You Are Being Tracked Every Minute of the Day

Some years ago in this blog I pointed out how many of the things you do each day--from buying a morning latte with your credit card to having your vehicle's EZ Pass scanned as you drive to work on the expressway--were being used to track you.  If I could have seen into the future then, I would have ended with 'you ain't seen nothin yet'. Fast forward to today when you are literally being tracked every single minute of every day...

• The fitness tracker you wear all the time is literally tracking your every movement.
• Many people don't realize that in addition to the massive amount of data they freely provide about themselves on social media, many social media platforms also use more nefarious ways to track you and gather information on you that you don't even realize you are providing.
• Does Facebook listen to you even when you aren't using the app?  Most people think so.
• Home "assistants" like Siri, Alexa, etc. literally listen to everything you say.
• Any time you log into public wi fi you are probably being tracked.
• And even if you don't actually log into wi fi networks, your phone still notes every wi fi network it bumps up against, both public and private.
• Did you ever read the user agreements for the apps you download to your phone?  Most people don't.  But most apps have the ability to track many things about your daily habits (and sell the info to the highest bidder).
• Your web browsing history is an open book.  The things you do online leave a trail a blind man can follow.
• Your home security system?  Yep, easily hackable to the point that hackers can use the security cameras YOU set up to watch you.
• Even your kids toys can be used to spy on them (and you).
• And all of your other "smart" home devices from your Roomba to your connected appliances can be hacked and used against you.
• Sadly it isn't only the bad guys who want to use your IoT (internet of things) against you but the very manufacturers who can access your data may do this as well.
• You don't even have privacy in your own car.  Between license plate trackers, your car's 'black box', and various other built-in technology, you may be better off walking if you want to enjoy any privacy.