So this might be total coincidence, but I don't think it is.
I got a Xiaomi phone last month, and I had to log into the Mi Account thing because I want to unlock the bootloader.
Only a day after logging into this Mi Account I've now had two spam SMS messages. One asking me to log into my mobile carreir website to unlock my account and stop it being terminated, this takes me to a website hosted in Moscow.
The second SMS asked me to do the same but with one of my bank cards. Now i've had spam before ... of course, but somehow these spammers know what mobile network I use and what bank I use. I find that very strange for them to be so accurate.
My phone number is also new, I got the SIM card at the same time as the phone. I think my details were sold by Xiaomi to someone, letting them know what network I use and probably what apps I use , which includes my bank.
Am I paranoid? or did the Chinese just sell all my data ?
MANY companies sell, or give, our details to marketing companies and other places that result in spam and other garbage. Definitely not limited to any country either, even large legit North American companies do it. :good:
I try to not give out my actual number or email to anyone...i use appointed junk email accounts when I can. I'll use companies phone numbers that have wronged me also, instead of my own. Lol
Deaddpool said:
MANY companies sell, or give, our details to marketing companies and other places that result in spam and other garbage. Definitely not limited to any country either, even large legit North American companies do it. :good:
I try to not give out my actual number or email to anyone...i use appointed junk email accounts when I can. I'll use companies phone numbers that have wronged me also, instead of my own. Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure I understand, and I didn't want to turn this into a debate on who it's better to be spied on by , The US or China.
But I've never had such spam after signing up to Google or something. I literally had to give my phone number it Xiaomi so that I could attempt to unlock the bootloader, so that I can get away from their stock ROM. I just can't believe that within days of signing up to what I thought was a legit service i'm getting SMS spam whereby they know what mobile carrier I use and what bank I use. That can only really come from my phone. I have nothing installed that is not from the play store either, so my suspicion is that Xiaomi sold my phone details to someone.
lordxenu said:
Sure I understand, and I didn't want to turn this into a debate on who it's better to be spied on by , The US or China.
But I've never had such spam after signing up to Google or something. I literally had to give my phone number it Xiaomi so that I could attempt to unlock the bootloader, so that I can get away from their stock ROM. I just can't believe that within days of signing up to what I thought was a legit service i'm getting SMS spam whereby they know what mobile carrier I use and what bank I use. That can only really come from my phone. I have nothing installed that is not from the play store either, so my suspicion is that Xiaomi sold my phone details to someone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I believe you are exactly right. :good:
I only wanted to point out that even my phone Carrier is guilty of the same. We got my 11 year old daughter talk and text on her phone and within a couple days she was getting spam texts as well. And I know she did not give out her number to anyone. I also got hammered with spam email after buying a new furnace from a very well known company, which I'm sure was not a coincidence. They likely gave my email away to spammers too.
So I have no doubt you are correct. But it seems its ok cause everyone is doing it. And we can't do much about it really, except protect our info when we can, which isn't always possible I know.
lordxenu said:
Sure I understand, and I didn't want to turn this into a debate on who it's better to be spied on by , The US or China.
But I've never had such spam after signing up to Google or something. I literally had to give my phone number it Xiaomi so that I could attempt to unlock the bootloader, so that I can get away from their stock ROM. I just can't believe that within days of signing up to what I thought was a legit service i'm getting SMS spam whereby they know what mobile carrier I use and what bank I use. That can only really come from my phone. I have nothing installed that is not from the play store either, so my suspicion is that Xiaomi sold my phone details to someone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's best to just use a throw-away email for these things. I pretty much have a dedicated Yahoo! mail account for questionable signups.
shockreaction said:
It's best to just use a throw-away email for these things. I pretty much have a dedicated Yahoo! mail account for questionable signups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did. but it requires you to register and validate a phone number with them and the spam i got was via SMS not email.
unfortunately I didn't have a spare SIM/number to use just for that.
Thanks for the information.
Related
http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=AndroidPlans&thread.id=1785
You know they already know about it, so don't give me crap for "Letting the cat out of the bag"
Bump the thread please and lets try to make this a t-mobile policy.
(probably will never happen, but if we can convince them that this polocy will gain them customers it may)
The post for those too lazy to go and read it
Currently there is a way to add your google voice number to MyFaves and avoid using any minutes for almost any call.
I don't know if this is "Working as intended" or is an unplaned gaff....
Let me tell you why T-Mobile should not only let this happen, but encourage this.
I have a G1, cheapest plans possible. my bill is around 60 bucks a month...
