Google Fi: My Experience

[Aloha_Shooter]

Apple isn't above reproach but they are not doing it anywhere near as intrusively or at the scale of Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Apple has nowhere near the investment in data mining that Google or Facebook have put in and you need to do more research yourself if you think they're anywhere near equal to Google in this. All the tech oligarchs have levels of evil in what they do but the scales aren't even in the same ball park. Apple is like the baseball backstop in my neighborhood park while Google is Yankee Stadium merged with Fenway, Candlestick, and the Astrodome.

[O2HeN2]

Google Fi user for about 3 years. Zero complaints.

O2

[Jer]

Apple isn't above reproach but they are not doing it anywhere near as intrusively or at the scale of Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Apple has nowhere near the investment in data mining that Google or Facebook have put in and you need to do more research yourself if you think they're anywhere near equal to Google in this. All the tech oligarchs have levels of evil in what they do but the scales aren't even in the same ball park. Apple is like the baseball backstop in my neighborhood park while Google is Yankee Stadium merged with Fenway, Candlestick, and the Astrodome.

I'm not here for a debate about which company is farming data at a higher rate but your initial post that veered of course insinuated that Apple wasn't doing it at all because they didn't need to because they made their money on their overpriced hardware. That's not accurate. If you want to protect 100% of your data you need to not use a smart phone, computer, camera, smart device or internet aware device of any kind. That ship has looooong since sailed. Acting like you're somehow good to go because you use an iPhone instead of an Android device is crazy talk and I'm sure you don't believe that.

[arbol]

There's a new database of 700 Million Linked In users.

Everything you shared with Linked In.

Personally I have my credit locked on the back end. Nobody can open an account in my name.

(so he says)

[arbol]

Apple, Android, are not secure.

You should make sure your credit is locked down on the back-end.

I will make a post in a second.

[arbol]

You expressed interest in what I did to freeze my credit, etc., in response to the Equifax breach, so here is a compilation of the resources I used and procedures I followed.

You basically have to call these 4 credit bureaus and follow the prompts. They want to try and sell you a service to monitor your credit, but you don’t want that. You just want to freeze your credit and or place a security freeze on your account. The voice prompts go real fast, and if you need to hang up and start over, do that.

They didn’t charge me anything to place the freeze, but theoretically if/when I lift the freeze temporarily if/when I legitimately need credit, they will charge me a $10 or so fee to do that/reinstate the freeze.

You will need to have your social security number, and your current street address (number portion only) handy as security responses. I would call from your home phone and not a cell phone (or a cell phone while at home) so they can recognize the phone number you are calling from.
Finally, have a piece of paper and pen handy to write down confirmation numbers, and most importantly the PIN (Personal Identification Number) that they may give you over the phone (or in some cases mail to you.) These PINs you will need to keep in a very secure place. Watch your mail for the companies that do not give you the PIN over the phone but rather mail them to you. Make the voice prompt repeat the PIN several times so you can check that what you wrote down is correct. They will likely send you a confirmation of the PIN in the mail, too.

Equifax — 1-800-349-9960
Experian — 1 888 397 3742
TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872
Innovis - 1-800-540-2505

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/article...it-freeze-faqs

I then opted out of pre-screened credit offers. These are those junk mails you get where they offer you a new credit card, etc. You can opt out for five years online, or permanently by filling out the form online and mailing them a letter to confirm. I opted out permanently.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/article...surance-offers

I checked that my phone numbers (both home and cell) were on the national do not call list. This is far from perfect, as I still get plenty of junk/spam/fraudulent phone calls, but I still do it. If you get too many of these phone calls, there is a device I own that answers the phone before ringing it and makes the “person” on the other end press a key before it will truly ring the phone. This is a life saver device for those that get too many spam/junk/fraud phone calls on their home phone. Ask me if you want a link to purchase this.

https://www.donotcall.gov/

Finally, I opted out of direct mail from members of the direct mail association. They charge $2 for this service and only do it for 10-years at a time, but it is better (hopefully) than nothing.

https://dmachoice.thedma.org/

That’s it. A big “go away/leave me alone/stop doing stuff without my permission” to them all and an attempt to clamp down on privacy and credit fraud using the best resources that I am aware we as consumers have available today.

[Jer]

Freezing your credit is free. Unlocking it permanently or temporarily is also free. If you ever pay anything (yes, even "only" $10) to do any of this you're doing it wrong.

[arbol]

My 20 year old niece is scared to death she has been hacked,

She probably has been, but she still has recourse available to her.

[Bailey Guns]

I freeze, un-freeze my credit all the time. I've never been charged for that.

[Delfuego]

Nice thread derail arbol. You answered a bunch of questions no one asked and none were about Google Fi mobile phone service.