Friday, October 21, 2011

Watch Out for Sneaky Moves by Google Facebook and Twitter

Big Social Media wants your phone number.  After giving it to them, getting it back might mean having to change your number.   Numerous attempts have been made to get mine, and I just refuse to give it to them.   I simply refuse.    Let's use Google as an example ( Facebook uses identical tactics, so does Twitter ).  When logging into something like Google +, I will get a prompt asking for my phone number.



At first, Google did this supposedly for "Security" reasons.   After refusing no fewer than twenty times, Google stopped asking.  Then, two weeks ago, they started asking all over again!  Once again, I refused.    If they didn't want it so badly, if they weren't so conniving and sneaky about it, I might even consider giving it to them.  But the dishonest tactics are particularly suspicious.

My destination was ultimately gMail.  Since I have Google +, Blogger, Voice, Business Accounts that I manage, it's important to understand: All I wanted to do was check my mail!


ReType Your Destination

What to do?  The easiest thing is  A. Log in with your password.  B.  When you see the prompt for your phone number?    DO NOT GIVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER.  So  retype  http://gmail.com  which isn't that hard.  Just retype your destination.  The same for Blogger, or any other Google Product.

Do the same thing with Facebook, Twitter or any other site that requests your phone number.

Ultimately, they will sell your information, track you using your GPS within each cell phone, and do it all without your permission. Government agencies request information?  These companies provide it with little or no push back.   Obviously, most of us have nothing to hide.  But that is not even the threshold.

The threshold is greed, and how much is your privacy worth to you?  Supposedly,  the Big 3, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn DO NOT SELL your number or publish it without your permission.  Which means absolutely nothing.  How much will the highest bidder pay?  5 dollars per phone number?  10 dollars per phone number?  With only 200 million phone numbers, Facebook could make 1 Billion dollars in cash selling numbers to some schmucks from Russia for 5 dollars apiece.

So refuse to give out information, you already have an account, don't be fooled into giving them more information, and remember:  retype the destination.

Pass along my free tips, remember to plant and sow.  And use what you know about Social Media to start conversations with others - grow your network, and improve people's overall experience.  God Bless ya!





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http://facebook.com/ProNetworkBuild


Lon Dunn writes on Evan Carmichael as a productivity and efficiency expert. He wrote and edited The Thesaurus News from 1995 to 2001 with a specialty in Telephony Infastructure Stocks. With over 20 years following the Mobile Industry, Lon helps Companies, Professionals and Organizations develop Mobile Marketing Strategies combined with Social Media Strategies to strategically target specific markets and demographics to rapidly increase revenues. His most recent book available on Amazon is “How to Use Twitter for Local Business” with Tips and Mobile Marketing Strategies that anyone can do themselves. You can download the free “Kindle App for PC to download the book to your Desktop available on the Kindle Site:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Twitter-Local-Business-ebook/dp/B007VSR6Y2

5 comments:

  1. Wise advice indeed.

    If you read any of the social medias company reports, they're all banking on location based services as their cash cow.

    That means walking past a florist and being SMSed, hey 20% off flowers for the next 20 minutes.

    If this doesn't excite you- don't give them your telephone number.

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  2. Facebook gives away your information, from people I've talked to in the business. I speculate it's used as barganing chips in their expansion.

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  3. Hmm. Now I wish I had not filled this phone number in.
    Pat www.avoidmedicalerrors.com

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  4. It's a conspiracy until you have your account hacked and can't get into it. Trust me, this happened and being able to reset and re-access your account is a joyous occasion. I'm not a fan of giving out my personal info either, but in this case, it can really help.

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  5. very nice information for www.naidunya.com
    - how to get it back

    ReplyDelete