If this MyFaves/GV trick became something i could count on here are the actions i will take with out question.
I will Buy my wife the MyTouch (canceling her current Virgin Mobile pay as u go plan)
I will change my calling plan to a "MyFaves" famlie plan
I will have unlimmited data plans on both phones.
I will cancle my current home phone (Vonage)
My T-mobile monthly bill will go from $60 a month to over $125, and it will become my and my wife's main phone lines.
Also with work/friends i am the known "Android hacker" and people listen to me...
When i tell people about this possiblity they get excited and want in on it.
T-Mobile... be the "Data Pipe" Google wants you to be, you will gain subscribers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.
ekeefe41 said:
http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=AndroidPlans&thread.id=1785
You know they already know about it, so don't give me crap for "Letting the cat out of the bag"
Bump the thread please and lets try to make this a t-mobile policy.
(probably will never happen, but if we can convince them that this polocy will gain them customers it may)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, they know about it. That doesn't mean it's a good idea to give them the impression that this is a mainstream usage scenario.
Often service providers will tolerate a small percentage (lets say 1-5%) of their customerbase that uses a signficantly larger proportion of bandwidth than average. They may be losing money on these customers, but as long as the loss is lower than the loss that would be incurred due to negative press from terminating those customers, they will let the small percentage slide.
By bumping/posting that thread, you are basically giving T-Mo (and any other carrier with similar pricing) a reason on a silver plate to go and shut the MyFaves "loophole" right now. Kudos.
*Note: I don't have MyFaves, so I could really not care less how it turns out from a personal standpoint.
jashsu said:
Yes, they know about it. That doesn't mean it's a good idea to give them the impression that this is a mainstream usage scenario.
Often service providers will tolerate a small percentage (lets say 1-5%) of their customerbase that uses a signficantly larger proportion of bandwidth than average. They may be losing money on these customers, but as long as the loss is lower than the loss that would be incurred due to negative press from terminating those customers, they will let the small percentage slide.
By bumping/posting that thread, you are basically giving T-Mo (and any other carrier with similar pricing) a reason on a silver plate to go and shut the MyFaves "loophole" right now. Kudos.
*Note: I don't have MyFaves, so I could really not care less how it turns out from a personal standpoint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't have said this all better myself.
To OP: Be happy with the loophole you have now. Make this mainstream and you'll see the loophole closed up nice and quick.
Here is the thing...
I personally will not do the things in my post unless i can confirm it is something i can rely on.
scenario
I buy a 2nd phone for the wife
I cancel my home (Vonage) phone line
I then begin to rely on this piggy backing as a part of my monthly finances...
BOOM
T-mobile closes the loophole.
I am stuck with an extra phone/Plan that i can't get out of....
My bill goes through the roof because these phones are now our only voice option.
Until i get a confirmation from T-Mobile i will push the issue...
If it ruins it for everyone... so be it
When it comes to contracts and my monthly finances, there is no room for guess work.
ekeefe41 said:
If it ruins it for everyone... so be it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha. I like your attitude!
When it comes to contracts and my monthly finances, there is no room for guess work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then... why are you relying on beta services and loopholes for your core telecommunications?
It seems to me that what you need to get is one of those truly unlimited in-region calling (I think MetroPCS has something like that? Also T-Mo has the Unlimited Loyalty Plan.) You can be assured that you'll be billed a flat monthly rate that way regardless of your usage and regardless of whether or not you are routing through GV.
I love the flimsy rationalization going on this thread.
jashsu said:
Haha. I like your attitude!
Then... why are you relying on beta services and loopholes for your core telecommunications?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite...
I have the G1 $60-month
Wife has a pay as you go $20ish-month
home phone is vonage $30-month
About $110 a month for phone services.
If this loophole/beta service turns to be legit. Then I will make major changes to my phone providers. (like i explained in my T-mobile post)
Oh yea... I am cheap and a control freak when it comes to contracts and bills.
uberingram said:
I love the flimsy rationalization going on this thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please explain your self.
If i am going to agree to additional contracts, i need to know the scope of what is allowed and what is not for my own protection.
ekeefe41 said:
Please explain your self.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Your life's micromanagement must make you a joy to be around
2) jashsu said it best. You are giving carriers a reason to enforce "Fav" calling to individuals and not blanket numbers. The phrase "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" only applies if annoying customer (e.g. you) is the only one affected. This is not the case here. Especially since Google purchased the 1 million some odd numbers from Level 3.
