Your Data, Their Billions: Unraveling and Simplifying Big Tech

Big Tech companies know all your secrets and sell them to the highest bidder. This guide explains how it happens, why it matters, and how to protect yourself and your most precious commodities, your identity and privacy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: Permuted Press

Big tech companies know all your secrets and sell them to the highest bidder. This guide for the everyday tech user explains how it happens, why it matters, and how to protect yourself and your most precious commodities, your identity and privacy.

What if somebody knew everything about you? Your relationships, family history, finances, and medical records. Even your exact location at any time of the day. Personal preferences and purchases.

Somebody does. That somebody is "Big Tech."

Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft know more about you than you do. And they make billions of dollars by cashing in on your private data.

Our personal data, which Big Tech companies get for free, is the engine that drives the unregulated, free-for-all, Wild West world called the digital marketplace. These corporate giants may bring us information and entertainment, convenience and connection, but they also do a lot of harm by:

Threatening our privacy, discovering and disseminating our personal information.

Spreading dangerous misinformation from foreign governments and bad actors.

Manipulating our behavior, affecting what we see, buy, and even who we vote for.

So, what can we do about it?

This eye-opening book provides vital information that has been out of reach to those who need it most—the millions of Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft users who have come to love and depend upon these digital products. Veteran consumer advocate Jane Hoffman makes the complex world of Big Tech simple to grasp as she reveals exactly how Big Tech uses—and abuses—your personal information. And she provides practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your data.

Big Tech companies have access to vast amounts of personal information about us. They collect this data through various means, such as tracking our online activities, collecting data from our devices, and analyzing our social media posts. This information is then used to target us with ads, personalize our experiences, and even influence our behavior.

One of the biggest concerns with Big Tech is the threat to our privacy. These companies collect and store our personal information without our consent, which can be used for various purposes, including advertising, marketing, and even identity theft.

Another issue with Big Tech is the spread of dangerous misinformation. With the rise of social media, false information can spread quickly and widely, causing harm to individuals and society as a whole. Big Tech companies have been criticized for not doing enough to combat the spread of misinformation, and some have even been accused of intentionally promoting false information to influence elections and other important events.

Big Tech companies also have the power to manipulate our behavior. They use algorithms and data analysis to tailor their products and services to our preferences, making it easier for us to consume content and make purchases. However, this can also lead to the creation of "filter bubbles," where we are only exposed to information that reinforces our existing beliefs and opinions, limiting our exposure to different perspectives and ideas.

To protect ourselves from the risks associated with Big Tech, we need to take steps to protect our personal information and be aware of the ways in which these companies are using our data. Here are some tips for using everyday tech with eyes wide open:

Use a password manager to create strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts.

Be cautious when sharing personal information online, and only share information with trusted sources.

Use two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts.

Review your privacy settings on social media and other online platforms to ensure that you are not sharing more information than you want to.

Use ad blockers to prevent ads from tracking your online activities.

Be aware of the ways in which Big Tech is using your data, and take steps to protect yourself.

In conclusion, Big Tech companies know all our secrets and sell them to the highest bidder. This guide for the everyday tech user explains how it happens, why it matters, and how to protect yourself and your most precious commodities, your identity and privacy. By taking steps to protect our personal information and being aware of the ways in which Big Tech is using our data, we can help to create a more secure and informed digital world.

Weight: 572g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781637580745