Verizon Tracks and Sells Your Phone Habits

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Verizon admits it’s going to make money spying on you, according to CNET

The company this month began offering reports to marketers showing what Verizon subscribers are doing on their phones and other mobile devices, including what iOS and Android apps are in use in which locations. Verizon says it may link the data to third-party databases with information about customers’ gender, age, and even details such as “sports enthusiast, frequent diner or pet owner.”

“We’re able to view just everything that they do,” Bill Diggins, U.S. chief for the Verizon Wireless marketing initiative, told an industry conference earlier this year. “And that’s really where data is going today. Data is the new oil.”

Experts quoted in the article suggest that may be illegal. Here’s how to prevent it: Go to the Verizon Wireless account privacy page, log in, and scroll down to “Business & Marketing Reports.” Check the radio button in the “Don’t use my information” column in the “All Cell Phone Numbers” row – it’s the upper left circle.

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