21st Century Privacy
By Daniel Evans
Published by Daniel Evans at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Daniel Evans
PREFACE
You Are Being Watched
Chances are that unless you are reading this at home, you are being watched. CCTV (closed-circuit television) monitors have become ubiquitous in many cities (London is estimated to have around 500,00O). If you are reading this in a coffee shop, at the grocery store, or on a city bus you are almost certainly being recorded. Your cell phone, if it is on, is revealing your location to within 25-100 meters (If your phone has GPS installed, your exact location is revealed). If you are reading this on your laptop rest assured that your wireless card is probably active, giving any of tens of thousands of computer crackers a potential doorway to your private files. If your laptop came with a built in webcam, someone could be watching you right now!
Paranoid? Good. Paranoia is a sane response to the new world of surveillance we are living in. But my goal here is not to keep you in a perpetual state of paranoia, which would be pointless and debilitating, but to enable you to arm yourself against any potential invasions of your privacy so you can go from paranoid to cautious. Paranoid people play right into the hands of their enemies: by censoring their every word and isolating themselves from their friends and allies they create their own mental prison cell. The cautious person alone is free, even in a totalitarian regime.
The Road to Tyranny is a Paper Trail
It has been said that in the late Soviet Union nearly everyone was spying on nearly everyone else. While that is doubtlessly an exaggeration, a large number of spies was necessary because, in a society without trust, an infinite regress of surveillance becomes necessary in order to maintain law and order. Since no individual spy can be trusted, he must be watched by an additional spy, who must also be watched... No wonder Stalin was paranoid. Unfortunately, aspiring tyrants no longer have this problem. Technology, properly abused, provides the perfect surveillance system. Modern surveillance systems record every movement, financial transaction, and click of a mouse accurately and without any capacity for deception. The data obtained can then be collated and stored on databases indefinitely for the erudition of anyone who is able to gain access to them. Old Joe Stalin's eyes would water...
The current administration of Obama and the former Bush administration have expanded the power, scope, and budget of the federal and state governments to unprecedented heights. Consequently, privacy is something that concerns everyone regardless of their political affiliation or lack thereof. Furthermore, the line between the state and private sector has become increasingly blurred.
Levels of Privacy
Like many things, privacy is not a binary condition. There are different levels of privacy and, if you intend to live in modern society, absolute privacy is impossible. If absolute privacy is what you are looking for than move to Amish country or form a band of survivalists and flee into the woods*. This book is not for agorophobes, luddites, or outlaws. This book is for the average American citizen who obeys (most of) the laws, goes to work, lives in an apartment or suburban home, and doesn't want to give any of that up in exchange for a reasonable amount of privacy. No one should be driven into the woods on account of privacy and if you follow the instruction in this book you won't have to sacrifice anything, except some time and a few conveniences.
The program in this book is for those who would like to enjoy the level of privacy that their grandparents did. Such a thing is still attainable in this day and age and I will show you how.
An Overview of This Book
I've divided this work into five parts; each with a particular focus. Not all of them are necessary to read and, if you are eager to get down to business, you can skip parts I and II. But I don't suggest this. ALL information presented is beneficial. I don't like writing any more than you like reading and so I have striven to keep everything as focused and brief as possible without sacrificing content. I wouldn't have bothered writing anything that I didn't think valuable.
1st Chapter: Invaders of Privacy, introduces the 7 biggest threats to your privacy and lays bare both their motives and methods.
2nd Chapter: Invasions of Privacy and How to Neutralize Them, deals with the the 3 forms of privacy invasion that threaten and, most likely, already plague your life and prescribes practical, easy to understand steps you can take to immediately neutralize them. It is absolutely necessary to do this before you enact the precautions put forth in the next part.
3rd Chapter: Protecting Yourself, presents a detailed step-by-step procedure for protecting your information and personal life from the prying tentacles of those described in Chapter I. Once you've enacted these measures you can finally rest and stop worrying; 99% of the surveillance system has been neutralized and in the next part you'll learn some basic rules of thumb to neutralize any potential threats that might come your way in the future.
