Resources

Company Overview

ClustrMaps is a website that combines public records to provide information about United States cities, their social demographics, and their business environment. ClustrMaps makes use of census data and government agency records. These are usually reliable sources of information, but sometimes governments present their data in machine-readable formats that are inaccessible to ordinary users.

ClustrMaps wants to give you the best and most reliable data about an address, so they use advanced data analysis and visualization tools. Remember that even though their team does its best to cross-check information for accuracy, correctness, and timeliness, they can't make any guarantees. However, they can provide users with valuable city insight from across the US that can be used however you see fit.

The website's Walkability Rating, based on proprietary technology, helps you find a neighborhood with the most comfortable urban infrastructure, where shops, restaurants, schools, gyms, and laundries are within walking distance. ClustrMaps relies on accurate, up-to-date information from government agencies and institutions to power its website. You can verify the accuracy of the provided information by checking the website's sources.

ClustrMaps also uses content submitted by its users. In these cases, the website is similar to wiki projects. It strives to provide accurate and up-to-date data, but since most of the data is received from third parties, ClustrMaps cannot assure that this data is always accurate and up-to-date.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

ClustrMaps collects a variety of consumer data, including:

Contact information such as contact number, email address, etc., to receive updates about the website's features and services.

Demographic information such as gender, age, race, income, education level, and employment status.

Behavioral knowledge includes information such as which pages are visited and for how long.

Location data such as IP address, GPS coordinates, and device information.

How Is Consumer Data Collected?

ClustrMaps collects data from a variety of sources, such as:

Directly from users who input their information on the website or through the use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

From third-party providers such as government agencies and institutions.

Indirectly from users through the use of analytics tools.

How Is Consumer Data Used?

ClustrMaps uses consumer data for a variety of purposes, including:

To provide users with information about US cities, their social demographics, and their business environment.

To help users find a neighborhood with the most comfortable urban infrastructure.

To power the website's Walkability Rating feature.

To provide users with accurate and up-to-date city-data.

To create marketing campaigns targeted at specific demographics.

To improve the website's features and services.

To troubleshoot technical issues.

Does ClustrMaps Consumer Data?

ClustrMaps does not sell any data. They may share consumer data with the following types of third parties:

Affiliates:

Companies that are owned or controlled by ClustrMaps.

Service Providers:

‍Companies that provide services to ClustrMaps, such as website hosting, data analysis, payment processing, and marketing.

Law Enforcement or Other Government Entities:

‍In response to a legal request if ClustrMaps believes disclosure is necessary to prevent imminent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity. ClustrMaps may also share aggregated or anonymized consumer data that does not personally identify you.

The Rights Given Under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, And DPA

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Data Protection Act (DPA) all grant consumers certain rights concerning their data. These include:

The right to know what personal data is being collected about them.

The right to know how this data is being used.

The right to have this data deleted.

The right to opt out of having their data sold.

The right to file a complaint if they believe their rights have been violated.

These rights are not absolute, and there are exceptions, but companies must generally provide a way for consumers to exercise these rights.

How To Request Deletion Of Your Data?

To request the deletion of your data, you can contact ClustrMaps at support@clustrmaps.com.

You can also delete your data by clicking the "Delete My Data" button on the website. This will permanently delete all the data that ClustrMaps has collected about you.

Please note the company may still retain some of your data even after you delete it, as required by law or for business purposes such as fraud prevention.

Company Overview

PeekYou is a web-based people search engine that provides users with comprehensive information on the individuals behind various public links. PeekYou allows users to search for people by name, username, email address, and phone number. The company also provides a reverse email lookup service, which enables users to find out who is behind an email address.

The engine examines articles from more than sixty news, blog, and social networking sites to determine who is actually behind them. It then compiles their disparate digital footprints into a single record of their online identity.

Over the years, PeekYou has become a go-to resource for online investigations, helping people find information on anyone from long-lost friends and family members to public figures and celebrities. Law enforcement agencies and private investigators have also used the company to track fugitives, locate missing persons, and gather evidence in criminal cases.

PeekYou is one of the top 500 websites in the US, according to Quantcast. The website first went up in stealth mode in July 2006 and then was relaunched in its current form in November 2009. It was started by Nathan Chan and Michael Hussey. New York City serves as the headquarters of PeekYou.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

PeekYou collects a variety of consumer data, including:

Contact information such as name, email address, mailing address, and phone number.

Demographic information, including your age, gender, date of birth, and zip code.

Interests, such as consumer product preferences and marketing communications preferences.

Online activity information such as your IP address, device type and ID, web browser type, time spent on those pages, access times and dates, referring URL, and clickstream data.

Geolocation data such as your current location that is based on your IP address.

Any information you voluntarily provide them, such as when you fill out a form or participate in a survey.

How Is Consumer Data Collected?

PeekYou collects consumer data in the following ways:

Directly from consumers when they provide it, such as when they create an account, fill out a form, or participate in a survey.

Automatically through their technology, as described in the “Tracking Technologies” section of their privacy policy. This includes tracking technologies they use for analytics and advertising purposes.

From third parties as described in the “Information from Other Sources” section. This includes information from social media networks, ad networks, and data providers.

How Is Consumer Data Used?

PeekYou uses consumer data for a variety of purposes like:

To provide and improve their service:

This is done by personalizing content and tailoring advertisements.

To communicate with consumers:

‍This includes sending marketing communications, responding to customer service inquiries, or notifying consumers of updates to their service.

For research and development:

‍This includes developing new products and services and improving existing ones.

For safety and security:

This includes protecting their systems against malware and other threats and detecting fraudulent activity.

The Rights Given Under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, And DPA

The CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, and DPA give consumers certain rights concerning their personal data. These rights may vary depending on the jurisdiction in which you reside, but typically:

You have the right to know what personal data is being collected about you, why it is being collected, and how it is being used.

You have the right to have your data deleted under certain circumstances.

You have the right to opt out of the sale of your data under certain circumstances.

You have the right to object to or limit the use of your data under certain circumstances.

You have the right to receive equal treatment for using your data, regardless of whether you participate in a voluntary opt-in program.

How To Request Deletion Of Your Data?

If you want to exercise any of your rights under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, or DPA, please contact PeekYou customer support at info@peekyou.com. You can also fill out an opt-out form here. Additionally, you can fill out this form to stop them from selling your information.

If you want to write to them, you can do so by contacting them at:

PeekYou

ATTN: Legal Department

PO Box 705

Ashburn, VA 20146

Please note that they may need to verify your identity before processing your request. They will respond to your request within 30 days.

Company Overview

Whitepages has a long history of innovation and meeting the needs of its customers. It provides information designed to help people stay connected, protected, and make informed decisions. Its core values include serving others, owning them, leading, and inventing. The company is known for its doers, not observers or managers. It is always looking for the next thing to solve or make better.

In 1997, Whitepages was founded. Since then, Whitepages has continued to innovate to meet the needs of its more than 30 million monthly customers. Some ways Whitepages has innovated include developing tools committed to authenticity, transparency, and personal control of information. Whitepages believes that data can be used for good, and this belief is reflected in its core values.

The company started as a way to help people find contact information for businesses and individuals. Whitepages have since grown to include many other features designed to help people stay connected and informed. These include reverse phone lookups, background checks, public records, and more.

Whitepages is a trusted source of information for millions of people. It is one of the largest online directories in the world. The company has a solid commitment to customer privacy and security. It does not sell or share personal information with third parties without permission. Whitepages is headquartered in Seattle, WA.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

Whitepages collect the following categories of personal information:

Identity Data:

‍ First name, last name, date of birth, government-issued identification number (e.g., Social Security number), age, gender.

Contact Data:

‍Mailing and residential address, email address, and telephone numbers.

