In the middle of an emergency? I share why a burner phone is always good to have on hand, in one minute.
Privacy: Is it wise to hand over your email and number for discounts?
It’s a savvy shopper’s favorite time of year: Discounts and deals as far as the eye can see.
You’re probably like me — I don’t like paying full price. But is handing over your email address, phone number or even more worth it for a coupon code? Like most things tech, it depends.
What’s in the fine print?
Did you read the details when you signed up for a shopping app? Yeah, I thought so. It’s never too late to go back and check the terms and conditions. Here are recent stats from Atlas VPN, which reviewed some of the most popular shopping apps.
- 58% of the apps they reviewed shared names, home addresses, email IDs and phone numbers with third parties. (That’s code for anyone willing to pay.)
- 25% shared device IDs or other unique identifiers for smartphones and tablets.
- Roughly a third disclosed financial data, including purchase history and payment details.
- 28% shared location data with “external sources.” Whatever that means.
Things aren’t much better when signing up for an email list, handing over your number for marketing texts or becoming a “member,” even when it’s free. Speaking of …
What about store loyalty cards?
Getting talked into signing up for a store loyalty program is easy. In exchange for a little info, you can score deals on groceries and household items, you name it. But you’re giving away much more than you think.
Each swipe of your loyalty card, phone number, or email address tells the store everything you bought, when you bought it, in what quantity and at what price, along with your payment details. Pair that with downloading your store’s app, and they will also know where you are.
“Who cares if my store knows what brands I like?” Fair enough, but the tracking goes far beyond that. Rewards cards store data, including your name, address, phone number, and credit and debit cards. Thieves can steal this information and create a fake identity for a crime spree.
The good news is there are simple ways around handing your information over while still enjoying the discounts.
- Use your office phone number for loyalty programs. If they need an email address, I give them a disposable one. (More on that below.)
- Shop at stores that don’t require loyalty programs for discounts, like Trader Joe’s and Walmart.
- Don’t forget physical coupons. Most grocery stores have a coupon section on their website where you can print, snip and hand in.
- Whatever you do, never give your Social Security or driver’s license number.
- Ask for the discount anyway. Cashiers usually have a code to charge the digital price without you needing to have a loyalty app or code.
- Smile and ask the person behind you, “Hey, mind if I use your card?” Be polite, and I bet you’ll get a yes.
How security pros use TikTok without handing over personal data to China
I’ve been saying it for months: Get TikTok off your phone.
It’s not the only China-based app you need to worry about. Temu, the app that lets you “shop like a billionaire,” isn’t worth the deals. Here’s why — and what to do if you’ve been using it.
This great freebie from Google stops annoying robocalls and gives you a second phone number
Fun fact: Two of the most popular tips on my website over the years are all about blocking your number and revealing the identity of blocked or strange numbers calling you.
I get the curiosity. It’s not always a robocaller ringing you from a number you don’t recognize. Tap or click here for four ways to find anyone’s cellphone number online.
Cut down on inbox junk with a disposable email address
There’s no hiding from it: Email signups are annoying as ever. And just when you think you’ve safely signed up to a legitimate website, your inbox is suddenly full of spam messages you never expected.
This is because many websites will sign you up for mailing lists when you verify your email address. To make matters worse, there isn’t much that can be done about it other than creating a separate email account for signups — but who even has time for that?