Nowadays data is often compared to oil because of it's value and importance to the companies. There are some companies that need and requires your data information like social media sites and even exchanges that requires KYC gathers your information they commonly requires:
- Full Name
- Address
- Mobile or Telephone Number
- Email Address
- Age and Gender
- Occupation
- Citizenship
Data Broker
- According to different definitions, a Data Broker can be a person or a business that accumulates and gathers pieces of information of the consumers from different sources on the internet, after that, they process the data and sells it to other data brokers and companies or they buy it themselves. [they commonly gather through different Internet service providers, credit card issuers, mobile phone companies, banks, pharmacies, grocery stores and Social Media Sites like Facebook.]
-They commonly gather the data anonymously and the consumer might not know it unknowingly that their data is being collected and used by someone.
-To others, the data are nonsense and doesn't worth a glance and interest but to the data brokers they are worth something and a source of income. and you might not know that they are collecting data from you, although it seems like it's not that dangerous but it collects your personal data and who knows
Data Breach
-According to Wikipedia, A data breach is the intentional or unintentional release of secure or private/confidential information to an untrusted environment. Other terms for this phenomenon include unintentional information disclosure, data leak, information leakage and also data spill. Even the information that you input in different companies is not safe with them if their site has been hacked.
How to protect yourself from data brokers
1. Delete Cookies and Browsing History
-Maybe the simplest thing to do is to delete your cookies and your browsing history in your browser you can also delete the trackers in your website or maybe you can use a different type of browser that is secured but safe and trusted. There is also an option in the settings that lets you block third-party cookies. but this will not 100% protect you from them.
2. Log Out of Social Media Sites While You Browse the Web
-Always log-out your social media sites and don't save your passwords in your browser.
3. Skip Store Loyalty Cards
Data brokers collect information from the real world too, Hans says. It’s impossible to limit brokers’ access to some kinds of personal information, like public records. But if privacy is really important to you, decline offers for store loyalty cards–a major way retailers gather information about your buying habits. The downside? You may miss out on discounts.
4. Employ Advanced Online Tools
-You can use different privacy apps like Vpn and different search engines that do not collect your date searches like duck duck go and Hide and search.
5. Be selective with your data
-Don't use your emails in the sites you don't commonly know and sometimes don't subscribe to newsletter because they might know what your interest is about.
6. Don’t share everything
-Don't share everything in your social media on where are you located, the disease you have, what your interest is about and other things that are unnecessary that the website doesn't need
https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/big-data-brings-challenges-beyond-the-capabilities-of-traditional-siems/
https://money.com/data-brokers-online-privacy-tools/
https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/six-ways-outsmart-data-broker-collection-privacy-1282.php
https://manawa.ca/blog/how-to-protect-yourself-from-data-brokers-and-facebook/
https://www.monetizemore.com/blog/why-data-brokerage-is-your-next-big-source-of-revenue/