3) You're using a known buggy service that's very still much in beta as your sole means of telecommunication. For someone so uptight about control that seems oddly, and stupidly, out of character.
4) It's stupid to think that this will actually gain customers. There are a fixed number of Google Voice numbers in existence and I can pretty much assure you they are all spoken for.
Edit: Just to elaborate on #4, Last night I used the call back feature of GV. Do you know how long it took the service to ring my phone? 8 minutes. That's perfectly acceptable for your only means of telecommunication.
ekeefe41 said:
If this loophole/beta service turns to be legit. Then I will make major changes to my phone providers. (like i explained in my T-mobile post)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know what industry you work in, but let me just put it bluntly and say that generally large multinational corporations don't make potentially significant alterations to their business plan based on whiny posts on their forums. It is questionable whether anyone with the authority to make a declaration of the kind you are hoping for even reads or has a pr secretary that reads that forum on t-mobile.com.
If (and i'm not holding my breath here) they legitimize unlimited calling in some kind of promotion/profit-sharing deal with Google, that was probably planned months in advance by a team of profit-cost analysts and in no way whatsoever did they give two ****s about your petition. I can just about guarantee that.
uberingram said:
1) Your life's micromanagement must make you a joy to be around
2) jashsu said it best. You are giving carriers a reason to enforce "Fav" calling to individuals and not blanket numbers. The phrase "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" only applies if annoying customer (e.g. you) is the only one affected. This is not the case here. Especially since Google purchased the 1 million some odd numbers from Level 3.
3) You're using a known buggy service that's very still much in beta as your sole means of telecommunication. For someone so uptight about control that seems oddly, and stupidly, out of character.
4) It's stupid to think that this will actually gain customers. There are a fixed number of Google Voice numbers in existence and I can pretty much assure you they are all spoken for.
Edit: Just to elaborate on #4, Last night I used the call back feature of GV. Do you know how long it took the service to ring my phone? 8 minutes. That's perfectly acceptable for your only means of telecommunication.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing i manage like this is my bills....
Wife does not even know the password to our banking acc...
It is not even something we discuss, it is something i just handle..
So in fact, i am a pleasure to be around, because it is something i just do, and never talk about.
But thanks for trying to be insulting.
I have been using GV for almost a week now, no 8 minute, no bugs.
The service has been good enough that i am considering major changes to my service providers. A change that would give me more functionality at almost the same cost...
I am not sure i fully grasp your hostility.
Any contract i am involved with i like to know everything i can.
If that is strange to you... well that's your issue.
ekeefe41 said:
The only thing i manage like this is my bills....
Wife does not even know the password to our banking acc...
It is not even something we discuss, it is something i just handle..
So in fact, i am a pleasure to be around, because it is something i just do, and never talk about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to take this thread too far off-topic, and in no way should this be taken as an insult, but i'd be pretty concerned if my partner opened a joint bank account and didn't share the password. Maybe that's just me though...
Have you perhaps considered the possibility that you just think you're pleasurable to be around?
jashsu said:
I don't know what industry you work in, but let me just put it bluntly and say that generally large multinational corporations don't make potentially significant alterations to their business plan based on whiny posts on their forums. It is questionable whether anyone with the authority to make a declaration of the kind you are hoping for even reads or has a pr secretary that reads that forum on t-mobile.com.
If (and i'm not holding my breath here) they legitimize unlimited calling in some kind of promotion/profit-sharing deal with Google, that was probably planned months in advance by a team of profit-cost analysts and in no way whatsoever did they give two ****s about your petition. I can just about guarantee that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose it is less a petition, and more of a wish for clarification.
I know for a fact that google would like ISP's and Tel-Co to be more like a "Pipe" for data. With Google controlling as much content as they can (for advertisement $$)
This Google Voice product is a perfect example of this coming to fruition.
All you need is one TelCo jumping on board and prices come down for everyone.
Thank you for calling my post "whiny"... i was trying to make a point. I must have done a poor job.
ekeefe41 said:
If it ruins it for everyone... so be it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a ****ty attitude and goes against everything this forum stands for. It sounds like a child, if I cant have it then no body will. I just hope you realize your place, you should be thankful you have a FREE Google voice number and that there are ways of saving large amounts of money through minor hacks. If you can use them to your advantage then awesome, if not, then oh well you arent loosing anything. I just think you would get a much better reception if you came into this looking for help and trying to help the community instead of the ultimatum you have presented us with.
jashsu said:
I don't want to take this thread too far off-topic, and in no way should this be taken as an insult, but i'd be pretty concerned if my partner opened a joint bank account and didn't share the password. Maybe that's just me though...
