The Trifecta of Internet Privacy – Securing Your Data in an Insecure World

Photo credit: http://www.hangthebankers.com/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-surveillance-state/

As news of the recent Facebook data scandal, where 50 million Facebook user’s data were accessed and sold to Cambridge Analytica, - a data-driven marketing and political advertising company – reaches the general public, more people are questioning the privacy of their data, who wants it, and why.

Websites like Facebook and Google collect and monetize your data in a variety of ways: First they track you with cookies, which are convenient ways of storing data in your web browser, such as; the contents of a shopping cart, small strings of data like passwords, and recording which websites you visit. This data is then collected, analyzed, and a profile is built around your internet activity. They can host surveys that may or may not compensate those who wish to participate. These surveys can be political, consumer-based, personal, or perhaps psychological in nature. The recent Cambridge Analytica breach began with one such survey.

This data is then sold to digital advertisers that target you with specific ads that they think will be successful at making you purchase online items, sway your political vote, play a new video game, or just about any other goal they have in mind.

They even use your geolocation, your friends and associates, your job and what they think you may make for a salary… ANYTHING they can possibly gleen or access to better build a profile about you.

Let’s be clear – to Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc… you are NOT the customer, you are the PRODUCT. It is your data that is valuable to them.

Major tech companies like Google have disturbingly cozy relationships with government spy agencies, like the NSA, and "defense" contracts to develop Pentagon weapons programs. Wouldn't you be a little more reluctant to let something like Google Home into your home, knowing its always listening, collecting, and surveilling you? Or how about purchasing that new Google phone and letting it take a snapshot of your fingerprints?

So how can we protect ourselves and our data from such monolithic and ubiquitous corporations?

The Trifecta

First: We can start with your internet browser. If you’re still using Google Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer – STOP. Upgrade your browser to a more privacy-centric platform such as Brave. The Brave browser makes your web surfing faster by blocking the ads and tracking software that are present in most websites, including those that Google, and Facebook use. This not only saves you time, but money as well. Rendering content, including advertisements, takes time, bandwidth, and electricity – and you’re footing the bill. Brave also has a feature that automatically upgrades HTTP sites to HTTPS – a more secure data transfer protocol.

Second: Stop using Google as your search engine. Start using DuckDuckGo – the most private search engine out there. DuckDuckGo does not store your personal information. It does not track or target you with advertisements. And lastly, it does not track you in any browsing mode.

Third: Download and run the Substratum Node software. While it is not currently publicly available, the Substratum Node software is set to be released in the coming weeks. Once the software is released, anyone who chooses to run SubNode in their browser will become their own virtual private network, cyrptographically secure, content-serving, decentralized internet powerhouse. Oh, and you’ll be earning cryptocurrency while doing it. More information on Substratum and their truly revolutionary project can be found in their whitepaper, or on their Youtube channel.

Take Action

The public is becoming increasingly aware of the predatory technological, political and profit-driven machine that seeks to turn their data into revenue, influence, and mass surveillance. One day, citizens around the world are going to demand that their data no longer be available to whoever pays companies like Google or Facebook for access to it, or to whomever can data mine mass amounts of online content. One day they will realize that data is the intellectual private property of the creator. And that the creator has the right and ability to be paid fairly for their data, give it away freely, or not give it away at all. One day, people will no longer tolerate Big Brother or profit-driven corporations looking at everything they do online. This day is fast approaching, and lucky for us – the solution is already here, we just have to use it.