{"id":2395432,"date":"2025-01-27T06:18:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T11:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-under-the-radar-ways-your-data-is-being-collected-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-27T06:21:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T11:21:09","slug":"three-under-the-radar-ways-your-data-is-being-collected-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-under-the-radar-ways-your-data-is-being-collected-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Three under-the-radar ways your data is being collected &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthree-under-the-radar-ways-your-data-is-being-collected-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2395432&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses three lesser-known\u200d methods through which consumer data is collected and utilized,beyond the\u200d well-known practices of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-level-republicans-push-back-on-big-tech\/\" title=\"State-Level Republicans Push Back on Big Tech\">major tech companies<\/a> \u200clike Meta and Google. It cites a \u200cFebruary 2022 accusation from the\u200c European consumer Organisation (BEUC) against Meta for using people&#8217;s data to identify their \u200dpsychological \u200btraits for targeted advertising, \u2064emphasizing the illegal nature of these practices. <\/p>\n<p>1.\u200b **Electric\u2063 Vehicle Charging Stations**: These stations can\u2064 track users&#8217; movements and have been utilized by authorities to gather\u200c specific data, such as the\u2062 habits of an individual involved in a criminal incident. The vulnerabilities in these stations present security challenges, as they store personal information and can be targeted by hackers.<\/p>\n<p>2. **Flashlight\u200d Apps**: Many free apps,including flashlight utilities,are found to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pelosis-taiwan-visit-made-it-harder-for-biden-to-end-trumps-china-tariffs-commerce-secretary\/\" title=\"Pelosi\u2019s Taiwan Visit Made It Harder for Biden to End Trump\u2019s China Tariffs: Commerce Secretary\">collect personal data<\/a>,frequently enough requesting\u200c needless \u2063permissions.these \u200bapps pose a high cybersecurity risk as they may share user data\u200b with advertisers, turning \u200cprivate\u2062 information into\u200d a\u2062 monetizable asset.<\/p>\n<p>3. **Public Wi-Fi**:\u2064 Access \u2062to \u200cpublic Wi-Fi in places like\u2064 cafes and stores \u200bcan expose users&#8217;\u200d browsing histories. Retailers may analyze this data to track consumer\u2064 behavior within their locations, creating heat maps to \u2063identify popular areas in their\u200c stores.<\/p>\n<p>The article highlights the importance of awareness\u2063 regarding these methods of data collection and potential privacy invasions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Three under-the-radar ways your data are being collected<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1686917\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>For years, people have known that technology companies such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/meta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Meta<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/google\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Google<\/a> have collected their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">data<\/a>, but it&rsquo;s not just Big Tech companies that are seeking to track consumers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In February of last year, the European Consumer Organisation, or BEUC, representing 45 consumer groups, accused Meta of taking users&rsquo; data to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">identify key psychological markers<\/a>, such as their susceptibility to addiction and their emotional state, to share with advertisers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With its illegal practices, Meta fuels the surveillance-based ads system which tracks consumers online and gathers vast amounts of personal data for the purpose of showing them adverts,&rdquo; the BEUC said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>However, data aren&rsquo;t just being collected to share with advertisers. They are now also being used to share with authorities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here are three ways that consumers&rsquo; data are being collected and used that you might not know about.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Electric vehicle charging stations<\/h2>\n<p>Las Vegas police and federal authorities relied on electric vehicle charging stations to track the movements of active-duty solider Matthew Alan Livelsberger, the man behind the Tesla Cybertruck explosion on New Year&rsquo;s Day. Authorities were able to calculate the exact date and time that Livelsberger stopped at electric vehicle charging stations.<\/p>\n<p>Electric vehicle charging stations are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.darkreading.com\/ics-ot-security\/ev-charging-stations-still-riddled-with-cybersecurity-vulnerabilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">always<\/a> online and run software that interacts with a consumer&rsquo;s payment information and stores the driver&rsquo;s identity. Stations have been subjected to hacking &mdash; in 2022, a Russian charging station was hacked to display lewd adult content.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As EV charging becomes more widespread, they will become appealing targets to more sophisticated hacking groups,&rdquo;&nbsp;Hooman Shahidi,&nbsp;the CEO of EVPassport, a charging network provider, told DarkReading.com.&nbsp;&ldquo;Providers need to think of their products as critical infrastructure and a critical component of our national security.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The charging stations are part of an Internet of Things, which consists of a network of devices connected to the internet and communicating with each other.<\/p>\n<p>Elias Bou-Harb, a computer scientist with Louisiana State University, told DarkReading.com that there are many vulnerabilities in the charging stations that still need to be addressed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What is particularly alarming is that some well-known protective measures haven&rsquo;t been implemented by most of the vendors and that few of them have taken steps to improve their security even after we identified these weaknesses,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flashlight apps<\/h2>\n<p>Free apps that offer basic functions, such as a flashlight, have been found to collect personal data, just like Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Free flashlight apps are often of high cybersecurity risks,&rdquo; Harold Li, vice president of ExpressVPN,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rd.com\/list\/phone-apps-spying-on-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> told<\/a> <em>Reader&rsquo;s Digest<\/em>. &ldquo;Many of these apps are free but ad-supported, and they often request permissions, such as audio recording and contact information, to apparently function properly. When users install these apps, they risk sharing their personal data with app developers who monetize the data by selling them to advertisers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He recommends that these free utility apps be removed entirely from phones.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Public Wi-Fi<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Restaurants, coffee shops, and stores will often offer patrons access to connect to their Wi-Fi, but by joining the public network, they can gain access to patrons&rsquo; phone browsing history. This could be of interest to a retailer to see if one is checking the products and particularly what products of a competitor while inside the store.<\/p>\n<p>Retailers also use consumers&rsquo; Wi-Fi access to generate heat maps, which tell them which parts of the store are getting the most traffic from customers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1686917\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1686917\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three hidden methods of data collection you may not know about<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2542,"featured_media":2395433,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AP24011033078247-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[49249,4325,14429,11458],"class_list":["post-2395432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-data-collection","tag-privacy","tag-surveillance","tag-technology"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AP24011033078247-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395432"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2395436,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395432\/revisions\/2395436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2395432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2395432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}