Have you perhaps considered the possibility that you just think you're pleasurable to be around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ha ha ha!
I have like a "Quiz" day with her every once in a while.. aka, if i died could you access our bank accounts.
She Fails on a regular basis.
She does not have access to this stuff by my choice, in fact i have given it to her multiple times, multiple ways for her to remember.
She wants nothing to do with it.
It's not that i am a control freak... it's that she is lazy and does not want to concern her self with this stuff.
But yea, we have spiraled way too far in to my personal life, hehe
brandenk said:
That is a ****ty attitude and goes against everything this forum stands for. It sounds like a child, if I cant have it then no body will. I just hope you realize your place, you should be thankful you have a FREE Google voice number and that there are ways of saving large amounts of money through minor hacks. If you can use them to your advantage then awesome, if not, then oh well you arent loosing anything. I just think you would get a much better reception if you came into this looking for help and trying to help the community instead of the ultimatum you have presented us with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am asking people to bump the thread in the t-mobile thread... if they like the idea of this piggybacking.
I myself, for the way i treat bills and contracts, need specific clarification so i will keep pushing regardless.
If you don't agree, then don't bump the t-Mobile thread.
Ugg.... never mind.
It looks like it is official a bug (not intended)
http://devin.reams.me/free-google-voice-calls-with-t-mobile-myfaves/
UPDATE: as mentioned by Josiah in the comments, this violates this statement on T-Mobile’s website: “Your five numbers must be US domestic numbers and must not include … customers’ own numbers; and single numbers allowing access to 500 or more persons.”
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
aad4321 said:
yeah but because you wont have free incoming you will have to set the gv number to show on an incoming call and add it to the fav5. long story short u will not know who i calling you unless you have that stupid press 1 to accept thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be the big limitation
But with google voice you can listen in on the message before you pick up
yea this needs a lot of clearing up....gvoice isnt widely available
UMA
ekeefe41 said:
Not quite...
I have the G1 $60-month
Wife has a pay as you go $20ish-month
home phone is vonage $30-month
About $110 a month for phone services.
If this loophole/beta service turns to be legit. Then I will make major changes to my phone providers. (like i explained in my T-mobile post)
Oh yea... I am cheap and a control freak when it comes to contracts and bills.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why dont you get a UMA phone form T-mobile, for a few bucks a month and drop your Vonage right there saves u about 25$
Haha I love fakes like this. They tend to make me laugh
This email I just got for example, heres the text;
"Subject: Device Seeding Program for Top Android Market Developers
From: [email protected]
Due to your contribution to the success of Android Market, we would like to present you with a brand new Android device as part of our developer device seeding program. You are receiving this message because you're one of the top developers in Android Market with one or more of your applications having a 3.5 star or higher rating and more than 5,000 unique downloads.
In order to receive this device, you must click through to this site, read the terms and conditions of the offer and fill out the registration form to give us your current mailing address so that we can ship your device.
You will receive either a Verizon Droid by Motorola or a Nexus One. Developers with mailing addresses in the US will receive either a Droid or Nexus one, based on random distribution. Developers from Canada, EU, and the EEA states (Norway, Lichtenstein), Switzerland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore will receive a Nexus One. Developers with mailing addresses in countries not listed above will not receive a phone since these phones are not certified to be used in other countries.
We hope that you will enjoy your new device and continue to build more insanely popular apps for Android!
Thanks,
Eric Chu
Android Mobile Platform
Google, Inc.
1600 Amphitheater Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
NOTE: You have received this mandatory email to notify you about an important update to the status of your Android account. "
The page it links to is (link changed just in case). I like the way it's on Google Sites instead of a real Google webpage, and the registration form is just an inlay of Google Docs with some info. Not sure I can see a point in this one, since it doesn't ask for any critical information except address & phone number, but pretty funny none the less lol.
EDIT: Also, by the way, I am a developer on the market with an app that meets the criteria, so it is targeted at the right person, but I just think it seems fake lol.
EDIT 2: AndroidAndMe is reporting it, it appears to be legit.
oops, ****. I filled it in O_O
reported the site though?, not sure how much they can get with that little bit of info...
and just for the record, google has used google docs before for forms.
I used one for switching my gvoice from one account to another
<blank> said:
oops, ****. I filled it in O_O
reported the site though?, not sure how much they can get with that little bit of info...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats what I was wondering too. I figure I'll wait and see if I see anything else about it, the requirements are pretty lax, so I figure quite a few people got it. I'll see what people say and if it turns out real I'm all for it lol.