Financial Data:

Bank account numbers or other financial information when you make purchases or set up recurring payments through their products.

Usage Data:

Data about your interactions with their products, such as the features you use, the searches you make, and the pages you view.

Device Data:

Information about the devices on which you access their products, including IP address, operating system type and version, browser type and version, and unique device identifiers (e.g., IDFA on iOS devices).

Location Data:

Precise geolocation data, including GPS coordinates and WiFi connection information (but only if you’ve enabled location-based features on your mobile device).

How Is Consumer Data Collected?

Whitepages collects personal information from the following sources:

Publicly Available Sources:

‍They may also collect personal information from public sources, such as property records, court records, and directories.

Third-party Sources:

‍They may receive personal information about you from third-party sources, such as data brokers or advertisers.

Directly From You:

‍They collect personal information when you provide it, such as when you create an account, sign up for newsletters or alerts, make a purchase, use their products, or contact them with feedback or questions.

How Is Consumer Data Used?

Whitepages uses personal information for the following purposes:

To provide, operate, and improve their products and services:

‍Whitepages may use your personal information to help you connect with the people you’re looking for, deliver the products and features you request, process your transactions, customize your experience, etc.

To communicate with you:

They may use your personal information to send you transactional or relationship messages, such as confirming a purchase or notifying you of changes to their terms or privacy policy.

For marketing purposes:

‍They also may use your personal information to send you marketing messages, such as special offers or recommendations.

The Rights Given Under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, And DPA

The rights given under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Data Protection Act (DPA) are as follows:

The right to know what personal information is being collected about you.

The right to know how your personal information is being used.

The right to know who your personal information is being shared with.

The right to opt out of the sale of your personal information.

The right to have your data deleted.

The right to receive equal treatment, regardless of whether you exercise your privacy rights.

How To Request Deletion Of Your Data?

To request the deletion of your personal information, contact Whitepages customer support. You may email support@whitepages.com. You will need to provide your full name, email address, and the reason for requesting deletion. After submitting the form, Whitepages will process your request and delete your data within 30 days.

If you want to stop the collection and use of your information by third parties, click here. To exercise your CCPA rights, click here.

Company Overview

ID True is a website that allows users to search for people in the United States. The website includes a directory of over 200 million people in the United States. The website will enable users to search for people by name, address, city, state, and zip code.

The background checks and reports have some of the most accurate and up-to-the-minute data from public records. Searches and background reports are private and confidential, so no one will ever know you searched for them. The website is easy to use. Enter the name of the person you are looking for, and the website will return a report with that person's contact information.

ID True is a company that provides many benefits to its users, whether they are entering a new relationship or want to know public record information about someone. Some benefits of using ID True include online dating safety, checking out neighbors, finding family members, and locating military buddies.

ID True reports give users comprehensive and detailed information on a person's current location, address history, contact information, criminal records, arrest history, sex offender status, relatives, and business associates. The reports also include a list of known aliases, social media profiles, and photos.

ID True is the most accurate people search website available. The website is updated daily with new public records, so you can be sure you are getting the most accurate information possible.

It has a social media section where users can find information about a person's social media accounts. The website also has a reverse phone lookup feature where users can enter a phone number and find out who it belongs.

Overall, ID True is a reliable source for obtaining public record information. The company has been providing these services for years and has built up an extensive database of information. ID True should be your go-to source whenever you need accurate information about someone.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

ID True collects a variety of consumer data, including:

Contact Data (such as your name and email address)

Financial Data (such as bank account numbers and credit card numbers

Demographic Data (such as your zip code and age, date of birth)

Criminal Data (such as criminal records, arrest history, and sex offender status)

Relative data (such as a list of your relatives and their contact information)

Business Associate Data (such as a list of your business associates and their contact information)

How Is Consumer Data Collected?

ID True collects consumer data in a variety of ways, including:

Public Records:

‍ ID True searches public records to collect data on consumers.

User-Generated Data:

ID True may collect data that users enter into the website, such as their contact information and date of birth.

Third-Party Data:

ID True may collect data from third-party sources, such as credit reporting agencies.

How Is Consumer Data Used?

Consumer data is used for a variety of purposes, including:

To provide you with the services you request, such as running a background check or finding someone's contact information.

To improve the quality of their services, such as by tailoring our reports to your needs.

To contact you about their services, such as to inform you about new features or special offers.

To protect the security of their website and our users' data.

To comply with legal requirements, such as to respond to a subpoena or court order.

The Rights Given Under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, And DPA

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Data Protection Act (DPA) all grant consumers certain rights concerning their data. These rights include the right to know what personal data is being collected, the right to have that data deleted, the right to opt-out of data collection, and the right to file a complaint.

How To Request Deletion Of Your Data?

ID True offers a data deletion request form on its website. To submit an opt-out or deletion request, click here. If you want to submit a request via email, send it to privacy@idtrue.com. Please include a proper subject line.

You will also need to provide your full name, email address, and the reason for requesting deletion. After submitting the form, ID True will process your request and delete your data within 30 days.

You can also call them directly at 1 (800) 443-2205. A customer service representative is available 24/7. Also, to unsubscribe to their marketing emails, you can click here.

Company Overview

Public Data Digger is a voter research tool that offers specialists, non-specialists, and political associations simple access to accurate and updated voter data. Their straightforward service helps ensure that voter records are current and accurate. Public Data Digger's data protection and security policies are top-notch, offering users the peace of mind that their personal information is safe.

Public Data Digger also offers a wide range of Customized Voter Data reports fitting the specific needs of their clients. Public Data Digger is the perfect research tool for anyone looking for accurate and up-to-date voter data.

Their easy-to-use service makes accessing the information you need simple, and their commitment to security means you can rest assured that your personal information is safe. With a wide range of Customized Voter Data reports available, they have the perfect solution for any client's needs.

Public Data Digger is committed to helping its clients make informed decisions about the voting process. They offer various services, including voter registration, absentee voting, early voting, and more. They provide search by address and reverse phone lookup capabilities.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

Public Data Digger collects the following categories of personal information:

Identifiers, such as name, email address, IP address, and account number

Characteristics of protected classifications under California or federal law

Commercial information, including records of personal property, products or services purchased, obtained or considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies

Biometric information

Internet activity information, including browsing history and interactions with websites, applications, and advertisements

Geolocation data

How Is Consumer Data Collected?

Public Data Digger collects data from the following sources:

Direct interactions with consumers, such as when they fill out a form on the website or sign up for an account

Observations of consumer behavior, including interactions with the website, applications, and advertisements

Third-party data providers, such as credit bureaus, marketing firms, and retailers

How Is Consumer Data Used?

Public Data Digger uses the information it collects for various purposes described in its policy. For example:

To Provide Their Service:

‍They use the information to provide and improve the Public Data Digger service. This includes authenticating users, providing customer support, detecting and preventing fraud or illegal activity, and billing for their services.

To Communicate With You:

‍They use the information to communicate with you about your account and the Public Data Digger service. For example, They may send you emails or push notifications about new features or updates to their service and promotional communications about products or services that may interest you.

For Marketing Purposes:

‍They use the information to tailor their marketing and advertising efforts to suit your needs and interests better.

For Research and Development:

They use the information for research and development purposes, such as to develop new products or features, to improve their existing products and services, and to understand their users and their needs better.

To Comply With Legal Obligations:

‍They may use the information they collect to comply with applicable legal obligations, such as responding to lawful requests by government agencies or courts for disclosure of information.

The Rights Given Under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, And DPA

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Data Protection Act (DPA) all grant certain rights to consumers.

These rights include the right to know what personal data is being collected about them, the right to have their data deleted, the right to object to the sale of their data, and the right to receive equal treatment regardless of whether they exercise their rights under these laws.

