Pew: Nearly One-Third Of Americans Hide Information Online

[Reefa]

Almost a third of Americans have taken steps to hide or shield their information online since Edward Snowden publicized National Security Agency surveillance practices.

But as a country, we're deeply divided — nearly 50-50 — over whether to be concerned about massive government surveillance. And while there are signs that privacy is a partisan issue, it's not partisan in the way you might think.

All that is according to the latest privacy study by the Pew Research Center.

Privacy Market Has Grown — To Critical Mass?

Among the Americans who've heard about the NSA revelations (not everyone has — which is a whole other story!), 25 percent say they've changed how they use online technology "a great deal" or "somewhat."

Respondents say things like: "I don't search some things that I might have before" and "Can't joke about stuff that could be taken as a threat."

Sound familiar?

People have changed the privacy settings on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. They've uninstalled mobile apps that are data-moochers. They've used search engines that depart from the norm and do not keep a running tab on every site you visit. And some respondents report taking the dramatic step of talking — face to face, in the physical world — to avoid having a digital trail of communication.

While one-quarter is not the majority, it is eye-grabbing. The Pew study indicates that the niche market for privacy tools may go mainstream. Companies like Wickr and Dstrux offer self-destructing tools for email and social media posts, with the promise of "zero digital footprint." Abine Blur let's you shop online without revealing your personal email and credit card number. These are hardly household names, but that could change.

Tools Are Hard To Get

The problem with privacy tools, as reflected in the Pew study, is that they're hard for the average person to use.

For example, search engines that don't record search history, like DuckDuckGo, have been around for years. But only 10 percent of respondents say they've used one, and 13 percent don't know these browsers exist.

While people say they'd like to do more, they also say things like: "I do not feel expert enough to know what to do to protect myself, and to know that the protection chosen is effective. Technology changes very fast."

Clearly there's lot of work for tech entrepreneurs to do, in terms of marketing their goods and designing them to be more user-friendly.

What Kind Of Partisan Issue Is This?

Politically, we are a nation divided over the government's blanket surveillance of American citizens. Just over half of respondents say they're concerned. Just under half say: not really.

But here's an interesting tidbit: Republicans and those who lean Republican are more likely than those in the Democrats camp to say they are losing confidence that surveillance programs serve the public interest (70 percent vs. 55 percent).

This could reflect feelings about President Obama, or a more enduring libertarian streak in the GOP.

It'll be interesting to see how public sentiment shapes up in one emerging debate: While the public and private sectors are both amassing stockpiles of data on us, they are starting to butt heads over encryption. Companies like Yahoo want to encrypt more, to regain consumer trust; and government officials say that gets in the way of intelligence-gathering.

npr.org

[Joe13]

I have attempted, and failed informing people about alternative search engines. Google or Yahoo can't, and won't offer the privacy options DuckDuckGo, Ixquick, Startpage, and few others do.

[Reefa]

I have attempted, and failed informing people about alternative search engines. Google or Yahoo can't, and won't offer the privacy options DuckDuckGo, Ixquick, Startpage, and few others do.

Me to mate it's the usual answer..Ive got nothing to hide..At the moment i am using..disconnect.me

[steven36]

I have attempted, and failed informing people about alternative search engines. Google or Yahoo can't, and won't offer the privacy options DuckDuckGo, Ixquick, Startpage, and few others do.

Me to mate it's the usual answer..Ive got nothing to hide..At the moment i am using..disconnect.me

Yes many people maybe use devices to try hide there online data , but many devices that log or uses DNS that logs or both and they install browsers that you cant plug ip leaks in . So a lot people are just fooling themselves . These are just the things we know about I bet NSA knows many exploits that's not even public yet . I some times use Google search but I have Google privacy add-on and I keep cookies blocked if i cant find what i want on others. Another good practice is just book mark the sites when you find them most sites have there own search . I checked Maxthon Cloud Browser out seems china has a backdoor in it . It calls out to china mobile and china anti p2p so I block those ips thorough my firewall . :lol:

[Reefa]

I have attempted, and failed informing people about alternative search engines. Google or Yahoo can't, and won't offer the privacy options DuckDuckGo, Ixquick, Startpage, and few others do.

Me to mate it's the usual answer..Ive got nothing to hide..At the moment i am using..disconnect.me

Yes many people maybe use devices to try hide there online data , but many devices that log or uses DNS that logs or both and they install browsers that you cant plug ip leaks in . So a lot people are just fooling themselves . These are just the things we know about I bet NSA knows many exploits that's not even public yet . I some times use Google search but I have Google privacy add-on and I keep cookies blocked if i cant find what i want on others. Another good practice is just book mark the sites when you find them most sites have there own search . I checked Maxthon Cloud Browser out seems china has a backdoor in it . It calls out to china mobile and china anti p2p so I block those ips thorough my firewall . :lol:

I have to be honest my online habits have changed..Before it was torrent this torrent that..Now i prefer the streaming option.. :rolleyes:

[The Owl]

See Not JUST Paranoid

[steven36]

I have attempted, and failed informing people about alternative search engines. Google or Yahoo can't, and won't offer the privacy options DuckDuckGo, Ixquick, Startpage, and few others do.

Me to mate it's the usual answer..Ive got nothing to hide..At the moment i am using..disconnect.me

Yes many people maybe use devices to try hide there online data , but many devices that log or uses DNS that logs or both and they install browsers that you cant plug ip leaks in . So a lot people are just fooling themselves . These are just the things we know about I bet NSA knows many exploits that's not even public yet . I some times use Google search but I have Google privacy add-on and I keep cookies blocked if i cant find what i want on others. Another good practice is just book mark the sites when you find them most sites have there own search . I checked Maxthon Cloud Browser out seems china has a backdoor in it . It calls out to china mobile and china anti p2p so I block those ips thorough my firewall . :lol:

I have to be honest my online habits have changed..Before it was torrent this torrent that..Now i prefer the streaming option.. :rolleyes:

When I use to upload, when I 1st started it torrenting was not very cool It was a good way to get malware. If you wanted something from the scene we had a few forums were we belonged too were we had what you needed . The whole p2p thing (easy access) and all the big blogs opened and people started doing it for money is what drove most of us old uploaders that done it for free.out of it. After 2012 after I seen Megaupload get busted and many filehost close down and all the trolls on p2p watching you I get most my stuff from filehost behind a vpn . Only time I p2p anymore is if i need something old and cant find it from no were else. We done fine without p2p before so life would go on without it . ;) Streaming is cool if you to want watch it right then, problem is I want to watch it when I'm ready too in my own time . :)