Privacy

For the most part the answer to this question is, “only if someone gives it to them.” Unfortunately, that someone does not necessarily have to be you. Many companies legitimately or illegitimately harvest email address’ and other personal information for the purpose of selling them to other companies as leads.


Protecting Privacy

The best way to keep your personal information personal is to be careful who you give your information out to. Take a look at the Privacy Policy (if one exists), and make sure that when you are filling out forms that you haven’t accidentally checked a box that gives the site the right to sell your information. Finally, you can limit your exposure by only registering when you absolutely have to.

Also, even if you register for a site you don’t have to give out your real email address. Services like Dodgit allow you to create fake address’ for one time use tasks like registration confirmation.

(Image) (RSS)

  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Fark
  • Mixx
  • Propeller
  • TwitThis