Public Data Digger is committed to respecting these rights and will take steps to ensure that its clients can exercise their rights under these laws.

How To Request Deletion Of Your Data?

If you would like to request the deletion of your data, don't hesitate to get in touch with Public Data Digger at support@PublicDataDigger.com.

Directly submit a request through the Request Form on their website. There are two options available. Manual and Auto Removal. Use what suits you the best.

Public Data Digger will take steps to delete your data within 30 days of receiving your request. However, please note that they may retain some information for purposes such as complying with legal obligations, preventing fraud, and protecting the rights and safety of their users.

Company Overview

USADATA is a market leader in targeting capabilities and data. Through digital marketing, it provides intuitive technology for businesses to enrich customer data and build and connect with their best custom audience. USADATA's innovative data activation platform helps marketers connect with more prospects and execute smarter campaigns for a higher return on investment.

USADATA works predominantly with mid-market companies to help them strategically grow their business. It has over 30,000 users of its technology and works directly with more than 500 companies. USADATA's intuitive technology and simple workflows make it easy for businesses to get started with data-driven marketing. The company offers products that help businesses target their best customers, personalize their messages, and measure their campaigns' success.

USADATA pledges to deliver the highest-quality data, multi-channel and digital marketing knowledge, consultative assistance, and service in every relationship. Customers can rely on USADATA to accurately analyze new audiences and guarantee that their businesses are using the best possible strategies and tactics to realize their full potential. Every step of the way, USADATA is there to carry out plans and accomplish common goals.

It believes that success is a team effort. It works for and in tandem with its clients to ensure their goals are achieved. Through its advanced technology and skills in multi-channel marketing, it uncovers data insights to help clients surpass marketing goals.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

USADATA collects data across all channels, including web, email, mobile, social media, direct mail, and more. It helps you understand your customers by providing accurate and up-to-date data. The type of consumer data USADATA collects includes:

Demographic Data:

This is information such as age, gender, income, education level, etc. It helps businesses better target their marketing efforts.

Psychographic Data:

his is information about lifestyle choices and personality traits. It can be used to segment audiences and create more personalized marketing messages.

Behavioral Data:

This is information about how consumers interact with your brand. It includes things like purchase history, web browsing behavior, and email engagement.

Location Data:

This is information about where consumers are located. It can be used for targeted advertising, local store promotions, and more.

How Is The Data Collected?

USADATA collects data through a variety of methods, including:

Online Surveys:

Consumers can opt-in to answer questions in exchange for rewards like coupons, sweepstakes entries, and more.

Purchased Data Lists:

USADATA buys data from other companies to supplement its collection efforts.

Data Partnerships:

‍USADATA partners with other companies to collect data. For example, it has a partnership with the National Consumer Panel, which allows it to collect purchase behavior data.

What Is The Data Used For?

The data USADATA collects is used for a variety of purposes, including:

Market research:

USADATA uses the data it collects to help companies understand consumer trends and preferences.

Better targeting:

‍USADATA's data helps businesses better target their marketing efforts.

Improved personalization:

‍The data collected by USADATA can be used to create more personalized marketing messages. This leads to improved engagement and conversions.

Increased insights:

‍USADATA's data collection efforts provide businesses with valuable insights into consumer behavior. This helps businesses make better strategic decisions.

Product development:

The data can be used to develop new products tailored to meet consumers' needs.

The Rights Given Under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, And DPA

USADATA is committed to protecting consumers' privacy and giving them control over their data. It provides the following rights to consumers under CCPA, FCRA, GDPR, and DPA:

The right to know what data is being collected about them.

The right to know why the data is being collected.

The right to know who the data is being shared with.

The right to access the data that is being collected about them.

The right to have the data deleted.

The right to opt out of having their data collected.

How To Request Deletion Of Your Data?

If you would like to request the deletion of your data, you can contact USADATA directly. By calling at 800.395.7707 or email at privacy@usadata.com. You can send opt-out requests directly by clicking here or here. You can also send them a mail at their postal address:

USADATA, Inc.

875 3rd Ave, 6th floor

New York, NY 10022

You will need to provide your name, email address, and the reason for your request. USADATA will then review your request and take action accordingly.

GumGum

https://www.gumgum.com/

Company Overview

GumGum is an advertising company with its headquarters located within the city of Santa Monica in California (there’s also a branch office situated in London, United Kingdom). The company implements advertising campaigns for their clients with the goal of increasing the attention capture of prospective and current customers. In addition, they also provide the opportunity for businesses to monetize with them through the promotion of advertisements. On its website, GumGum claims to have partnerships with some of the top global corporations including American Express, Canon, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Samsung. View the rest of their Partners when you click on the links below.

GumGum’s List of Partners 1 | GumGum’s List of Partners 2

GumGum and Your Personal Information

A new, valuable currency has emerged and corporations are already purchasing it by the truckloads: consumer data. The term Consumer Data refers to information collected on individuals that includes Personal Information along with a list of their online activities. It’s about time that you become more aware of your online Privacy and discover how consumer data is being handled by companies like GumGum. Take a couple of minutes and read the company’s Privacy Policy to find out how. You can access the document by clicking on the link below, which was last amended on December 23, 2019.

GumGum’s Privacy Policy

If the link above doesn’t work, click on the “Privacy Policy” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

It is very commendable that GumGum has constructed a well-formulated Privacy Policy written in an easy to understand language. They pretty much have everything laid out within the Policy. They outlined the different types of information collected and the purpose for their collection (section: “TYPES OF DATA WE COLLECT AND HOW WE USE IT”), how they collect the information (section: “HOW WE COLLECT YOUR PERSONAL DATA”) while stating the different types of information they claim not to collect (section: “PERSONAL INFORMATION WE DO NOT COLLECT”). Finally, they declare whom they share information with and the purpose for sharing it (section: “WHO DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL DATA WITH?”).

Whether or not GumGum does not collect Personal Information, data on individuals’ online activities are still being collected, stored and processed as the company uses consumer data for the benefit of providing advertising services to their clients. As you are fully aware, companies are becoming increasingly involved in the sale of consumer data, known as Data Brokerage. Nevertheless, you have the right to stop the sale of your Personal Information and even request the deletion of that Information from a company's databases. Let us help you to make that decision when you continue reading.

Opting Out and Deleting Your Consumer Information

GumGum only allows Californian residents to request the deletion of their Personal Information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”); there is no provision for residents of the other States. Nevertheless, the company facilitates requests to opt out of the company’s databases by any consumer. Please note that you may be asked to proceed through an identity verification process before your request can be fulfilled.

Opting Out

Fill out and submit an Online Form as shown in the image below as of August 2022.

Click on the “Exercise your rights” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

Deletion of Personal Information (Californian Residents)Online Form

Fill out and submit an Online Form similar to the one above for Opting Out.

Click on the “Do not sell” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

Telephone

Make a phone call to GumGum requesting to opt out of their databases or to delete your Personal Information. The contact number is 866-467-8688. Enter 319 as the service code when prompted.

Freedom Exercised

Reducing your digital footprint protects your online privacy while decreasing the risk of your Personal Information being leaked during cyber-attacks. Therefore, exercise your Data Privacy Rights and request the deletion of your Information from the databases of companies.

Company Overview

Oracle is best known as a computer technology corporation for its software products and services. It sells cloud-engineering services and systems, as well as database management systems. Oracle operates its IT predictably, securely, and at a lower cost with cloud infrastructure services designed to run all your cloud-native, web-scale, and mission-critical workloads.

Oracle's cloud application services provide companies with a way to connect their most critical business processes and provide a consistent user experience. This enables businesses to get more done in a shorter amount of time.

Oracle's enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, human capital management, advertising, customer experience, and industrial applications are curated to aid businesses in running more efficiently and effectively.