Well it sounds kind of "too good to be true" and when it does it usually is.
However, check the mail headers. The sending server is one known to be used for Google mass mailings. Check for example
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/AdSense/thread?tid=127d121c2bc9d7a1&hl=en
It also seems like all the IP's involved checks out (ie are real Google IP's)
I got one of these mails as well and I do qualify. Sure hope it's legit.
jonasl said:
Well it sounds kind of "too good to be true" and when it does it usually is.
However, check the mail headers. The sending server is one known to be used for Google mass mailings. Check for example
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/AdSense/thread?tid=127d121c2bc9d7a1&hl=en
It also seems like all the IP's involved checks out (ie are real Google IP's)
I got one of these mails as well and I do qualify. Sure hope it's legit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats what I thought. What throws me off is it being on a Google Site instead of a real Google hosted page. I filled it out, since there is no personal info required really, and I hope its legit, but I don't hold high hope lol
The headers seem to be legit, and Google has used Google Sites before (the Wave Developer preview signup was through a Google Site). Unless someone hacked Google servers to send people emails just to steal peoples' addresses, order numbers (quite useless), and phone numbers.
Update: I see a lot of people think this offer is too good to be true and have concerns of a phishing scam. I’ve reached out to my contact at Google and will post a response if I get one. From what I can tell, the email appeared to be legit.
Update 2: Roman Nurik, Android Developer Relations for Google, states that this is real on the official Android Developers Google Group.
Update 3: I received a second confirmation from an official Google spokesperson.
“A thriving developer community is an important part of creating a better mobile experience for users around the world. We hope that offering devices to developers will make it easier for them to create and test great applications. This is inline with other efforts to support developers, which also includes our Android Developer Labs World Tour and our upcoming participation at the Game Developers Conference.”
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://androidandme.com/2010/03/new...-devs-with-free-phone-in-new-seeding-program/
LinkinX said:
http://androidandme.com/2010/03/new...-devs-with-free-phone-in-new-seeding-program/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hot damn! I hope I gets me mah Nexus!! Lmao
I could always use another Nexus...one for each hand
I think this is great. Gives the developers reason to keep working. Looks like google actually has taken notice. Good for all.
I know this is a cell phone forum but I dont know where else to go. this is for my HOME PHONE. In my house we are getting "private name, Private number" calls in the early hours on random days. I dont believe it is a business because they call on saturdays or sundays. my roomate thinks its some old jealous boyfriend or something. so this is what i am looking for:
1) first, is there any technology for home phones that lets you disable caller id blocking without the caller knowing it? i have heard it done on cell phones
2) is there anything that i can attach to my home phone that will let me regulate when calls can come in? say i want to turn the line off between 11:00 PM and 8:00AM so when someone calls a message says something like "this person is not excepting calls at this time" or whatever.
like i said, i know this is a cell phone forum so if there is any other better place to go i am all ears. any info would help. i really want to find out who this person is and incinerate them because i am losing sleep!!
lodge a police report. take the official police report copy to the telco company. get the number of the person who is bugging you (with official police report + a court subpoena - telco companies have to disclose the user. sue his ass in court for harrassment. get tonnes of cash. stop coming to this forum for unrelated **** like this. its annoying to entertain dumb chicks who thinks they can do [email protected]@anytime.
bevoc said:
lodge a police report. take the official police report copy to the telco company. get the number of the person who is bugging you (with official police report + a court subpoena - telco companies have to disclose the user. sue his ass in court for harrassment. get tonnes of cash. stop coming to this forum for unrelated **** like this. its annoying to entertain dumb chicks who thinks they can do [email protected]@anytime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lamest resonse ever? dude, i am looking for software/hardware/programs for a*** home phone that probably exist. its not that unrelated.
fupamobile said:
lamest resonse ever? dude, i am looking for software/hardware/programs for a **** home phone that probably exist. its not that unrelated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tell me the last time you've seen a home phone that has an os that can run apps besides the phones that has a firm firmware? stop being such a bimbo and hope that everything can be solve with some app. i bet you have been searching through google and found nothing. the matter of fact is no amount of software or hardware or application can do any good in this situation when the telco company blocks the caller id from its switchboards. you have to go throught them to get the records. as this is considered as a harassment case you'll might end up with the records to help you get a restraining order of some sort. the worst part is, if the stalker is calling from a payphone, youre royally screwed.
