This week, privacy is on everyone’s minds. After the FBI demanded Apple assist in breaking into an iPhone, internet and phone users everywhere are wondering about how secure their digital interactions are. Digital Editor Natalie DiBlasio sat down with David Gorodyansky, CEO of AnchorFree, a company that makes the personal VPN called Hotspot Shield that was used to circumvent censorship during the Arab Spring in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. He has some tips on protecting your internet privacy. (USA TODAY Tech)
So about a week ago I noticed how many emails I was getting from websites I had accounts on that I never used so I started to try and delete some of them. Bc some companies decide to make it complicated this is how I deleted some of my accounts.
Goodreads
They don't have any links to click at the bottom of their email so you have to google goodreads, sign in, go to settings, click account preferences (I think), and scroll all the way down. Then there is a small red text "that says delete my account" click it, confirm your choice and you are done.
Candy
(this is for the ticket thing not candy crush)
There is no button to delete your account. If you google it they will tell you to email them a request, don't do that. I did and gmail just told me that there was no email address under that. Instead go to this link
Or click the little question mark in the top right corner and click submit a request. Then once you are on the request page fill that out and submit it. Then you will get an email saying they have gotten your email and that they generally respond in 1 business day. They havn't responded to me yet so I don't know how easy it actually it.
Electronic Arts
There is no button to delete your account. You have to email them. I was looking at the discussion board and several people were complaining that they emailed and have to confirm their identity and then get another email and have to confirm it all over again. The answer for that question and when you google it is the same thing and basically useless. I haven't emailed them get because of this.
Hero Forge
For this one there is nothing on their site or even the request page. A quick google seach will tell you to email Support@HeroForge.com and provide the email used. I did just that and I got a email saying that they have received it and it will take 1 or 2 business days.
This is your reminder to delete accounts you don't use. Also I'm not saying this is completing accurate, if anyone know a better way to delete accounts pls tell us. Defiantly expect more of these and if people want to share how to delete accounts on other site pls do.
Internet Security 101: Actual Advice for avoiding pedophilles and predators on the internet!
I do this for a job.
- Do not ever put a picture you took online without using a Metadata Remover Program first. Coding.Tools has one, and there are apps for it. If you do not, then any creep smart enough to google a metadata/EXIF viewer can find your LONGITUDE LATITUDE AND CAMERA INFO.
- Tape your webcam when its not in use. That way, even if something nasty gets on your computer, it cannot record you.
- Predators will lie to you about themselves. They will present themselves to be your peer, talk about your hobbies. As a result, a key skill in not looking like an easy target is not giving in to peer pressure.
- All of those posts on how you should reblog and comment on fics DO NOT APPLY TO YOU, if you are a minor and it is a smutfic. Even if your age isn’t in your profile.
- Don’t sign up for a billion different things with your email. Use Tenminutemail if you can.
- Discord servers are public spaces. Don’t say anything that you wouldn’t say in a public space. You don’t know who has screenshots, you don’t know if your grandmother will join the server a month after you leave. Act accordingly.
- Never use your real name online unless there it is a paid service. Either pick a fictional character, or make an alias up. I’m fond of using HP Lovecraft for websites that are too damn nosey about my name.
- Don’t list your triggers online. You are giving every creep on the street personal info about what makes you tick. If I were a particularly conniving predator, I could lie and say I have been through simmilar trauma to gain your trust. They are criminals, they do that.
- Lying on the internet for the purposes of protecting yourself is always morally okay. That cool joke your best friend told you the other day that you want to post about? Bam! Thats now your sister. Tell the story as you wish. Make everyone who follows you mildly confused about your family tree.
- This goes doubly so when people you know IRL follow you: Never mention if you are home alone or on vacation until after the fact. Don’t post vacation photos until you get home.
- You know those security questions? That you can use to regain your password when you are locked out of something? Most of those are googleable. I reccomend going with something subjective and/or smartass. (Favorite food is better than mothers maiden name.) This is important because if I get into your email, I can get into anything that email is attached to.
- If finding criminals online were easy, the police (and I.) would be out of a job. They are smarter than you think, always err on the side of caution.