When did you realize you needed to improve your privacy online?

[64bithero@mstdn.games]

@Tutanota when I saw Facebook generating ads based on my conversations when my phone was in my pocket

[rugsunshine@mastodon.ie]

@Tutanota Facebook–Cambridge Analytica?

[tutanota@mastodon.social]

@64bithero 🫠

[sraars@hippodon.com]

@Tutanota Since first going online and recalling my middle school teacher saying to not use your real name if you don’t want it traced back to you.

[kierkegaanks@beige.party]

@Tutanota when i was convinced to sign up for facebook

[rbuzz@mastodon.social]

@Tutanota tomorrow

[calamity8244@mastodon.social]

@Tutanota Some years ago my eBay account was somehow hacked, and I noticed that “I” had made a dubious purchase of 5 suspiciously expensive “women’s t-shirts” on a credit card that I had foolishly saved on my eBay account. After that I went down the privacy/security rabbit hole, and I am still down there enjoying myself. (PS. The women’s t-shirts never arrived )

[cynical13@social.vivaldi.net]

@Tutanota

I think it was a general realization that has progressed quickly over the last few years.

The hardest part is that it's so difficult to get straight answers because everyone has a different level of what's acceptable and what isn't.

[xeronarth@social.vivaldi.net]

@Tutanota I was thinking about it around 2003 so this lines up fairly well with what I remember here in the US.

[zetabeta@mastodon.social]

@64bithero @Tutanota
standard reminder:
whatsapp is owned by same parent company than facebook.

[noblecookie@kind.social]

@Tutanota It all started 'bout five years ago when I discovered simplelogin, which really helps me solve the inbox-full-of-irrelevent-newsletter situation. A right tool appearing at the right time can really make a difference

[zetabeta@mastodon.social]

@Tutanota
being concerned about privacy has been gradual and slow change over years, or even decades.

some kind of starting point was around 2007, didn't want to register and give information to every website.

one turning point was, when i bought first android device in 2012, and it started asking google account for device. i didn't like that even then, so i created one account for that device only.

later i stopped using google accounts in android devices altogether.

[64bithero@mstdn.games]

@zetabeta @Tutanota never used WhatsApp or Instagram or Threads.

And I dont recommend anyone does.

Signal or SimpleX much better options

[draken@masto.nyc]

@Tutanota
Facebook/Fakebook/Fecesbook showing me the same posts over and over and over again despite me asking for a chronological timeline, ads based on browsing history, Cambridge Analytica (which has a MAGA connection), Zuckerberg being a lying waste of life...I can go on and on.

[pickadollen@mastodon.social]

@Tutanota since the loggning in Gmail keeps you logged in on every Google sites. It made question why Google wants to keep me logged in all the time. It's atleast a moment that i remember. Around at the same time my laptop harddrive crashed, it was sort of old so I bought a new hardrive. Tried Linux for the first time, boosted by accessible online guides, and the linux usage exposed me to the privacy rabbit hole with OpenWRT, GrapheneOS, crypto, federation...