4th Chapter: The Principles of Privacy & the Art of Deceit presents 7 simple principles you can follow to protect you and your loved ones. As you practice them they eventually become second nature and require no effort to uphold, while offering a strong defense against modern surveillance.
5th Chapter: Privacy For Teens, is a privacy guide for the most vulnerable members of society
Afterwords is more a reflection upon the issue of privacy than it is a how-to.
* The truly paranoid should purchase Bulletproof Privacy by Boston T. Party. Boston's tactics are nothing short of brilliant but they are too costly, inconvenient, and involved for the casual privacy seeker.
CHAPTER I: The Invaders of Privacy
Though there there are basically 7 different types of invaders all with their own methods and goals it must be emphasized that there is much bleed over. Just because they are separate agencies doesn't mean they aren't willing to collude with each other.
The Government
A healthy distrust of the government is a permanent fixture of the American psyche. So when Americans think of eavesdropping they invariably envision an FBI or CIA operative in a shadowy trenchcoat. The U.S.government may not be the worst offender, but it certainly is the richest and most capable. By government I mean all government agencies from the CIA down to your local post office; no matter what their function they can all be collecting data on you and if you think that data is secure, read on.
To put it simply: Nothing you tell a government agency is private. Even if your phone and address aren't listed in the phone book, they can both be easily obtained by anyone who can bluff their way through a phone conversation:
Post Office: Spring Field Post Office.
Stalker: Hey, this is SideShow B — uh, I mean, Homer Simpson. Marge and I came by about a week ago to have our box closed and our mail redirected here but it's been nearly a week and we haven't received any mail.
Post Office: A moment, Mr. Simpson.... Mr. Simpson, we don't have any record of an address change.
Stalker: Doe! But I've got bills to pay. Do you even have my address? What address do you have?
Post Office: Well it says here your mail is being sent to 555 Evergreen Terrace.
Stalker: That's exactly where it should be. Hmm, I guess I'll have to call my credit card company and tell them about the change myself. Thank you. Bye.
Don't laugh; ruses like this work 9 times out of 10 and they work just as easily against the DMV and the local sheriff. Most government bureaucrats will just assume a person is who they say they are. But aside from these involuntary leaks, some government agencies, the DMV in particular, deliberately sell information to businesses who then put you on their mailing lists. If you want to verify this for yourself simply add something like 'Apt B' to your current address record at the DMV and see how much junk mail is then sent to your 'new address'.
Since the signing of Patriot Acts 1 & 2 the government has drastically increased the types of information it can obtain about you. Records of your internet activity, which were once only obtainable with a warrant, must now be surrendered by any ISP to any FBI agent who presents an NSL (National Security Letter).
The Corporations
Does your local grocery store offer special sales to you if you agree to swipe your value card during your purchase? If so then rest assured that your shopping habits are sitting in a database somewhere waiting for anyone who can obtain access to them. Tiny files called 'cookies' rest on your computer right now silently recording which sites you visit and reporting that information back to their creator.
Every time you use a debit or credit card to pay for anything, the amount of the transaction and the date get recorded. Granted, these are often done for perfectly legitimate purposes and, in some cases, can make our lives a great deal more convenient. But just as often this information is exploited by companies who use it to customize junk mail and spam that is then sent your way.
Banks & Credit Card Companies
If you write checks to anyone but friends and trusted family members then you are putting your money and credit at grave risk. Every check you give away has your checking account's personal routing number on it and, consequently, any thief with a working printer and a few inexpensive materials can use that routing number to forge a check on their PC, print it out, and cash in!
For that matter, whenever you use your credit card to pay for a meal you are giving your account number away to any waiter, waitress, or busboy who has the ability to commit a few digits to memory (the first six aren't necessary to remember since they only identify the company that issued the card). If you use your card to purchase items online then it's number, along with your name, address, and phone number, are stored on company computer servers which can and are cracked by computer criminals in search of a free vacation at your expense.
Credit Reporting Agencies
You can't get a job, rent an apartment, buy a car, or even a cell phone plan without credit which is why it's worth protecting. But the agencies who keep your credit score are as prone to error as anyone and if you happen to share a first and last name with someone who regularly bounces checks and files for bankruptcy -well, you're screwed! If you can't purchase a house because Equifax messed up it's your responsibility to fix things.