as a final note, check with your telephone service provider. even in thrid world countries they offer call screening and call guard features. this fora serves 99% topics regarding pocket pc/smartphone running either windows mobile or android os. you're in the wrong place. so now make like a tree...
bevoc said:
tell me the last time you've seen a home phone that has an os that can run apps besides the phones that has a firm firmware? stop being such a bimbo and hope that everything can be solve with some app. i bet you have been searching through google and found nothing. the matter of fact is no amount of software or hardware or application can do any good in this situation when the telco company blocks the caller id from its switchboards. you have to go throught them to get the records. as this is considered as a harassment case you'll might end up with the records to help you get a restraining order of some sort. the worst part is, if the stalker is calling from a payphone, youre royally screwed.
as a final note, check with your telephone service provider. even in thrid world countries they offer call screening and call guard features. this fora serves 99% topics regarding pocket pc/smartphone running either windows mobile or android os. you're in the wrong place. so now make like a tree...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you just called me a bimbo? lol!! there actually has been hackers that have done exactly what I am asking for. its data which means it can be manipulated. outside the box, son, OUTSIDE. and try to type a complete sentence, yoose soundz likes swisgaards froms the metalocalypse show
You should just be able to call your carrier and you can get a package to have calls like this blocked.
Tribulattifather said:
You should just be able to call your carrier and you can get a package to have calls like this blocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is most likely what will end up happening. im hoping they offer a service that makes the caller either choose to unblock there number or hang up. i believe i have heard of that before. but i thought it would be much more fun to find out who the person is without them knowing. which isnt too far from possible, happens on cell phones and i have heard it happen for homephones. regardless of what mr. narrowminded says up there.
Mod Warning
To both the OP and Bevoc,
This post may be off topic but you are both violently in breach of rule 2 and appropriate action being taken against you both. Please be considerate.
I will move this thread to off topic.
WB
So I'm doing a persuasive speech about people should not give up their social network account and password or privacy to an employer.
Some might say that the solution is to don't use these social networking sites and just go out there and have a real life. Or just use a fake account and hand that over to the employer. However, I think that's not really the way to solve it. Yes, it might solve the problem for NOW. But what about in the long run? These scenarios would only get worse if these employers are allowed to invade people's privacy because no one's complaining about it and they would think that what they're doing is not wrong.
Here's the example of what I'm thinking:
Employer: What's your Facebook account and password?
Applicant: *gives the employer his/her login information
Employer: Thank you. We'll let you know if we're interested in hiring you.
Interview is over...
Employer(thinking): Hmm... So people are handing over their account... Maybe next time I'll ask for their emails...
So what do you guys think about this?
P.S. Sorry for the wrong grammars...
What if the employee is asked to sign an contract that states what the employer can do and can't do, like conditions?
htc fan89 said:
What if the employee is asked to sign an contract that states what the employer can do and can't do, like conditions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then the employee will have to either take it or leave it... then asking for such private information would become standard and people are obliged to give up their privacy just for a job opportunity.
Hi guys. I'm starting this thread in hopes of sparking a conversation and a concerted effort to rid ourselves as users from the clutches of Google and other big tech companies. I am sick and tired of Google tracking me and attempting to force feed me ads on a daily send constant basis. Then selling my info to other companies such as Facebook. So, I have started down the path of decluttering (De-Google-ing) my device(s). I am primarily interested in securing my device as much as possible and protecting my privacy.
So far, I have reformatted my entire device to factory default settings installed and using F-Droid (FOSS) for all my apps. I use Yandex as my search engine (I am often to suggestions and recommendations) in the "private browser" app. I use Aurora instead of Google Play store, New Pipe for YouTube-ing, Frost for Facebookingand SlimSocial for Twitter. I have stopped using Google keyboard and any other Google apps. I have abandoned gmail and replaced it with proton mail instead. So far, no ads and as far as I can tell, no tracking. I have also installed a VPN and am using it religiously—Cyber Ghost, a $99 for 3 years subscription with support up to 8 devices.
However, I am still very much connected to Samsung for I am not privy as to whether or not Samsung is as sinister as Google and Facebook.
