos my wife posts with my brothers name

What does it mean to "tag" a photo? I hear the term a lot but not sure what it means.

 

[pmsmechanic]

What does it mean to "tag" a photo? I hear the term a lot but not sure what it means.

To "tag" a photo means to put a name to the face in the picture.

 

[Dftodd]

What does it mean to "tag" a photo? I hear the term a lot but not sure what it means.

You basically click on a button and select who is in the picture from your friends list so it will pop up on their pages as well.

But as soon as you post a picture of yourself (profile picture) they got your features for the facial recognition.

Thats how Facebook comes up and says my brother is with my wife and kids on her page as well as the kids pages under any family photos that are posted.

 

[JasperFrank]

Zuks Meta Verse is more as if Google Earth became interactive in a VR way and you get to act in that world with other members. Google has the tools to do this right now. For some reason they have not.

 

[MossRoad]

Do any of you remember the Googlezon EPIC2014 film many years back?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPIC_2014

 

[dmccarty]

To answer the subject line, no you are not crazy or paranoid enough.

Years ago, I used to use a Google service to show photos I was taking at my kid's school events. You could lock down who could view the photos and all was good. Then they wanted me to start tagging, i.e., naming the kids. They would put a box around a face that their software could recognize and then ask me to name the child.

Set up my own website and deleted the photos from Google.

Facebook was started to RATE college women which shows the character of the guy that owns the company.

 

[Oaktree]

Years ago, I used to use a Google service to show photos I was taking at my kid's school events. You could lock down who could view the photos and all was good. Then they wanted me to start tagging, i.e., naming the kids. They would put a box around a face that their software could recognize and then ask me to name the child.

That is creepy. Absolutely no need or excuse for this.

Every now & then I'll Google my name and see what comes up, usually not much. A handful of 25 year old usenet posts before I knew not to use my real name and an occasional reference in a technical periodical I've occasionally contributed to. No photos.

 

[twowoode]

I’m not sure but heard that the 5g phones are able to track more than the 4g ones. I have experienced getting ads for things that I have discussed with people. I cover the camera on my computers. In the end though if you use a credit card, buy gas with a card, travel through a tollbooth, or drive with your cell phone on you can be tracked.

 

[puzlrock]

And they say we are conspiracy nuts, I just assume anymore that a mic or camera is on about anywhere I go. Can't get a veterans discount anymore at Home Depot if you don't have a cell phone, I don't own one. All kinds of scan this or that and your right about SIRI, lol.

 

[Midniteoyl]

That is creepy. Absolutely no need or excuse for this.

Every now & then I'll Google my name and see what comes up, usually not much. A handful of 25 year old usenet posts before I knew not to use my real name and an occasional reference in a technical periodical I've occasionally contributed to. No photos.

I'm an ex, now deceased, ceo of some fairly large corporation. Can even see my gravestone...

 

[Midniteoyl]

And they say we are conspiracy nuts, I just assume anymore that a mic or camera is on about anywhere I go. Can't get a veterans discount anymore at Home Depot if you don't have a cell phone, I don't own one. All kinds of scan this or that and your right about SIRI, lol.

I'd be hitting up thier CS to get something physical to show... Gotta be a way.

 

[Oaktree]

Can't get a veterans discount anymore at Home Depot if you don't have a cell phone, I don't own one. All kinds of scan this or that and your right about SIRI, lol.

Lot of companies are going that way now, coupons, special discounts, etc. have been replaced with aps to download.

 

[Jstpssng]

I can't even get in to see my Dr without a cell phone. I have to call from the parking lot and somebody will come out to get me. The worst part is that my call goes to their general switchboard, so I have to listen to them telling me how important my call is.

 

[Dftodd]

I can't even get in to see my Dr without a cell phone. I have to call from the parking lot and somebody will come out to get me. The worst part is that my call goes to their general switchboard, so I have to listen to them telling me how important my call is.

I walk right into my doctors office. No mask, no temp check. The only time they have you wait in the car is if your there for an upper respiratory issue, flu or alligator symptoms.

Then they have you call from the parking lot.

If your there for routine blood work, physical, or other issue it's buisiness as usual.