Is this a Big Enough Indicator about Online Privacy?

[engine]

If this is not a big enough indicator about online privacy, I don't know what is!
The fitness tracking app data was published online, and exposes so much information you don't need me to point out the issues.

Every time we do something online it's tracked somewhere, and this data could be exposed through error, hacking, or deliberately.

Data about exercise routes shared online by soldiers can be used to pinpoint overseas facilities Is this a Big Enough Indicator about Online Privacy? [theguardian.com]

[topr8]

yes i saw this earlier today ... all i can say is people of all types are really stupid when it comes to privacy.
the most common answer i hear is people who say - i'm not doing anything wrong, why should i care about privacy, i've got nothing to hide!
(maybe not, but who knows how others might use what you consider to be perfectly innocent data)

i find there is no point arguing with anyone on this subject, i imagine a fair few members here know the implications of privacy breaches (not even breaches - but just the way info is used by the companies the data is freely given to), but most people just do not care ... for the most part people just want stuff for nothing.

in my view the old adage is more and more true: if you get something for nothing the cost is usually far higher than actually paying.

most people think i'm stupid but i don't mind:
i don't use store loyalty cards.
i use cash as much as possible (not to avoid paying tax, i'd rather visa doesn't know everything about me).
i only use a smart phone for webdev reasons - and it stays by the computer.
etc. etc.

[engine]

I wonder how long it'll take for people to join the dots, if ever!

[NickMNS]

Strava's big mistake was to share publicly the data they had gathered. FB, Twitter, Google, UBER and many more apps problably hold similar data but do not share it openly. Who are they sharing it with?

@Engine

I wonder how long it'll take for people to join the dots, if ever!

I find your statement very ironic. It is the ease in which companies can gather data from a variety of sources and "join the dots" to glean very personal and strategic information that makes this so worrying. But it is the general publics inability to think abstractly that makes it so difficult for so many to join the dots on their end.

[JonathanEdmonton]

That is so sad. I don't think they will be able to join the dots (at least most of them)

[tangor]

For the younger folks (who have experienced "progressive education" the last 40 years) they have a completely different concept of "rights", "privacy" and "self".

However, GOVERNMENTS are beginning to take notice and when that happens,,the pendulum will swing, hard, and the results might be even worse than what we have today.

[lucy24]

the most common answer i hear is people who say - i'm not doing anything wrong, why should i care about privacy, i've got nothing to hide!

Huh. They'd sure kick up a fuss if it turned out someone had installed a spy camera in their bathroom.

[keyplyr]

So how often is everyone sweeping for bugs?

[topr8]

haha, i don't sweep for bugs ... btw is there an effective way of doing this cheaply? or is the equipment (that actually works) required secret and unavailable?

i do have internal and external security cameras though.

as an aside: under uk law cctv footage cannot be used in court unless you have correct signage up warning people that they are being filmed!