There are hundreds of credit bureaus in this country but all of them report to the big three: Equifax, Experian (formally TRW), and Trans Union. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (which I highly recommend you read) you are entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report within 60 days of having been rejected for a loan or employment on account of your credit record; otherwise you can still receive a copy for $8. Even if you think you have good credit or none at all, it is imperative that you get a copy of your record from all 3 of these agencies. Credit Bureaus make mistakes, identity thieves ruin the credit of upstanding, responsible people, and some creditors and banks never report the timely payment of loans — all of which conspire to lower your credit score and thus your standard of living. If there are any mistakes, omissions, or signs of fraud on your credit report, all credit bureaus are obligated, within 6 weeks, to investigate and correct them if your claims can be substantiated. Below are the addresses and websites of the big three:
Experian www.Experian.com
P.O. Box 949
Allen TX,75013
800-682-7654
Equifax Credit Information Services www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta GA 30374-0241
800-685-1111
Trans Union Credit Information www.transunion.com
Trans Union Consumer Relations
760 West Sproul Road
P.O. Box 390
Springfield PA,19064-0390
800-851-2674
The Media
Justice may be blind and impartial but the court of public opinion is ruled by the media and it's a sad fact that most journalists care more about ratings and money than they do the truth. You don't have to be a celebrity to fall victim to the paparazzi and once they've tarnished your name there is nothing to do but move on and hope your infamy doesn't precede you. Good Luck. You'll sue, you say? But they've got more lawyers than you do and no amount of money can repair a ruined reputation.
Insurance Companies
Ever been in an accident? Do you have a pre-existing medical condition. Then say goodbye to your safety net. And even if you do have good insurance, it's best to assume they're watching you like a hawk.
Your Employer
If you work in an office your employer can and probably does monitor everything you do, from which websites you visit to every word you type into the keyboard — and it's all perfectly legal.
This is what you are up against. Now that we know who has our information, lets discover who exploits it and how.
CHAPTER II: Invasions of Privacy and How to Neutralize them
Now that you know what's at stake it's time to start defending yourself. If you are the average American citizen your identity and privacy is already severely compromised. It's like a ship full of holes and taking in water fast. In this section I tell you where to find those holes and how to plug them up before you're sunk.
Spam, Junk mail, and Telemarketing
If you are a responsible person then you have probably had hours of your life wasted with these banes of modern life. You sort through piles of advertisements every day to retrieve the small amount of mail that constitutes your bills and personal correspondences and if you don't clean up afterwords you find your home cluttered with ads and stray piles of paper within a few weeks. Even worse, some of this unsolicited mail contains sensitive personal data that must be either shredded or burned — a time consuming process in itself.
Your email box is probably even more contaminated. How many times have you accidentally deleted important emails in an effort to clean out the spam? Before I started living a private life I must have received about ten unsolicited emails a day!
Finally there are the telemarketers. They always seem to call just around dinner; right? And you can bet they aren't going to accept 'not interested' for an answer. Most of them are obnoxious enough to make you justify your refusal to waste your hard earned money and limited free time to buy their overpriced junk and fly-by-night scams. Well I'm here to tell you that there is no need to put up with this anymore! If you take the following simple steps I guarantee you less junk mail and a total cessation of unsolicited email or phone calls.
Let's start with spam email because this is the easiest to stop.The first thing you should do is close your current email account and open a new one. Yes, it will be a hassle to update all your friends and colleagues about the new address but this step alone is the single most powerful thing you can do to stop all spam immediately! I recommend that you choose a pay account over a free one. Why? Three reasons:
1. Pay accounts are more secure against crackers (provided you use a strong password).
2. Free email providers have to pay for that bandwidth somehow and they sometimes do it by selling your address to advertisers. Pay providers don't have to do this.
3. Pay accounts are more likely to have sophisticated spam filters that will protect you from whatever spam does come your way and, because you are paying them, they will respond to any problems or complaints quickly and efficiently in order to keep you as a customer.
So, if you want maximum security, spring for a few extra bucks and get a pay account. If security for that particular email account isn't that big of an issue, then go ahead and use a free one.