Again, I am open to all suggestions, corrections and recommendations. Thank you and I hope to engage with you all.
leave it up to them yandex russians to protect your privacy.
but seriously. the most dangerous thing you can do is acctualy think that the steps you take are really making your life private.
vpns just channel the traffic to an other end point and does the queries for you then sends the data encrypted to you.
the queries are still made on the www. account info and all things you store or access online is still accessible by the www. vpn companies just fool you into thinking that the data being relayed to you is the only weak link. plus the free ones mine your data.
best thing you can do is not use social media. its made to invade your privacy. its designed to fool you into giving as much of your personal life info as possible and sell your habits to add companies so they can in turn send you quatered adds.
the minute you use the internet you void your privacy regardless of how you think the measures you take are working or effective. and what are you going to do about the 100 and 1000's of companies being hacked and their data mined and sold every month? you cant do anything about that. plus its much better for hackers to get their info from a big company because you get much more than just 1 dude that does his banking online and chat every now and then.there is no money to be made from 1 individual.
if you think people are specifically after you, you are gravely being fooled by the vpn ad campaigns that have been poping up everywhere about "privacy".( they must hide the fact that they also get hacked very well.its just that the media hasint picked up on it yet)
anyways who want to waste time on an end user/device?
when again you just need to hack equifax like a few years back and you get the motherload instead.
all in all I've abandoned the thought of real privacy. its futile.( even abstinents dosen't work because companies and governments don't secure customer data correctly. and unfortunately if you are born, you must be branded and labeled and filed away.)
live your life. just know that what ever you do you can't escape big brother and your data from being leaked by the big companies that say that it is secured with them.
the whole infrastructure relies on them companies and the habits we have been embraining ourselves and our children with is the problem.. we live our lives intertwined with the services and devices that we take for granted and have clicked next next next through polices and consent forms for over 25 years now whithout even giving it a second though. we're in over our heads now and it is a little late to back out. this was al dine by design and all voluntarily. its crazy how marketing is evil.
a cabin in the woods is the easiest and most secure thing one can do. anything shy of that is a waste of time and a false feeling of privacy.
anyways I'm going around in circles now.
one thing for sure is that the criminals we think that we need cover from are not who we think they are.
they are the FCC dealing with big telcos, they are the big media giants spewing false information and fabricates facts. they are in our governments in the highest ranks pushing hidden agendas and most of all they are the big social media platforms remodeling our society each day under our noses at our expense.
but hey this is not new. the internet police is just tring to make you think it is and spend 9.99$ a month for a vpn lol
good luck.
I just stopped using as many Google apps as I can and switched over to MS Office apps and use Samsung services where I can too...
bober10113 said:
leave it up to them yandex russians to protect your privacy.
but seriously. the most dangerous thing you can do is acctualy think that the steps you take are really making your life private.
vpns just channel the traffic to an other end point and does the queries for you then sends the data encrypted to you.
the queries are still made on the www. account info and all things you store or access online is still accessible by the www. vpn companies just fool you into thinking that the data being relayed to you is the only weak link. plus the free ones mine your data.
best thing you can do is not use social media. its made to invade your privacy. its designed to fool you into giving as much of your personal life info as possible and sell your habits to add companies so they can in turn send you quatered adds.
the minute you use the internet you void your privacy regardless of how you think the measures you take are working or effective. and what are you going to do about the 100 and 1000's of companies being hacked and their data mined and sold every month? you cant do anything about that. plus its much better for hackers to get their info from a big company because you get much more than just 1 dude that does his banking online and chat every now and then.there is no money to be made from 1 individual.
if you think people are specifically after you, you are gravely being fooled by the vpn ad campaigns that have been poping up everywhere about "privacy".( they must hide the fact that they also get hacked very well.its just that the media hasint picked up on it yet)
anyways who want to waste time on an end user/device?
when again you just need to hack equifax like a few years back and you get the motherload instead.
all in all I've abandoned the thought of real privacy. its futile.( even abstinents dosen't work because companies and governments don't secure customer data correctly. and unfortunately if you are born, you must be branded and labeled and filed away.)
live your life. just know that what ever you do you can't escape big brother and your data from being leaked by the big companies that say that it is secured with them.
the whole infrascturuce relies on them companies and the habits we have been embraining ourselves and our children with is the problem.. we live our lives intertwined with the services and devices that we take for granted and have clicked next next next through polices and consent forms for over 25 years now whithout even giving it a second though. we're in over our heads now and it is a little late to back out. this was al dine by design and all voluntarily. its crazy how marketing is evil.
a cabin in the woods is the easiest and most secure thing one can do. anything shy of that is a waste of time and a false feeling of privacy.
anyways I'm going around in circles now.
one thing for sure is that the criminals we think that we need cover from are not who we think they are.
they are the FCC dealing with big telcos, they are the big media giants spewing false information and fabricates facts. they are in our governments in the highest ranks pushing hidden agendas and most of all they are the big social media platforms remodeling our society each day under our noses at our expense.
but hey this is not new. the internet police is just tring to make you think it is and spend 9.99$ a month for a vpn lol
good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oy vey! Thank you very much for yor contribution. It is very much appreciated and I see what you are saying.
