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I had two newspapers and a book by my favorite fiction writer, Vince Flynn, but I was not connected. And somehow, the thought of being alone (even though I was on a full flight) for a large chunk of time was daunting. And, let’s face it, the fact that we’ve all become so co-dependent — with freaking MACHINES — is kind of pathetic. But here we are.
The irony is that it’s only when you are suddenly disconnected that you realize how pervasive digital connectivity really is. So I tried to think of the true impact. There were so many implications to being offline and relatively isolated at an altitude of 37,000 feet, and they all centered around the security of the no-tech environment.
That said, before I declare victory regarding the fortress-like nature of my identity management skills, I must take a moment to reflect upon my various exposures.
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Despite my best efforts to stay under the personal data radar, sites like Spokeo possess information about me that they have gleaned and scraped from various public sites and/or filings that haven’t been properly redacted by government authorities who have a long and sullied history of defending consumer privacy. (Let’s not forget South Carolina’s Department of Revenue.) I can monitor it, but it’s beyond my control to some extent.
When and where this disaster will strike is a mystery, but it’s only a matter of time. In the past year, I have had several credit cards compromised and replaced by credit card companies. In one case, the 16 digits from my card were illegally recorded, either by a data processing device or a website I visited. According to Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, hundreds of databases containing millions of records were compromised in 2012 alone.
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There is nothing I can do while unplugged on a plane about third-party vendors contracted by one of my institutional relationships being breached. My information is out there along with that of millions of other consumers. I can’t be sure my doctor’s office at the hospital or the billing department at my favorite store is totally secure. I can’t vet every waiter, greeter or owner I trust with my credit card information. I trust my cleaning lady and florist implicitly, but can I be sure that if she needs a substitute for a day or an unfamiliar employee shows up on a service call that they all have my best interests at heart? When I take my car in for service, but forget to remove the registration from the glove box, or drive to a meeting and leave the car with a parking attendant, can I be sure they have no interest in learning more about me than is appropriate? How do I really know the customer service representative at my financial institution or the admin at my insurance agent’s office isn’t doing a side job for folks who make money by using my personal information in creative and totally unauthorized ways?
As we begin 2013, it’s worth remembering how much is beyond our control. The most fastidious, organized and self-protective among us are vulnerable every minute of every day. Too much personal information is out there to protect you from the spillover effects of a totally interconnected global economy, especially if a criminal element is thrown into the mix. No stone-age airplane with no Wi-Fi can save us. We can (and should) be covetous to the point of paranoia.
In my case that means logging on when I get off the plane to make sure I haven’t been robbed or unwittingly purchased property in Nigeria. There is nothing crazy about monitoring everything we do — especially our credit (we built a free tool for just that, after all) — and having a damage control program in place just in case we suffer an identity emergency. If you don’t have a plan, make one in 2013.
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Image: photosteve101, via Flickr
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