Now that you have a new email address and have informed everyone who needs to know, protect it! Tell your friends not to share it with anyone without your permission. Never, ever post it on a message board, guestbook, chatroom, social network, or Usenet. Don't use it to sign up for any free services, message boards or sweepstakes; instead use a 'dummy address' at yahoo or disposable email accounts. To summarize, stop spam for good by practicing the following steps:
Step I: Open up a new, pay email account
Step II: Inform all your friends and colleagues about your new email address and warn them to reveal it to no one without your permission. Also, update any e-businesses about the change.
Step III: Close your old email account (or keep it as a 'dummy account')
Step: IV: Don't give your new email address to anyone you don't need to give it to. Don't post it on message boards, Usenet, social networking sites, guestbooks, or chatrooms and don't cc your email to anyone you don't trust.
It really is that simple.
Now we'll tangle with telemarketing. On March 11, 2003 former President George W. Bush signed the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003. Four months later the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) opened the National Do Not Call Registry in order to comply. By law, any number entered into this registry cannnot be used by telemarketers for solicitation. To get your number in, call 1-888-382-1222. After you have your number on the Do-Not-Call list it's time to make a call to any of the telemarketers who may have contacted you recently and tell — not ask — them to put you on their do not call list. This is because even though you are on the National DNC registry, all telemarketers still have a window of 30 days to comply. These 2 simple steps will stop most unsolicited calls.
Unfortunately, the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act has exceptions. It doesn't apply to charities, those conducting surveys, campaigning politicians, or companies that you have done business with in the last 18 months. Protecting against these impositions requires further measures. Charities are cinch: if you aren't interested in donating, don't and they'll stop calling after a while. Don't vote or register to do so and politicians will have no reason to bother you. Companies that you've had business dealings with can be warned to restrict their calls to delivering pertinent information such as shipping cancellations and invoices. Survey conductors are hard to shake but the less often you give out your number the less likely you are to receive calls from them. In summary, implement the following steps to stop telemarketers:
Step I: Put yourself on the National Do-Not-Call list by calling 1-888-382-1222.
Step II: Contact all individual telemarketers who have recently called and all those who may call within the next 30 days to tell them to put you on their own Do-Not-Call list.
Step III: Don't donate to any charities unless you want them to follow up next year for another donation and be sure to call any charities you have donated to and tell them you can't spare anything this year.
Step IV: Don't vote or register to vote; don't register or donate to any political parties; if you wish to avoid solicitations for votes and campaign donations.
Step V: Never give your phone number away unless it is absolutely necessary. This principle especially applies to sweepstakes and games of all kinds. Don't fall for it!
Step VI: Don't forget to make sure your name and number are withheld in the phone book. It will cost you but it needs to be done.
Stopping the flow of junk mail isn't as easy. There is no 'Do-Not-Mail List' and you can't just change your address. Moreover, since many advertisers obtain it from government agencies like the DMV, keeping your address private is not an option. To my knowledge, there is no way of totally eliminating junk mail short of scrapping your mailbox or doing something illegal (such as lying to a government agency about the location of your residence). That said, there are ways to reduce it.
When you file for a change of address the post office sees to it that the word gets out to everyone -- except your friends, family, and credit card company! Lying to the government (including the post office) is a felony but there is no reason why, amidst the chaos of moving, you might not forget to file that change of address. You might think that this would pose a problem: if your name isn't attached to your new address won't any mail sent to you simply be returned? The answer is no. Your post office may tell you otherwise but think for a moment: Haven't you received mail addressed to the former residents of your home? Yes? But you filed for a change of address when you moved in; didn't you? And they probably did the same? Uh huh. Bottom Line: There is simply no good reason to fill out a change of address form. Don't do it. Inform your friends, your family, your business associates, but keep the Post Office in the dark.
But what can you do short of moving away? First of all, stop giving your address out to those who don't absolutely need it. Guess what? Your video store doesn't need to know where you live. Get in the habit of saying: "That's private.". This won't reduce the volume of junk mail but it will prevent it from growing. Magazine subscriptions are another culprit. I know it's great to have your zines delivered to you and it's cheaper than buying them at the store; but the cost is a hidden one. Same goes for anything else ordered by mail or through the internet.