Oracle's cloud infrastructure services help businesses run their IT operations more reliably and cost-effectively. The benefits include support for cloud-native applications, web-scale workloads, and mission-critical operations. This makes Oracle an attractive option for businesses looking to move to the cloud or expand their current cloud infrastructure.

Oracle's developer services are also a crucial part of its offering. These services make it easy for businesses to integrate their applications with Oracle's cloud infrastructure, analytics, and BI services, allowing companies to fully take advantage of the cloud's power and flexibility.

Type Of Consumer Data Collected

Oracle collects consumer data, including name and physical addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers, demographic attributes, transactional data, company data, location information, and behavioral data. This data is collected directly from consumers through various interactions with Oracle products and services and third-party sources.

How Does Oracle Use Consumer Data?

Oracle uses consumer data for a variety of business and commercial purposes. Some of these purposes include communicating with customers, administering subscriptions, analyzing and optimizing the use of its products and services, and marketing its products and services.

They may also use personal information to manage their sites and facilities' security and operation and comply with applicable laws. They tailor their marketing and sales activities to their customers' interests to provide the best customer experience.

Oracle may also provide selected business-to-business services to Oracle customers using publicly available information about companies. This may include personal information such as the name of a company's CEO that is publicly available.

Does Oracle Share Consumer Data?

Oracle may share personal information with relevant third parties in the event of a reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or any portion of their business, assets, or stock.

Oracle may also share personal information with its distributors or resellers for further follow-up related to your interests or with partners offering complementary products and services. Oracle may also share personal information with event partners or conference sponsors for Oracle events.

The Rights Given Under CCPA and GDPR

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are both pieces of legislation that aim to protect consumers' privacy. They provide several rights to consumers, including the right to access their data, correct their data, and delete them.

The CCPA also provides the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information and the right to receive equal service and prices, even if a consumer exercises their privacy rights. The GDPR provides the right to data portability, the right to object to processing, and the right to be forgotten.

Oracle is committed to protecting consumer privacy and providing customers with choices about how their data is used. Oracle has implemented several products and service features to give consumers more control over their data. For example, Oracle customers can opt out of the sale of their personal information and can delete their data at any time.

How to Request Deletion Of Your Data?

Oracle provides a form on its website for individuals to submit requests to erase their data. Open the form and enter the details required. Oracle will take a bit to verify your identity, and your request will be processed. Always ensure to provide relevant identity information, so the company processes your request quickly.

Alternatively, you can also reach out to the company at:

Phone numbers: +1.650.506.7000 or +1.800.392.2999

Live chat on their website

Mail them at privacy_ww@oracle.com

Data Facts

https://www.datafacts.com/

Company Overview

Data Facts is a consumer reporting agency located in the state of Tennessee. They prepare consumer reports to clients searching for background information on businesses, potential candidates for employment, and potential tenants. Data Facts’ reports include criminal background checks, verification of accreditation, motor vehicle records checks, and much more. The company also offers drug screening and testing services in promotion of a healthy workplace, along with continuous monitoring of the business, employee or tenant. Data Facts works along with a number of partners including cityCURRENT, eSCREEN, PBSA, US Tax Works 2.0 and Walton Management Services. Click on the link below to view the full list of Partners and Affiliates.

Data Fact’s List of Partners

Data Facts and Your Personal Information

Do you know that data is a very valuable currency in today’s technological world? If you didn’t know, then it’s about time you find out how companies like Data Facts are handling your Personal Information. The company’s Privacy Policy, found on its website, details how it intends to manage consumer information and with whom it is shared. Click on the link below to open Data Facts’ Privacy Policy, which was last updated on May 11, 2022.

Data Fact’s Privacy Policy

If the link above doesn’t work, click on the “Privacy Policy” link found on the website’s Footer (the bottom section of the webpage) as shown in the image below.

According to its Privacy Policy, Data Facts is governed by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) do not apply to activities conducted under the FCRA. Nonetheless, they allow Californian residents to exercise their Data Privacy Rights under the CCPA. Unfortunately, the document provides very few instructions for persons looking to have their Personal Information deleted, and little control is granted to the average American consumer over their Information.

Data Facts is a company operating with huge quantities of data in order to prepare consumer reports. Such companies are useful to corporations to whom data is a valued currency. Likewise, there’s an increase in companies becoming involved in the sale of data for financial gains. Nonetheless, with existing Data Privacy laws, you can make a request to prohibit Data Facts from selling your Personal Information and even delete that Information from their databases. You have the Right – now it’s time to exercise it.

Opting Out and Deleting Your Personal Information

Data Facts hasn’t provided much for consumers wishing to opt out of their data-selling campaigns or to have their Personal Information deleted from the company’s databases.

Email

Send an email requesting to stop the sale of your Personal Information or request to have your Information deleted. The email addresses to send the request is compliance@datafacts.com.

Freedom Exercised

Exercising your Data Privacy Rights by requesting the deletion of your Personal Information from the databases of companies certainly helps to protect your privacy and reduce your digital footprint. In addition, there’s a reduced risk of your Information being exposed during terrifying hacks and data leaks.

Company Overview

Adstra Data gives you unparalleled access to first-party, third-party, and cross-device data. Their patented Activation Engine helps you turn that data into actionable insights and real-time optimizations. So, companies can reach their target audience with greater precision and achieve better results. This will boost their revenue and increase reach.

Adstra Data understands that data is the lifeblood of marketing. Without it, you're flying blind. That's why they've built the most comprehensive data management and activation platform in the industry. Adstradata, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, is the only platform that gives you everything you need to turn data into action. That's why it is the choice of leading marketers around the world.

If you want to learn more about how Adstra Data can help you better use your data or anything related to it, click here.

Type Of Data Collected

Like every marketing company, Adstra Data also collects data that it uses to build valuable insights that help companies lead targeted marketing campaigns to boost sales. It collects data from the users based on their activity mainly.

Adstradata collects several types of data, including:

First-Party Data:‍

This is data that you collect directly from your customers and prospects. It can include information like name, email address, postal address, phone number, purchase history, and the business you work for.

Third-Party Data:  

‍This is data that you purchase from other companies. It can include demographic information, lifestyle information, and psychographic information.

Cross-Device Data:

This is data that you collect across multiple devices. It can include device type, operating system, browser type, IP address, the website pages viewed, and the duration of time spent visiting specific site pages.

What Does Astra Data Do With The Collected Data?

Astra Data uses the collected data to:  

Help better understand customers and prospects;

Segment audience for more targeted marketing;

Personalize your marketing messages;

Measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns

Help Clients deliver advertisements and content personalized to their users based

on personalized interests gathered across multiple Screens.

Optimize your marketing spend.

The Rights Under CCPA and GDPR

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is state law for California residents Whereas, The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union law. Both give citizens the right to know what personal information is being collected about them, the right to get a copy of the recorded data, the right to get it all deleted, and the right to opt-out of its sale.

Adstra Data is committed to protecting your privacy. The company promises never to sell or rent your personal information to third parties. Adstra Data will never use your personal information for anything other than the specific purpose for which it was collected.

How To Request Deletion Of Private Data?

The Opt-out process is straightforward, and we should give credit where due. Adstradata provides an easy way to opt out of having your data collected by them. You can do so by contacting Adstra at privacy.officer@adstradata.com or Filling out the necessary forms available on their website, but they are present deep within their privacy policy. To make it easy and time-saving, we will add them here.

Request To Not Sell My Personal Information Request

If you want to proceed with a request not to sell any of your information, fill out this form. This will stop the company from selling your data to any third party, even their partnered companies, for marketing purposes.

Request To Delete Access To Your Data

If you want the company not to access your data and delete all the recorded data, fill out this form. This will make Adstra delete all-time recorded data about you.

