Ask HN: Safe?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15427320

by ezal • 9 years ago

5 4 9 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Everyday a new data breach is reported. Is our personal information safe online?

Top192• 9 years ago

Probably not. A quick thing you can do is start using a password manager and opt-out of ads and tracking on Facebook and Google. Beyond that? Look into Michael Bazall’s (sp?) books on privacy.

Look for yourself though: https://pipl.com

There was a book a few years ago called “Brave New War”. Can’t remember the author’s name, but he basically argued that it’s now possible to run your own semi-competent intelligence agency off of simply internet data. Once this becomes more widely known, that data, combined with with a desire for vengeance, could lead to lots of blackmail, retribution, and general harassment.

The other day I found someone’s Facebook profile and he posted everything. Where his kids went to school, where his wife worked.

I kind of think society is like it was with airplanes up until the 1970’s, which was called the “golden age of hijacking”. Before that sure everyone knew technically you could hijack a plane, but no one worried about it because it hadn’t been done yet seriously or frequently. The time will come.

ljk• 9 years ago

start using a password manager

isn't that a point of failure too? why not just use different passwords for every site and make a longest-allowed password?

Top192• 9 years ago

You know I’ve thought of that too, but if the popular password managers fail, then we have such a big problem on our hands that your personal data will seem trivial in comparison to the larger societal disruption.

You could also use a local password manager that doesn’t upload to the cloud and just syncs with your phone.

Also there are lots of guides on Github on how to set up Mac, PC, Linux, whatever as securely as possible. Good stuff to look up.

aaronaarzelbart• 9 years ago

No.

The even is completely insecure, in ways not yet discovered.

Ask HN: Safe?

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