My uncle, who once owned a successful cruise business, told me about the time a woman called in and offered him a large sum of money in exchange for a list of his client's names, numbers, and addresses. To his credit he declined. You would be wise to assume that everyone, from the Chinese delivery restaurant down the street to your dentist, is selling your address and other information. How much of your privacy you want to sacrifice for convenience is up to you. I myself enjoy delivery food and do my shopping almost exclusively through the mail. Just be aware of the cost and accept it. Meanwhile, enact the following policies to stop the explosion of junk mail you receive eveyday:
Step I: Don't file a change of address with the Post Office.
Step II: Get a private mail box. If possible, get a private private mailbox that isn't associated with the U.S. Postal Service (Mail Boxes Etc. is an example of a popular chain, but there are other local services to choose from). Since they aren't a government outfit you can lie to them about your residential address without committing a crime.
Step III: Get rid of your residential mail box. Why do you need it? If anyone asks, tell them it was vandalized and you haven't bothered getting a new one.
Step IV: Give out your P.O. Box only to those you trust and warn them not to share it without your permission. Assume that every person and business you give your address to is going to sell it to thousands of other people and businesses. Act accordingly. You must still give your home address to government agencies like the DMV to avoid committing a crime but you can have any mail they want to send you sent to your P.O. Box. You can then dispose of what junk mail you still recieve right there, instead of letting your home get cluttered up with it.
This simple procedure will keep your home address private to all but your friends, your family, and the government; which is the maximum amount of privacy you can expect without breaking the law; but I don't think you will be disappointed. You will still receive some junk mail, but at least you can throw it in the trash before it makes it past your front door. If you go through with the privacy program that follows in Chapter III you can at least be assured that the junk mail you receive will no longer contain confidential information such as your SSN.
Creditors and Bill Collectors
If you've ever experienced an unforeseen accident or illness, you know the nightmare of owing money you don't have. Not all lenders are predatory, but there exists a certain species of them that prey on the the sick, the destitute, and the dying. These scavengers of human beings place a bet on your ability to repay their principle and whatever extortionary interest rate you've 'agreed' to. But when they loose that bet, instead of blaming their own greed or poor judgement, they have the self-righteousness to blame you. If you wagered $1000 at the races and your horse lost, would you blame the jockey? Would you expect him to reimburse you for your bet as well as the amount you had hoped to win? No reasonable person would; but there is nothing reasonable about greed.
Only a lawyer is qualified to handle the complexities of debt and bankruptcy; the subject in itself requires a separate book. But there is a simple way to get the creditors and debt collectors to stop calling you: tell them you can't pay and don't intend to. Once they hear this they will stop calling and, if the debt is large enough to justify it, file a lawsuit against you. Contest the lawsuit. Since it will probably be at least two months before it goes to trial this gives you the time to think and get things together without being bothered by threatening letters and phone calls. And hey, if the debt is small and you call their bluff they might just cut their losses and forget about you (though they will still report you to the credit bureaus, which will lower your credit score). Remember, no creditor wants to file a lawsuit. Trials are expensive and time consuming. Knowing this gives you the edge.
Even though they often act as if they were bad-ass bounty hunters or Mafia contractees, debt collectors have to obey laws too. Calling more than once a week or at odd hours (between 9pm and 7am) is considered harassment and you can prosecute them for it. In addition, they aren't permitted to publicize the fact that you are in debt (such as posting notices in a newspaper) or use forms of postage that others might be able to read (postcards), as this is considered a form of defamation. If they do any of these things don't hesitate to preserve the evidence and bring it to the attention of your lawyer.
The Police
Contrary to what they want you to believe, the police are not anyone's friend. All law enforcement officers, whether they are honest or crooked, have a job to do and that job is to arrest people (and hopefully obtain convictions). Not to protect, not to serve, or even to enforce the laws; but to make arrests; keep that fine distinction in mind as we go on and you'll understand the reasoning behind what is to come.
