# Privacy

### From Kernighan and McGoogan
As if leaving a trail of breadcrumbs, our online activities project a shadow of personal information for all to see. From common queries to social media profiles and preferred vendors, this information is easily accessible and often closely networked. Information like a phone number can unearth emails, business affiliations, and even locations, all while operating without the consent of the subject of a search. According to McGoogan (2016), sites like Facebook streamline people searches from their phone numbers and source addresses from a variety of locations if they are not provided by users. Unsurprisingly, overlooking device access to contacts and profile information has backfired for many users who are shocked by Facebook’s ability to glean personal information without their knowledge.

Though invasive to some, such a breach could be argued as practical. Facebook gives its users easier search characteristics, advertisers gain more access to what people what, and consumers can more easily build their networks around the people and products they like. If it were not for the high value of knowledge, this would be a win-win but like all information, the result of its use is a measure of intention. Kernighan’s (2017) chapter on the implications of public data points out how the accessibility of publically available information has changed. Whereas before, public databases required physical interaction and effort, online profiles of individuals are now accessible with less overhead and from the comfort of one’s home. For criminals and basement dwellers, this means that our information is more easily accessible with even confidential information being publicly available for a price on sites such as Intelius.com and Checkpeople.com.

### My Thoughts and Findings
I do have my concerns about the accessibility of personal information on the web but also find some of the dynamics of the situation to be funny and useful. I certainly enjoy a fair amount of the algorithmic suggestions that the web makes for me based on data I generate from regular usage. Quick searches, auto fill-ins, and deal notifications save time and effort, even if they are annoying and invasive. Plus, I cannot count how many times the search ‘gas stations near me’ was a life-saver on Co-op. But here, I used Safari on an Iphone for these which denied a fair amount of tracking and location data in comparison to Google’s use of time lines for tracking. As expected, my Google location timeline was empty when using my PC which only seems to have a rough guess of where I am. This is also likely a product of me mainly using an Iphone while traveling which excludes Google usage.

**The result of searching for 'my location' on Google:**

**Google's lack of location history for me:**

My lackluster presence on Google’s location services was compensated by its incredible accuracy in predicting my advertisement preferences. Building off of McGoogan’s point of Facebook’s use of various sources to construct searches and content, I cannot say that I am surprised that most of my suggested adds from Google are related to drones, electronics, and engineering. I am a nerd and a tinkerer at heart but apparently over 65 years old according to Google. An image search of myself highlights a similar trend though, so at least they got it partially right!

**A Picture of my add preferences according to Google:**
*I also find it rather humerous that CheckPeople showed up after I spent a fair amount of time navigating their sketchy site.*

**An image search of my name on Google:**

Aside from interesting findings and jokes though, my general feeling aligns with those of McGoogan and Kernighan who share my concern regarding the potential misuse of this data. Though widespread, everyone’s information exists and is waiting for someone who has the time and motives to put together the puzzle. I was especially alarmed by the sheer amount of background-checking websites that were available. I decided to do a sweep of my parents and was enticed by some provocative results. Specifically, I found no website that let me perform these searches for free or without an email despite numerous adds spouting ‘Free without email’ or ‘Only a name and town required’. Sites like Checkpeople.com boasted free use only to charge fees after forcing me to wait through numerous loading screens.

**A fee notification that I encountered on Checkpeople:**

Moreover, multiple loading screens boasted lines like ‘Sensitive information found!” which further incentivized misguided users to waste their money. However again, the fact that such sites exist and are accessible to anyone is frightening as only a minor paywall separates potential criminals from my personal information. To this end, I felt a bit uneasy and even dirty after attempting these searches on people I knew.

### In Conclusion...
Overall, I believe that the benefits of accessing consumer data are clear. Information like location tracking can make it easier for us to find places faster and connect with friends. But privacy is equally important as users have a right to separate their digital and physical presence from those who may seek to undermine their wellbeing. With the sheer magnitude of connection we now share with the internet, it basically impossible to benefit from its knowledge without leaving a footprint. To this end, the use of the web is a trade-off between acquired knowledge and often involuntarily donated data. It is up to the user to decide if accessing this wealth of information is worth the cost and I would wager to say that for most, *it is.*