Reset Your Advertising ID

You can also Unsubscribe or Unlink your device from Adstra Data, and it will unlink your device from any of the data that has been accumulated and assigned to that ID. Just click here to do so. It is to be noted that you need to remove your advertising ID individually from all devices under your use and from all browsers to revoke Adstra access to your personal information entirely.

After Opting Out

Adstra Data will no longer record your data or send you any personalized ads. However, you will still receive ads as per the law, but they will no longer be personalized based on your data. If you have questions about Adstra's data collection or use practices, don't hesitate to contact Adcstra at privacy.officer@adstradata.com.

Social engineering is a manipulation technique adeptly used by adversaries to trick individuals into revealing personal or sensitive information unlike other forms of cyber-attacks that exploit system vulnerabilities, social engineering zeroes in on human psychology.

This manipulation often takes the form of phishing, pretexting, or impersonation, where the attacker pretends to be a trustworthy entity to extract valuable information. The beauty or, rather, the danger lies in the simplicity of these deceptions, which often lead to individuals divulging passwords, bank details, or other confidential data.

The digital age, while bringing about unparalleled convenience and connectivity, has also opened up a Pandora’s box of cyber threats, with social engineering scams being notably prevalent. Recent statistics and incidents highlight a worrying uptick in such deceptive practices.

The shift towards remote working and the consequent rise in online interactions have only added fuel to the fire, providing a fertile ground for social engineering scams to thrive. From phishing emails to fraudulent customer support calls, the gamut of social engineering scams is as vast as it is detrimental.

As we delve deeper into the common types of social engineering scams in the following section, it becomes imperative to acknowledge the profound impact such scams can have on personal lives and organizational integrity.

How to Detect Social Engineering Scams?

In the battle against social engineering, awareness and vigilance are your strongest allies. Detecting these scams requires a keen eye and an informed mind. Social engineers prey on human psychology and behaviour to weave their malicious narratives, making it vital to recognize the signs of their deceitful plays. Here we’ll explore some key indicators of social engineering scams and how to effectively spot them before falling victim.

1 - Recognizing Phishing Emails

Phishing remains one of the most pervasive forms of social engineering. Attackers often disguise themselves as reputable entities in emails, seeking to gain your trust and pry away your sensitive information.

Recognizing phishing emails is crucial. Look for red flags such as generic greetings, spelling and grammar mistakes, and requests for personal information. Moreover, hover over any links to see where they actually lead before clicking, as malicious links are a common phishing tactic.

2 - Verifying Unexpected Communications

Unexpected communications can be a gateway for social engineering scams. Whether it’s an email from your bank or a call from a supposed government official, always approach unexpected communications with a dose of scepticism.

It's wise to verify the identity of the sender or caller through a separate communication channel. For instance, if you receive an email from your bank, call the number on the back of your bank card rather than any number provided in the email.

3 - Be Cautious of Urgency

A common tactic employed by social engineers is creating a sense of urgency. They aim to rush you into making decisions without thorough scrutiny. Whenever you encounter communication stressing immediate action, take a step back. Evaluate the situation, verify the information, and don’t let the apparent urgency cloud your judgment.

Common Types of Social Engineering Scams

Social engineering scams come in many flavours, each with a unique twist on manipulating individuals to disclose sensitive information. Understanding the common types of scams is the first step towards building a robust defence. Let’s dissect some prevalent social engineering scams that you should be wary of:

1 - Phishing and Spear Phishing

Phishing scams involve attackers disguising as trustworthy entities to harvest sensitive information like login credentials or credit card numbers. Spear phishing is a more targeted variant, where attackers personalize their deceptive messages to a specific individual or organization, often using information gleaned from prior research to appear more convincing.

2 - Pretexting

Pretexting is another form of social engineering where attackers fabricate scenarios or circumstances to extract information from their targets. They might impersonate a company executive, IT support, or a trusted third-party to create a pretext for requesting sensitive data.

3 - Quiz Scams

Beware of online quizzes that are designed to trick individuals into sharing personal or confidential information. These quizzes may appear fun and harmless but could be a gateway for attackers to glean data which can be used in subsequent, more targeted attacks.

4 - Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams involve attackers pretending to be someone else, often a figure of authority, to extract sensitive information or financial assets. These scams thrive on the inherent trust associated with the impersonated individual or organization, making them notably dangerous.

Defensive Measures Against Social Engineering

While detection is the first line of defense against social engineering scams, having robust protective measures in place is equally critical. A proactive approach towards security can significantly deter social engineers, making it difficult for them to penetrate the protective layers surrounding your personal or organizational data.

Let's delve into some effective defensive strategies that can be employed to fend off social engineering attempts and ensure a safer digital environment.

1 - Education and Training

The cornerstone of defending against social engineering is education and training. Individuals and organizations must be educated on the different forms of social engineering, how they work, and the red flags to look out for. Regular training sessions can help in keeping everyone updated on the latest threats and prevention measures.

2 - Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) can be a significant deterrent to social engineering scams. MFA requires more than one form of identification before granting access to an account, thereby adding an extra layer of security. Even if a malicious actor obtains your password through social engineering, they would still need to bypass the additional authentication measures.

3 - Regular Security Audits

Conducting regular security audits is a proactive measure to identify and fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited through social engineering. These audits can reveal how well your organization’s current security measures are holding up and where there is room for improvement. By regularly evaluating your security posture, you can stay one step ahead of social engineers.

Conclusion

PrivacyHawk is a tool that can add a significant layer of protection in the digital realm, assisting in the prevention of scams by managing one's online data exposure. By identifying and deleting personal data from exposed sites, PrivacyHawk diminishes the likelihood of falling prey to social engineering scams which often leverage publicly available information to craft convincing deceptive narratives.

With fewer data points available to malicious actors, the efficacy of their scams is considerably reduced. Hence, incorporating PrivacyHawk in one's digital hygiene routine complements the vigilant and well-informed approach advocated in conclusion, fostering a more secure digital environment.

The rise of remote work has brought new challenges to cybersecurity. Remote workers are often more vulnerable to cyber threats due to the use of personal devices and the lack of security measures outside the office. That's why we think it's important to talk about some best practices that will keep remote workers and their companies safe from cyber threats. In this article, we’re going to take a look at 7 tips to protect your devices and data.

1. Use strong password management practices

We cannot stress enough the importance of a strong password. It is one of the most basic yet crucial steps to secure your computer and data. You should avoid common or easily guessable passwords as well as using the same one on every account. What we recommend is using a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Also, consider using a password manager to generate and store passwords.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Your accounts can never be too protected, that's why using two-factor authentication will provide you with that extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification, such as a text message or biometric scan, in addition to a password. Using this kind of security process can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts and data.

3. Keep Your Software Up-to-Date

We know that sometimes it is easier to hit pause on an update and “do it later”, but sometimes that later is too late. Keeping your software up-to-date is crucial to ensure that your device has the latest security patches and bug fixes. Cybercriminals often target outdated software with known vulnerabilities. We recommend setting your device to download and install updates automatically.

4. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

When working remotely, using a VPN is a must! A VPN is a service that encrypts your internet connection and helps protect your privacy by masking your IP address. Consider using a VPN to access your company's network or sensitive data. It can also prevent eavesdropping and unauthorized access to your data.

5. Use Antivirus and Firewall Software

There's a reason why this software exists. Antivirus and firewall software can help detect and prevent cyber-attacks. Enable your firewall to restrict unauthorized access to your device and block suspicious network traffic. Plus, don't forget to keep your antivirus and firewall software updated.

