Category: Data Brokers
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Is The FBI Buying Your Location Data?
Quick Story Summary FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency is purchasing Americans’ data from commercial brokers, bypassing the warrant process. The admission came during a March 18, 2026 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, reigniting debate over Fourth Amendment protections. Data originates from everyday apps and can reveal sensitive patterns like home, work, travel, relationships, and…
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Aura’s 900K-Record Data Breach Proves the Best Data Protection Is Local Deletion
Quick Story Summary In March 2026, Aura confirmed a breach affecting ~900,000 records after a one-hour vishing attack compromised a single employee account. Exposed data included names, emails, phone numbers, addresses, IPs, and support comments; no SSNs, passwords, or financial data were accessed. Most records (~865,000) came from a legacy marketing database inherited via a…
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Data Brokers 101: What They Are and How to Protect Your Info
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Data brokers, at a glance What they do: collect and package personal data into profiles sold to marketers, risk teams, and others. Where data comes from: public records, apps, websites, location services, and retail purchases. Why it matters: fuels identity theft risk, discriminatory decisions, hyper-targeting, and exposure. Do this now: enable tracker blocking and a…
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Planning to Quit Social Media? Stop. Do This First. (4-step guide)
Ready to quit Twitter, Reddit, Facebook or other social media platforms? You’re not alone – most social media users have probably considered quitting at some point. Anxiety, depression, loneliness and FOMO all have well documented, strong ties to social media usage; if you’re feeling off – it might be time to unplug. The next step…
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How to Prevent Doxxing: A 24-Hour Privacy Sprint
Anyone can get doxxed – and the consequences can be huge. It can impact your personal relationships, career, and future prospects. Lets understand what it is, how you can prevent it, and the actionable steps you can take today. What is doxxing? Doxxing is the intentional act of de-anonymizing someone’s online identity, personal info, or…
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What Is a Social Media Footprint and Why It Matters
Definition of Social Media Footprint A social media footprint is the sum of all the activity, content, and data linked to your presence on social platforms. Every comment, like, share, video upload, private message, profile update, and even your connections contribute to this footprint. Some of it is public and easy for others to find.…
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Social Media Independence: Clean Up Your Digital Footprint This 4th of July
Take Back Your Freedom Online! This 4th of July is not just about fireworks and barbecues. It is about freedom. Your personal freedom extends beyond physical borders. It includes your online privacy and the control of your digital footprint. But in the modern day, your digital privacy and freedom is under threat by more companies…
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Meet the Airline-Owned Data Broker Selling Over 50% of Flight Data to ICE
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Delta, United, and American Airlines have probably sold your itinerary, credit card info, and your movements to Homeland Security and ICE. Major U.S. airlines are acting as data brokers, selling your data to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 404 Media acquired a contract that indicated an airline-owned data…
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How Public Personal Info Helped the Minnesota Shooter Target His Victims
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On June 14, 2025, Minnesota witnessed a harrowing act of political violence when Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old former gubernatorial appointee, fatally shot State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Boelter, disguised as a police officer, carried out these attacks at the victims’ homes…