AndroidUser00110001 said:
I just stopped using as many Google apps as I can and switched over to MS Office apps and use Samsung services where I can too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How has this been working out for you? What are your thoughts on Samsung's and Microsoft privacy policies etc?
Nonetheless, what are some good and viable alternatives to Google and optimally "securing" one's device (taking everything bober10113 has said).
michel5891 said:
How has this been working out for you? What are your thoughts on Samsung's and Microsoft privacy policies etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like the other poster said, I gave up on worrying about privacy. I made the switch for other reasons and privacy was down on the list...
I just do not like what Goolge has been doing lately, especially blocking ad blockers soon in Chrome so I switched to MS Edge on Android and the Chromium version of Edge for desktop and the rest of the apps just followed through. I am seeing how the switch works for myself and if all goes well I will switch back to MS for the small company I work for.
I gave up on Gmail, Google Drive and all their office apps so far and I stopped using Nexus/Pixel phones for the first time in 10 years. I started with the S9+ which I enjoyed for a couple of months and then got a Note9 during a holiday special and now I cannot wait for the Note10.
Privacy is what it is nowadays... We should all own our data and if we choose to let be used as companies are doing now then we should get a slice of all the money being made but I doubt it will ever get to be something like that.
michel5891 said:
How has this been working out for you? What are your thoughts on Samsung's and Microsoft privacy policies etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't think that they are any better than Google's. Majority of the companies out there that are international had to adhere to the EU rules of privacy, so a lot of them have adopted those standards. NOT ALL OF THEM. That's why all of a sudden you are getting new agreements from all the major companies that touch each section of land on the world.
I still don't trust any of them even to that point.
This is morbid. I have been thinking a lot more about death, debt, privacy and such, and I have come to the conclusion that I honestly don't care about my own anymore because it has been stolen, including my wife's. Future children though, I worry about them because you don't even have to mention their name on the internet and somehow every major company knows about them.
Ever had a conversation with someone without actually looking something up on the web, and then a day or two later Google and other ads start showing things concerning what you were talking about to someone in person? Yeah, it has happened to me numerous times now I can't even count anymore.
Jammol said:
Ever had a conversation with someone without actually looking something up on the web, and then a day or two later Google and other ads start showing things concerning what you were talking about to someone in person? Yeah, it has happened to me numerous times now I can't even count anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES!!! I noticed this a few months ago. My wife and I were talking about some random subject and BAM there it was in my Google discovery feed.
I mentioned that to her and she thought I was crazy until it happened again.
My friend was over last week, he mentioned something about a car he is fixing up and once again in my Google feed...
*EDIT*
I am not going to go as far as saying they are listening because my wife did say she looked up what we were talking about later on that day on her phone so I am guessing it is more GPS based then Google listening to give them the benefit of doubt for now. I need to ask my friend if he searched anything while here...
You want to De-Google your phone? Sell it and don't get an Android phone. Don't get an iPhone, either. In fact, get one of those huge car phones from the 80s. I can't add really anything that hasn't been said, other than some slight humor, but again, if you want privacy, stay off the internet.
AndroidUser00110001 said:
YES!!! I noticed this a few months ago. My wife and I were talking about some random subject and BAM there it was in my Google discovery feed.
I mentioned that to her and she thought I was crazy until it happened again.
My friend was over last week, he mentioned something about a car he is fixing up and once again in my Google feed...
*EDIT*
I am not going to go as far as saying they are listening because my wife did say she looked up what we were talking about later on that day on her phone so I am guessing it is more GPS based then Google listening to give them the benefit of doubt for now. I need to ask my friend if he searched anything while here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I'm trying to prevent. Exactly the same thing had happened to me. We were simply discussing an AC unit; never looked it up or mentioned the name of it and the exact make and model in the room we were in showed up.
michel5891 said:
This is what I'm trying to prevent. Exactly the same thing had happened to me. We were simply discussing an AC unit; never looked it up or mentioned the name of it and the exact make and model in the room we were in showed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's super duper creepy. Funny thing is since I refreshed my Note 9 up to PIE, I haven't given assistant or google search any permission to use my microphone and I don't even have them setup!
this might help:
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/6030020?co=GENIE.Platform=Android&hl=en
turn voice activity off. also check your history to see if it has any recording...