6. Be Cautious of Phishing Scams

Did you know that phishing scams are one of the most common cyber threats? Remote workers should be extra cautious of phishing scams, as they often use social engineering to trick users into providing their personal and financial information. Don’t open suspicious emails or messages or answer suspicious phone calls, and avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

7. Secure Your Wi-Fi Connection

When working remotely, your Wi-Fi is one of the most basic yet essential tools. So securing your Wi-Fi connection seems like something rational to do. With this, you will prevent unauthorized access to your network and data. We also recommend using a strong and unique Wi-Fi password and consider disabling the guest network feature. Also, try using a WPA2 or WPA3 encryption to protect your Wi-Fi network.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is crucial for remote workers to protect their devices and data from cybercrimes. By using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, keeping software up-to-date, using a VPN, antivirus and firewall software, being cautious of phishing scams, and securing your Wi-Fi connection, you can significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks. Remember that cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and you should always be cautious and proactive in protecting your digital assets, and an easy way to do it is by using PrivacyHawk.

It’s a personal privacy manager that helps individual consumers quickly and easily understand what data is being collected about them online and how it’s being used. With PrivacyHawk, you can easily protect your personal information.

Protecting businesses’ systems from unauthorized access is of the utmost importance to cybersecurity. Social engineering is the cause of 98% of successful cyber attacks. These attacks use personnel's personal information to gain unauthorized access to systems through impersonation and phishing attacks.

Every member of an employer’s staff is a potential vulnerability whose personal information could be used to compromise their systems. And each one could have a personal digital footprint with hundreds of personal data exposures.

It is of vital importance to a business’s cybersecurity to reduce the number of attack vectors of their systems through the personal data of their personnel. Of particular importance is the personal information about personnel available online from data brokers, social media profiles, and other corporate data breaches.

The Problem

For every thousand employees a company has, each with an estimated digital footprint of 350 vulnerabilities, there are potentially 350,000 copies of their personnel’s data that could be used for social engineering attacks that could compromise their systems (per 1000 employees).

Removing each of these exposures manually for each individual is virtually impossible without technology. It would require all 1,000 personnel to spend weeks or longer trying to

track down all the places they gave their personal information to, along with finding all the data brokers selling their personal info,

researching how to remove each exposure by reading each privacy policy, filling out the web form to delete their info, and then

follow up to verify that each one has been processed. Additionally, new exposures rise each month, resulting in ongoing monitoring being required.

PrivacyHawk estimates that it would initially take 60 hours per person and then another 2 hours monthly to manually manage this. For 1,000 personnel, that’s 84,000 hours per year spent manually reducing their digital footprints to reduce the risk of it being used for cyberattacks on their business systems. With an average cost of $70 per hour per employee, it would cost a company nearly $6 million per year per 1,000 employees to try to solve this problem manually without technology.

The Solution

PrivacyHawk uses robotic process automation and software to automate the above thousands of hours of work to reduce the digital footprint and number of social engineering attack vectors of the company as a whole. PrivacyHawk already has an existing, commercially available, working solution that can be used to help significantly reduce the number of personal data vulnerabilities that could be used to compromise a business’s systems.

This reduces the risk of data breaches and their associated costs, reduces the risk of IP theft and unauthorized access to company systems, and reduces the risk of social engineering hacks against the company. Ultimately that reduces the liability and cost risks of a data breach to the company and its insurers.

As the internet becomes an increasingly integral part of our daily lives, it's important for individuals to be aware of the risks of cybersecurity threats and to take steps to protect themselves online. Cybersecurity threats can come in many forms, including malware, phishing scams, and data breaches, and they can have serious consequences for individuals, such as identity theft or financial loss.

Here are some best practices for protecting yourself online:

1. Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts.‍

Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, and create a strong password by using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.

2. Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to enter a code that is sent to your phone or email in addition to your password.

3. Be cautious about sharing personal information online.

Avoid sharing sensitive information such as your Social Security number or financial information on public websites, and be careful about who you share your personal information with.

4. Keep your software and devices up to date with the latest security patches.

‍Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, so it's important to keep your devices and software up to date to protect yourself.

5. Use antivirus software and a firewall to protect your devices.

Antivirus software can help protect your devices against malware, while a firewall can help protect your devices against unauthorized access.

6. Be cautious about emails and websites.

Be wary of emails or websites that ask for personal information or that contain links or attachments that you weren't expecting.

7. Use a virtual private network (VPN) when connected to public WiFi.

‍A VPN encrypts your internet connection and can help protect your data when you're connected to public WiFi.

By following these best practices, you can help protect yourself and your personal information online. It's important to be vigilant about cybersecurity threats and to take steps to protect yourself to ensure that you can safely enjoy the benefits of the internet.

Another action you can take to prevent being targeted by cybercrime is using a tool like  PrivacyHawk, which identifies where your personal data is exposed, putting you at risk, and automatically removes these vulnerabilities. It's available in the Apple App Store; try it today!

With social media's ever-evolving landscape, it is important for parents and guardians to be aware of how to protect teenagers' privacy on Instagram and Facebook. Social media has become a major part of life for most people, especially teens, who often use online platforms as an outlet to express themselves with friends and peers.

If not properly managed or monitored, this can lead to unintended consequences. Fortunately, there are ways that parents and guardians can help secure the safety of their children while allowing them access to these powerful social media networks.

In this blog post, we will discuss some useful tips on how you can ensure teenagers' privacy when using Instagram and Facebook. So, let's begin.

Why Is It Important To Protect The Privacy Of Teenagers?

Protecting the privacy of teenagers on Instagram and Facebook is important because they may not yet have developed the skills and knowledge necessary to protect themselves online. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying, identity theft, and other misuse of their personal information.

Furthermore, here are some more reasons why you should protect teenagers' data when using the internet.

1. Prevents them from being exposed to potential predators:

‍Social media is a breeding          ground for cyberbullying, trolling, and other forms of online harassment.          Teenagers need to be able to protect themselves from these types of dangers.

2. Saves from being exposed to inappropriate content:

Teenagers are vulnerable           to seeing things they should not be exposed to, and it is important to protect them           from them.

3. Allows them to have an appropriate amount of control over their online presence:

‍Teenagers should be able to decide what information is shared and who can see it.          Controlling this will help them stay safe online.

4. Help to protect their mental health:

‍Teenagers are more susceptible to feeling           anxious, depressed, and other mental health issues due to the content they may           be exposed to. Having the ability to protect their privacy can help them protect           their mental health.

5. Help them stay away from cyberstalkers:

They may be able to track teenagers’           online activity if their privacy settings are insufficient, and it is important to            protect them from this type of danger.

Tips To Protect The Privacy of Teenagers

Worried about how to protect your teen's privacy? No need to get upset because you can follow the below-mentioned tips to ensure your teen's privacy is completely protected.

Educate your teen about online privacy and security: Explain why protecting their online privacy and keeping their information secure is important.

Set appropriate social media boundaries: Discuss with your teen the type of content they are allowed to post online and inappropriate content.

Monitor online activity: Establish guidelines for the types of websites your teen can visit and the amount of time they can spend online.

Set up parental controls: Use parental control software to limit your teen’s access to inappropriate content.

Set strict rules for sharing personal information: Make sure your teen understands not to share their personal information, such as their address, phone number, or other identifying information, with anyone they don’t know.

Talk to your teen about cyberbullying: Explain to your teen why it is wrong and how to respond if they are cyberbullying victims.

Explain the consequences of sexting: Make sure your teen knows that sending images of themselves to someone else can have serious consequences.

Ensure your teen uses strong passwords: Teach them to use strong passwords to protect their accounts.

Encourage your teen to think before they post: Remind your teen that once something is posted online, it can’t be taken back.

Be a good role model: Let your teen see that you take online privacy and security seriously by following these tips yourself.

