Tonight on PBS, part-two of United States of Secrets on Frontline looks at the "...relationship between Silicon Valley and the National Security Agency." You can find local listing for stations here.Frontline is one of my favorite PBS programs by WGBH Boston. I've worked with WGBH in the past on American Experience, and believe they produce some of the best programming. Frontline has also collaborated on stories with ProPublica, which currently has an article on Privacy Tools: Encrypt What You Can.

It would be nice to think that at least some part of my life is either my secret or kept within my family. But realistically I have no sense of confidentiality, and short of living "off the grid" I have little expectation of privacy. Now when anyone refinances they must submit not just the cover sheet of their taxes, but the entire tax form, including investments, partnerships, etc, and complete forms for many of those item. If a person belongs to a major insurance group their entire medical history is on a computer file. Sure, every employee must sign a confidentiality form, but really, people gossip, and people will be people. Respond to a topic in an interest group, like this forum, and you can search the internet and find your response. Perhaps sadly, my grandchildren will never experience the privacy that I enjoyed growing up.JMHO

I have an unlisted phone number and for grins I ran a google search of the number and found the number is.............. mine.Google knows a lot about all of us and the NSA probably know things we don't know. :B

Most people have no idea, just no idea. (I spent over 30 years with a credit bureau.)If you want to enjoy the benefits of a society, you have to be willing to give up your privacy. I don't like it either, but that's the way it is.

I always chuckle when I read or here..."don't give your Social Security number to anyone!"....heck, there are probably only about six people on the planet that don't have my number!

Not just giving out your SSN, but it could easily have been stolen for identity theft. Found out when my mother had received calls from both an insurance investigator in CA long ago, and another more recent by a police investigator in NC about a hit-and-run accident, whose tags traced back to her SSN. Problem is she stopped driving long ago, nor ever registered any vehicles in NC.Did my own investigating, and pulled records to match all instances of her SSN to names, and found out that it was being actively used by about 5 different individuals. All of which appeared to be undocumented aliens. So could be a bigger problem than many realize?

How Much Does Google, Facebook and Yahoo Know About You?

kalynzoo
Explorer
May 20, 2014
It would be nice to think that at least some part of my life is either my secret or kept within my family. But realistically I have no sense of confidentiality, and short of living "off the grid" I have little expectation of privacy. Now when anyone refinances they must submit not just the cover sheet of their taxes, but the entire tax form, including investments, partnerships, etc, and complete forms for many of those item. If a person belongs to a major insurance group their entire medical history is on a computer file. Sure, every employee must sign a confidentiality form, but really, people gossip, and people will be people. Respond to a topic in an interest group, like this forum, and you can search the internet and find your response. Perhaps sadly, my grandchildren will never experience the privacy that I enjoyed growing up.
JMHO
USARMYCW
Explorer
May 20, 2014
I have an unlisted phone number and for grins I ran a google search of the number and found the number is.............. mine.

Google knows a lot about all of us and the NSA probably know things we don't know. :B
Fishinghat
Explorer II
May 20, 2014
Most people have no idea, just no idea. (I spent over 30 years with a credit bureau.)

If you want to enjoy the benefits of a society, you have to be willing to give up your privacy. I don't like it either, but that's the way it is.
dennisgt60
Explorer
May 21, 2014
I always chuckle when I read or here..."don't give your Social Security number to anyone!"....heck, there are probably only about six people on the planet that don't have my number!
1492
Moderator
May 21, 2014
Not just giving out your SSN, but it could easily have been stolen for identity theft. Found out when my mother had received calls from both an insurance investigator in CA long ago, and another more recent by a police investigator in NC about a hit-and-run accident, whose tags traced back to her SSN. Problem is she stopped driving long ago, nor ever registered any vehicles in NC.

Did my own investigating, and pulled records to match all instances of her SSN to names, and found out that it was being actively used by about 5 different individuals. All of which appeared to be undocumented aliens. So could be a bigger problem than many realize?
bob_nestor
Explorer III
May 21, 2014
Quoted post deleted for forum rules infraction

Color me an ancient throw-back to a bygone era who is off his rocker and totally paranoid then. Guess I'll have to ask a therapist if that stems from my work in Defense.
greenrvgreen
Explorer
May 21, 2014
FWIW, the events in the "deleted post" happened to me in 2003, exactly as stated. For a year following, I got ads with rainbow banners touting "Out In L.A."

IMO, political correctness has been taken to an absurd degree.
M_GO_BLUE1
Explorer
May 21, 2014
You all forgetting to wear your tin foil hats again?? HAHAHAHAHAHA
ScottG
Nomad
May 21, 2014
I just don't care.
stickdog
Explorer
May 21, 2014
ScottG wrote:
I just don't care.

+1