Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
There's always the possibility that you'll have your credit card information stolen.
But potential thieves can get their hands on your personal information in other ways.
Especially if you voluntarily hand it over yourself.
Nicole Perlroth is a cybersecurity reporter for the New York Times who declines giving personal information to stores when she makes a purchase.
On what kinds of information retailers ask for:
"Our email addresses, which people don’t realize is very much tied to your identity and can be used by a sophisticated criminal for something called a spear phishing attack where they can send you an email from a co-worker or boss or friends with a link and the next thing you know you’ve downloaded malicious software onto your computer. People also ask for your birth date and zip code. Again, these can be tied to your identity and be used to compile a broader picture of you. If you want to be vigilant, understand that these pieces can all be used against you."
On if any questions are innocent or safe:
"In my opinion, no they’re not all innocent. They sell that information and make money off of it and use it to target customers with targeted advertising and I don’t want to be a part of it anymore. So much of my information is already out there and it’s already sucked up and it’s so out of my control that I at least want to take a stand when I can. Maybe they think they’re storing them securely or they have a legitimate right to this information but I think at this point that’s no longer the case."
On stores that want to swipe your driver’s license:
"I am not sure why companies need your driver’s license unless they are the DMV or a policeman."