PrivacyHawk Helps Protect Teenager’s Data

While it’s important for parents to closely monitor their child’s social media activity, teenagers also need to be aware of the importance of privacy settings and how to use them. As our society becomes increasingly reliant on technology, it’s more important than ever that we take steps to protect our privacy, especially when it comes to sharing personal information online.

PrivacyHawk is a personal privacy manager that helps individual consumers (not businesses or organizations) take control of their digital footprint and safeguard their private information. If you’re looking for ways better to protect your teenager’s privacy on social media, consider using a tool like PrivacyHawk.

Data breaches have become increasingly common in recent years, with hackers accessing the sensitive personal and financial information of millions of individuals and organizations. While there have been many data breaches throughout history, some have had a particularly significant impact due to the large number of records that were compromised, the sensitive nature of the data that was accessed, or the long-term consequences for those affected.

1. Yahoo data breach (2013-2014):

In 2013 and 2014, hackers accessed the personal information of all 3 billion user accounts on Yahoo's servers. The hackers obtained access to information such as names, email addresses, and security questions, as well as unencrypted security answers. The breach had serious consequences for Yahoo and its users, and the company ultimately settled with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay a $35 million fine.

2. Marriott data breach (2018):

In 2018, hackers accessed the reservation system of Marriott's Starwood Hotels chain and accessed the personal information of up to 500 million guests. The hackers obtained access to information such as names, addresses, passport numbers, and reservation details. The breach had serious consequences for Marriott and its guests, and the company ultimately reached a settlement with the UK's data protection authority, agreeing to pay a $124 million fine.

3. Equifax data breach (2017):

In 2017, hackers accessed the personal information of 147 million customers of credit reporting company Equifax. The hackers obtained access to sensitive information such as names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses. The breach had serious consequences for Equifax and its customers, and the company ultimately reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay up to $700 million in fines and compensation to those affected by the breach.

4. Adobe data breach (2013):

In 2013, hackers accessed the personal information of 152 million customers of software company Adobe. The hackers obtained access to sensitive information such as names, email addresses, and encrypted password data. The breach had serious consequences for Adobe and its customers, and the company ultimately reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay a $1 million fine.

5. eBay data breach (2014):

In 2014, hackers accessed the personal information of 145 million users of the online marketplace eBay. The hackers obtained access to information such as names, addresses, and encrypted password data. The breach had serious consequences for eBay and its users, and the company ultimately settled with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay a $20 million fine.

Data breaches can have serious consequences for individuals and organizations, and it's important to take steps to protect your personal information and to be cautious about sharing sensitive information online. Some general tips for protecting yourself online include using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, being cautious about sharing personal information online and keeping your software and devices up to date with the latest security patches.

If you want to find out exactly which companies have your private data, putting you at risk of being in a data breach, you can get a free exposures report from the the PrivacyHawk app. Take your data privacy to the next level by getting deleted from unwanted and vulnerable databases where your data is on exposed. Available on the Apple App Store.

The biggest mistake people make is believing that hackers only attack businesses. Yet, they tend to focus more on the individuals as there are fewer security layers than a company. For that, the first thing that you can think of is using an online Password Manager.

But can you trust online password managers? After all, they are also applications that work for their benefit. The simple answer is yes, you can trust them, but you need to know some essential things before using a password manager.

Learn about the essential security steps you need to take while using online password managers and whether you should trust them. This article covers all the critical information for you.

What Is A Password Manager?

Password Managers can safely organize and keep your passwords safe, with them being the database. You can understand it as an online secret notebook with all your login details saved in it.

There are two types of password managers. One is a device-based manager where all the passwords are saved inside your device, but it is risky. You will lose all your passwords if you lose your device or it gets corrupted. The second option is to use a cloud-based password manager that is accessible online from anywhere.

Are Password Managers A Safe Choice?

The password manager helps you keep the passwords for your email IDs, bank accounts, and other applications. All your passwords are put in a strong security vault that only opens with a master password or two-step authentication.

With password managers, you can use strong passwords without forgetting them. Writing your password manually on a piece of paper may make you lose it, or anyone else could find it. With it, you can remember complicated passwords with many symbols, capitals, and small letters.

It leads to a password renewal every time you use your application. Some people even use a single password on different websites and accounts. But think about it for a moment: if your password gets hacked, you will lose everything. To avoid all these frustrations, password managers could be trusted.

A password manager is the safest option than other alternatives. They are less likely to be hacked by anyone, which could make you lose your passwords. So, we recommend that you trust a password manager and start protecting your passwords.

How Do Password Managers Secure The Passwords?

Password managers use strong encryption and a master password that is unreadable by others. Some devices also allow you to unlock the vault using biometric authentication or a face ID. But it is better to use a master password that will be impossible to crack.

Password Manager companies have zero knowledge of your passwords, so they are entirely trustworthy. In their history, password managers have never faced a serious breach, which means that they are handling the job perfectly.

Avoid These Password Security Mistakes

Whether you use a password manager or not, many people make some privacy mistakes. To save yourself from unwanted situations, here are some mistakes you must avoid if you do not want yourself to be stuck in a miserable situation.

Don't Use Sticky Notes

Some people write the passwords on sticky notes to keep them near the working space. They are quickly dropped or lost; in worse conditions, someone could just take your sticky note away or at least write down the password.

Avoid Saving Passwords In Browsers

When adding a password to log in to a website or while setting up a new account, you get pop-ups to remember the password for next time. It feels like a secure way, but actually, they are less secure than encrypted password managers.

Don't Use Obvious Passwords

Obvious passwords mean using your phone number, date of birth or loved one's name. Hackers can easily access these types of passwords.

Take An Extra Privacy Step…

Overall, password managers can be a great way to stay organized and secure online. However, it is important to do your research to find a reputable manager who has high-security standards in place to protect your sensitive information.

PrivacyHawk is a trustworthy and reliable privacy manager that will clean up your privacy, delete you from spam databases, and give you control over who can use your data and how. With PrivacyHawk, you can be sure that your data is safe and secure.

Wondering how you can protect your children from various unfiltered online data? Well, the Children Online Privacy Protection Act can guide you through. Like other acts against different cybercrimes, this one’s also an act to release parents' stress against internet use by children.

The COPPA applies to getting data from or showing data to children under 13 years of age. When there are so many sites and content on the internet, it’s very important to know the limitations for your young children to protect them.

Don’t know anything about COPPA? This article will explain every bit to help you out.

What Is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act?

In 1998, Congress enacted the COPPA to protect children's online privacy. Whenever a website collects or discloses personal information from children under 13, they must obtain their parent's consent.

COPPA also requires websites to provide parents with information about how their child's information is collected and used.

What’s Covered Under COPPA?

You must have noticed a particular type of ad after searching for a thing on the internet. To stop this from happening with children, it’s important to protect their privacy. Parents should be given all rights to protect and limit the data usage by their children.

Here are some things covered under COPPA:

1 - Data collection, use, and sharing from children on websites must be outlined in a privacy policy.

2 - Children's personal information must be collected, used, or disclosed with their parent's consent.

3 - Parents must be allowed to refuse to allow their children's personal information to be collected by websites.

4 - Parents should be able to control the websites their children access and use. This way, parents can ban children's access to adult or unwanted sites whose data isn’t good for children.

5 - Parents should know about the third parties who can access their children's data. Additionally, with control over disallowing the particular third parties with whom parents are not comfortable to share data.

6 - To protect the security and confidentiality of the personal information collected from children, website operators must take reasonable measures.

Is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act effective?

The law protects children's online privacy by requiring websites to follow strict guidelines to protect children's privacy online. Parents must consent before companies collect or share information about their children, and they must limit how the data they collect can be used. Companies that violate COPPA can face costly fines.

Some argue that COPPA needs to be more effective as it does not protect children from data collection by companies outside the US and does not cover the use of facial recognition technology.