You should never let a police officer into your house unless he or she can show you a warrant. In fact, you shouldn't even open your door to them as they will most certainly take the opportunity to look around and if they see, hear, or smell anything that seems suspicious, all bets are off. If you must speak to one then step outside with the officer and shut the door behind you. What should you say? Nothing if possible. By all means be polite (rudeness is never justified in any situation) but don't allow yourself to get sucked into an informal interrogation. It's important to keep in mind that the police rarely, if ever, engage in idle conversation with a stranger for it's own sake. No matter how innocent it may seem, rest assured that the officer has an ulterior motive and his goal is to get you to slip up and say something you'll regret.
If you are stopped in your car the rules are largely the same with a few additions. First, keep your hands on the steering wheel where the officer can see them. If he asks to see your driver's license, retrieve it from your pocket slowly and put it through the window (there is no reason to put down your window all the way). If he tells you to get out of the car, obey him, but lock the door behind you. Officers do not need a warrant to search your car but there is no reason why you should invite them in. As always, be terse but polite. You should ask the officer if you are free to go and continue asking him throughout the ordeal. Unless he can find any reason to do otherwise, he'll have to let you go soon.
Finally, you may be stopped by a police officer while simply taking a walk. In this case the police do not need a warrant to search any bags, briefcases, or backpacks you might have on you. The only exception to this rule is if your bag is secured with a lock; so if you have something to hide be sure to either have it in a locked briefcase or use a small padlock to bind the two zipper handles on your backpack. As always, be quiet. If the officer asks for your ID, pull it out of your pocket slowly. You aren't required to tell a police officer where you are going or what you are doing just because he asks you, but you should ask him if you are free to go.
If you aren't free to go, it means you are under arrest. Once you are arrested, the police have a right to pat you down for weapons and take you to jail. Once you are there they will probably book you, snap a picture (remember to smile), and take your prints. If the crime they suspect you of isn't petty and obvious (like drinking in public) they will interrogate you. Tell them nothing and I mean nothing! You have no legal obligation to answer any of their questions. Now is a good time for you to remember that famous line from The Exorcist:
"The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us...."
The police can and do lie to suspects in order to get them to talk. Among their favorites are:
If you don't cooperate, we'll have no choice but to keep you here. This is almost never the case and even if they do keep you overnight, it's better than spending years in prison for a crime you didn't commit. Keep your mouth shut.
Your friend has already confessed. This tactic is especially popular when investigating cases of statutory rape. The interrogator will usually tell this to the younger girl/boyfriend since they know that youths are easier to intimidate and less likely to know their rights. Don't fall for it!
Come clean and you'll only get a slap on the wrist. Police have no authority to make this sort of deal; only prosecutors can do it.
We can place you at the crime scene. Your prints are all over it. Yadda, yadda, yadda. If they really had such damning evidence they wouldn't need a confession from you.
The lies these clever people can come up with are endless. But no matter how many lies they tell you, you should never lie to them. Not only are police trained to comb out any inconsistencies that might appear, if you happen to be interrogated by federal agents, such as the FBI, lying to them would be considered a crime in itself! So just keep quiet and wait for your lawyer.
Everything written above concerning police confrontations applies as well to children and teenagers as it does to adults. If you are under 18, not even your parents can make you say anything more than your name. Your backpack, if it is locked, is still private; though your room is open to a search if your parents consent to it, since they own the house (see Part V for how to deal with this).
CHAPTER III: PROTECT YOURSELF: A Step-By-Step Guide
Now that you've driven the intruders from your sanctuary, it's time to shut the door and and windows so they stay out! There are 7 potential entrances to your sanctuary and in this chapter you will learn how to secure each one.
Your Social Security Number
No other single bit of information is more appetizing to an identity thief than your SSN and yet, in your day to day business transactions, no other piece of information is in higher demand. It seems you cannot apply for a credit card, sign a lease, or even fill out a job application without it. There are companies that offer to protect your SSN for a fee but in my opinion they are all rip-offs. They aren't rip-offs because they fail to do what they say, but because they charge a fee for doing one simple thing, every 90 days, that you could do on your own: call the major credit bureaus and ask them to check your record for any suspicious activity. The fact is all three credit bureaus will do this for free! If you have money to burn but can't possibly spare a few minutes of time every 3 months then by all means, hire someone else to do it. Otherwise, save your money.