Table Of ContentAdvance Praise for Prying Eyes
"At a time when many Americans are worried about losing their privacy, Prying
Eyes provides a broad, useful survey of the issues as well as practical tips on
how to protect oneself. This book is a terrific guide for every citizen, written by
one of America's rising stars."
David Gergen, Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University and Editor-at-Large,
U.S. News & World Report
"Eric Gertler has produced a comprehensive, eye-opening, and—above all—
useful guide to protecting personal privacy against a host of modern intruders.
I learned a lot from this book, and I think that readers at every level of techni
cal sophistication will find surprising tips and insights."
James Fallows, National Correspondent, The Atlantic Monthly
"One of the great historical and self-evident truths about Americans is that they
want control of their lives and their identities. Eric Gertler's Prying Eyes outlines
the many ways Americans' privacy is at risk and the surprising number of
strategies they have to protect themselves. This is an indispensable guide for
thinking about citizenship in the 21st Century."
Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project
"The invasion of privacy is a 21st Century crime and it affects us all. Identity
theft and financial fraud are the most serious issues I encounter every day in
the credit card processing business. In Prying Eyes, Gertler not only reveals
the real risks we all face, but also the real ways in which we can reduce our
exposure."
Raf Sorrentino, Senior Vice President of Risk and Fraud Management, First Data Corp.
"For the first time, an author has collected in one place the legal rights, techno
logical tools, and practical steps available to each of us to protect our own pri
vacy. Prying Eyes is an indispensable guide to life in the information age."
Fred H. Cate, Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of
the Indiana University Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research
and author of Privacy in the Information Age
PryingEyes
PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
FROM PEOPLE WHO SELL TO YOU,
SNOOP ON YOU,
AND STEAL FROM YOU
Eric J.Gertler
RANDOM HOUSE
REFERENCE
New York
Prying Eyes: Protect your privacy from people who sell to you, snoop on you, and steal
from you
Copyright © 2004 by Eric J. Gertler
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by Random House Reference, a member of The Random
House Information Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and
simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. No part of this
book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the
written permission of the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Random House
Reference, Random House Information Group, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.
RANDOM HOUSE is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
Please address inquiries about electronic licensing of reference products for use on a
network, in software or on CD-ROM to the Subsidiary Rights Department, Random House
Reference, fax 212-572-6003.
This book is available for special discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions or
premiums. Special editions, including personalized covers, excerpts of existing books, and
corporate imprints, can be created in large quantities for special needs. For more
information, write to Random House, Inc., Special Markets/ Premium Sales, 1745
Broadway, MD 6-2, New York, NY, 10019 or e-mail [email protected].
Cover design by Tigist Getachew
Book design by Tina R. Malaney
This book is not intended to provide legal advice, nor does it endorse any of the products
referenced.
Visit the Random House website: www.randomhouse.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
First Edition
0987654321
ISBN: 0-375-72093-6
Contents
Acknowledgments • vii
Introduction: Your Life • xi
1. What Privacy Means to You • l
2. Your Personal Information and the Public Record • 16
3. Your Identity • 51
4. Your Credit • 76
5. Your Money • 100
6. Your Shopping • 134
7. Your Computer and the Internet • 169
8. Your Home • 217
9. Your Workplace • 256
10. Your Health • 293
11. Your Everyday Life • 325
12. I Spy, You Spy • 367
13. The Future of Privacy • 394
Notes • 400
Resources • 415
Index • 417
V
Acknowledgments
YOU LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE EXCITING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND DEVELOPMENTS are
introduced every day. In so many unprecedented ways, these emerging tech
nologies make your life more productive and more fulfilling and permit you to
protect and keep connected to your loved ones, friends, and colleagues. At the
same time, whether you realize it or not, these conveniences often compro
mise your privacy and result in your sensitive personal information being
used against you in unlimited ways. You cannot possibly keep abreast of the
adverse effects that these new technologies have on your life, nor can legisla
tion keep pace with these changes.
Through my experience as CEO at Privista, an identity theft and credit
protection company, I became exposed to the horrors caused by identity theft
and the world of personalized information and data marketing. In time, it
became clear that most people have little understanding of how their personal
information is used, both positively and negatively. Privista was widely recog
nized as a premier company that helped to educate and protect consumers.
Prying Eyes is intended to further help you understand how your personal
information may be accessed and by whom, and provide you with the tools
necessary to gain as much control as possible in these changing times. It seeks
to educate you and empower you as a consumer and as a citizen. In this way, I
hope that this book enriches your life.
Prying Eyes may be a book about privacy, but it is not a book about
anonymity. Many colleagues, friends, family, and loved ones deserve recogni
tion and credit for their invaluable input and support of this book. Prying Eyes
is very much a product of their collective efforts, and I am deeply indebted to
them.
First and foremost, I would like to thank the Random House Information
Group for taking a chance with a first time book author. From the beginning,
they grasped the changing nature of privacy in our country and fully sup
ported this project. Indeed, their enthusiasm and recognition of the serious
ness of the subject matter were such that they wanted to publish the book
VII
• Acknowledgments •
within months of their offer. For me, it was indeed a daunting challenge that
never would have been realized without the guidance, encouragement, and tal
ent of my editor Jena Pincott. From the initial outline to the first page and in
chapter after chapter, Jena kept me focused and motivated and shaped my
words and thoughts into a level of quality that I would never have reached on
my own. I deeply appreciate her contribution to this effort. In addition, Laura
Neilson conducted first-rate research and work that helped to strengthen key
topics of the book. I also want to thank David Naggar, the president of the
Random Information Group, and Sheryl Stebbins, the publisher, who ensured
that this book received the necessary resources to achieve its goal. I would also
be remiss if I failed to recognize Bonnie Ammer, Jeanne Kramer, Ellen
Browne, and Erica Kestenbaum.
I was also truly blessed to have enjoyed the assistance of a strong group of
researchers. Ginger Thoerner, a long time friend and associate who worked
with me years ago at U.S. News & World Report, focused on the chapters about
home, work, and everyday life. I knew her work would be exceptional and of
the highest quality. But her friendship, support, and sharp intellect combined
with her wonderful sense of humor energized me in times of great need dur
ing this project. Raya Kuzyk provided important and detailed research, and
helped to uncover many of the interesting anecdotes in the book. I could not
have been more fortunate to have her involved, as her devotion to this book
was invaluable. Jardine Libaire provided extraordinary work on the chapters
about health, spying, and shopping. Molly Townsend contributed superb
research on the computer chapter.
Others helped to inspire me, took the time to review certain chapters in
the book, or offered guidance on certain parts of the book. Harry Evans' initial
support reassured me that this book deserved to be published and provided
invaluable guidance to start me on my way. Bob Brody, my former business
partner and someone of the highest integrity and intellect, introduced me to
important parts of the information business years ago and then provided great
feedback on the credit chapter. Raf Sorrentino has provided unique insights
into the world of identity theft and financial scams and Matt Breitfelder
helped shape my views on this subject years ago and gave me important feed
back throughout the writing process. Fred Cate thoroughly reviewed the entire
manuscript and provided valuable feedback. Dr. James Underberg, Gerry Gold-
VIII
