More on Computer Security

More on Computer Security

(NOTE: I wrote this in 2009.) 

Computer guy here!

A few months ago I wrote a blog post about computer security, social networking and document sharing sites. Another topic has come up so here is my treatise! This refers specifically to Boxbe but it should be understood that it also includes other similar sites!

Boxbe and other email inbox manager sites claim to be able to stop “spam” and other unwanted emails, especially advertising. They are not benevolent good guys! They couldn’t care less about your inbox! By subscribing to Boxbe you authorize them to “harvest” your contacts. They use your contacts list as authorization to clear emails to your inbox. Sounds good! However, they then pester your contact list to sign up with Boxbe. What’s the point?

If you go to Boxbe’s web site, the first thing you notice is that the "service" is free but there is no advertising! It costs money, big money, to run a nationwide or worldwide site. Servers, staff, bandwidth, etc. all cost money! So, either Boxbe is run by a benevolent gazillionaire or there is more to the story.

The following is excerpted from the Boxbe “Terms of Use” and “Privacy Policy” pages.

By agreeing to our Terms of Service during registration, you agree to receive messages such as newsletters, notices about changes or improvements to Boxbe's services or other Boxbe information. You can opt out of these emails from your Account Info page. Boxbe will not sell, rent or share your personally identifiable information about you to others except to provide the services you've requested or when we have your permission, or

• We provide information to trusted partners who work with Boxbe under confidentiality agreements.
• We respond to subpoenas, court orders or to establish or exercise our legal rights to defend against legal claims.
• We believe it is necessary to share information to investigate or take action regarding illegal activities or suspected fraud to other Boxbe or email users, or to violations of Boxbe's Terms of Service, or as required by law.
• We transfer information about you if Boxbe is acquired by or merged with another company.

There are some important points here that most people never even read and certainly don’t understand, unless they are a geek!

First, you may not realize you have given the site permission to share your information. You have to watch those check boxes like a duck on a junebug! Miss just one check box and you give permission!

Second, they state in bullet #1 that they share your information with their partners. I was not able to find out who those partners might be but a look into Boxbe’s history may shed some light on the subject. Boxbe started as an “Email clearance for a fee service.” Email advertisers were asked to pay a fee to Boxbe to have their email passed to your inbox. The theory was that Boxbe would share the fee with the inbox owner. Didn’t work! Advertisers didn’t fall for it! However, since they state that they share with their “PARTNERS” there is every reason to believe that someone is purchasing access to Boxbe’s database!

Third, the real kicker is the last bullet! You see this statement or one of its spin-offs on a lot of sites. Basically it says that if they sell the company all bets are off!  If Boxbe is acquired or merged, Boxbe will notify you and provide an option to opt out before information about you is transferred or becomes subject to a different privacy policy. However you must respond quickly!

Selling email address lists is quite profitable. In years past, mailing lists were sold on peel off labels. Now email address are sold in databases. You can get lists of doctors by locale, specialty, medical school, or a dozen other criteria. You can order list of democrats, republicans, avid fishermen, book publishers, architects, one legged volley ball players, or just about any other identifiable group!

So, a company builds a database with zillions of addresses by harvesting your contacts list and many of your contact’s contacts lists. They use those names according to their terms. Finally, when the list is big enough, they sell the company (probably to a spammer!) and move to the islands or start another company and do it all again!

When you consider signing up for something you must ask, “How do they make their money!” 

One further note on a different but related topic. You may receive an email from some company you don’t recognize. They may be selling Viagra, luxury yachts, time shares, fake Rolex watches, or any other products. In that email is an unsubscribe link that says if you click the link you will stop receiving these junk emails! If you click on the link, you will stop receiving the junk email but what you have actually done is VERIFY the email address! Verified email addresses sell at a premium price! The sender is not selling erections, Rolex watches or time shares! They are selling email addresses! You will multiply your junk mail many times over because you have verified the email address!

UPDATE!!! In 2012, eDataSource, Inc. purchased the assets of Boxbe, Inc.  Read that last bullet point above!

I hope this helps! Kinda lengthy but hey it is free!!

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