How To Protect Your Children’s Data?

Relying on COPPA isn’t enough; you must take personal measures to protect your child’s safety fully. Here are some steps that will help you with this:  

Teach your children about online safety:

‍Ensure your children know the risks of going online and how to stay safe. Make them aware of potential risks and teach them how to protect themselves online.

Monitor their online activity:

Monitor what your children are doing online and with whom they communicate.

Set ground rules for online behaviour:

‍Set rules for online behaviour, such as not sharing personal information, not using bad language, not downloading unknown files, and not visiting websites or downloading apps that are inappropriate for their age.

Use parental control software:

‍Install parental control software to monitor, filter, and block access to certain websites, apps, and content.

Use secure passwords:

Use secure passwords for your family's online accounts and encourage your children to do the same.

Check privacy settings:

‍Regularly check and adjust the privacy settings of your children's websites and apps.

Limit the amount of time spent online:

Set limits on how much your children can spend online to keep them from spending too much time online, which can be detrimental to their physical and mental health.

Know your children’s online friends:

‍Get to know them and make sure they are who they say they are.

Final Words

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) was created to help protect the privacy of children under the age of 13 who use the internet. This act requires websites and online services that collect personal information from children to obtain parental consent before doing so.

If you are a parent with young children, it is important to be aware of COPPA and how it can affect their online privacy. PrivacyHawk offers a variety of tools and resources to help parents keep their children safe online.

PrivacyHawk’s monitoring system will help you monitor which websites collect children's personal information. With PrivacyHawk, you can rest assured knowing that your child’s online privacy is being protected.

You must have heard about identity theft and the horrible results of it. According to a report, 7 to 10% of the US population becomes a victim of fraud activity. These stats give goosebumps to almost everyone because anyone can become a victim of ID theft. Then, what are the ways that can save you from becoming a victim of ID theft?

Various applications are available in the market to protect your ID. But besides using the applications, you must know what to do to avoid such events. External software can only save you from ID theft if you're taking precautions from your side. Are you worried about how to avoid being a victim of ID theft? Don't worry! This article will explain everything.

What Is ID Theft?

A person's name, email ID, phone number, and even social media accounts are his belongings that anyone else cannot use. But sometimes hackers steal the ID information and use it for fraudulent and illegal activities. It is known as ID theft.

It could be done for different purposes, such as to gain personal benefits by using your followers, to blackmail you, to get money from your family and friends, or sometimes just to damage your reputation among your followers.

Tips To Avoid ID Theft

ID theft is undoubtedly scary, but by working on some tips, you can avoid losing your identity. Look at the tips discussed below to ensure you never get caught in ID theft.

Avoid Using Public Wifi

Public Wi-Fi is the easiest way to get caught in ID theft. Most public Wi-Fi providers control all the user information of every person connecting with the Wi-Fi. So, you pay a very heavy price for free public Wi-Fi. Even if you have to use it is recommended to put the barrier of a VPN between your data and the Wi-Fi provider.

Stay Aware From Scam Calls

Scam calls are the biggest way scammers use to get access to your bank accounts, email addresses, and other personal information. Promising to provide you with a heavy gift amount, these scammers fraudulently take your OTP and get access to your accounts.

Stay aware of such calls, and do not provide bank details and OTPs over the phone. If you receive calls claiming to be from your bank, refuse to give any information and visit your bank as soon as possible to report the call.

Set Up Strong Passwords

Setting up a weak password on your personal information or using a similar password for different websites often leads to ID theft. You become easy prey for scammers and hackers, allowing them to steal your valuable information.

Learn what a strong password should be like, and then reset all your accounts' passwords. Another tip is to keep on changing your passwords every few months to reduce the chances for hackers to crack your password. Give a hard time to the hackers by setting up a very strong password with more characters making no connection with each other.

Don't Share Personal Information Over Phone

Personal information must not be shared over emails, messages, or phone calls. Your device is possibly hacked, and the hacker can easily access your accounts using the information you share. Even in emergencies, try to meet with the person who needs to send or receive money from you. You will be saved from ID theft and other blackmail.

Keep A Check On Your Accounts

Never leave your accounts on their own. Check them regularly. For instance, bank accounts to ensure there are no issues with money count.

Conclusion

The best way to avoid being a victim of ID theft is by taking proactive steps to delete your data from unknown, unwanted or unsecured databases. By doing this, you can help reduce the risk of your private information ending up in the wrong hands. PrivacyHawk offers a service that helps you automatically find companies using or selling your data so you can take action to protect your privacy. Have you taken steps to prevent ID theft? What other methods do you recommend?

TikTok doesn't provide a free platform to shoot, edit and post videos. Instead, it's taking something even bigger than money from you. Just like other social media platforms, TikTok apparently has some not very "private" privacy policies.

TikTok gathers data from 1.2 billion users for various purposes. The worst thing is that even youngsters under 13 years old are accessing this platform. In this article, you will learn the 6 data privacy issues of TikTok that you might not know before. So, let's begin!

6 Data Privacy Issues of TikTok

Every user provides some information to TikTok for account registration. This information is collected and could be available to the public. But things do not stop here because much of the data is collected by TikTok itself that you might not be willing to share.

Have a look at the below-mentioned 6 privacy issues faced by TikTok users. The worst part is that many users do not even know that their privacy is at risk using TikTok Tok.

1 - Contacts Information

When a user registers on the application, all his contacts are accessible for TikTok. The name, email address, and other information regarding every contact in your device are at risk because TikTok can collect and misuse it. Even if there is no misuse, still this data could be used for marketing purposes.

2 - Geographic Location

TikTok has direct access to your IP address, which means your geographic location is continuously in the hands of the application. If TikTok sells this data to a third party, you can be threatened, kidnapped, or more using your location access.

3 - Face Closeup

Having your camera access TikTok captures the close-up of your face while registering your account. Face closeup is accessible biometric data linked to other pictures outside the application. This can create a huge security and privacy threat to you and your family. Your biometric information could be used in fraudulent activities, leaving you in an extremely bad situation.

4 - Data From Underage Children

The fancy world of TikTok captures youngsters in itself; that’s why many underage users use TikTok. The app collects data from kids who are younger than 13 years old. In February 2019, TikTok paid the Federal trade commission a 5.7 million dollar fine. The application was blamed for illegally collecting the personal information of underage children.

5 - U.S Government Don't Want TikTok

The way TikTok gathers users' data has made it unacceptable to the defense department of the US military. They advised the government to remove TikTok from devices, especially government-issued smartphones. Many military branches have made a compulsory requirement to delete the application because of security concerns.

6 - Security Controls

TikTok has implemented excessive security controls that allow it to control users' practices easily. Wells Fargo Bank has warned its employees to eradicate TikTok from its system. The reasons are security-based.

How Can You Protect Yourself From TikTok Privacy Issues?

If you use TikTok, you must unintentionally share much personal information that TikTok can expose. That's why it's essential to know how to make your TikTok account more private by customizing some settings.

Change your account's setting from public to private.

Keep the option "suggest your account to others" off because this option leads unknown people to visit your profile without your knowledge.

Change comment settings to avoid harassment and rubbish comments.

Manage direct message settings to keep intruders away.

Disallow unknown people to download your video. Anyone can watch your video on TikTok, but only allow some to download your data.

Are You Afraid To Lose Your Private Information From TikTok?

While TikTok may be a fun and entertaining social media platform, users must be aware of the dangers that come with sharing their personal data. From personal data collection to targeted ads, there are several ways your information could be used without your knowledge or consent.

PrivacyHawk can help you take control of your personal data and protect yourself from identity theft, fraud, and other online threats. Visit our website today to learn more about how we can help you stay safe online.