In a world where data is more important than ever, understanding how it is acquired, shared, and misused is critical. Data brokers work behind the scenes, amassing enormous amounts of personal information from online activity, loyalty programs, and even public records, often without the users' knowledge. This data powers targeted marketing, scams, and even identity theft. But what can be done to regain control of personal privacy? Today we're diving deep into this topic with cybersecurity expert Darius Belejevas, who has spent years assisting folks in removing their data from these digital marketplaces. He is the head of Incogni and Surfshark. 

In this chat, Darius is going to share how these sneaky data brokers operate. He'll break down why it's such a big deal when our data gets out there for all to see, and he'll arm us with some solid strategies to keep our privacy intact. We’ll also look at practical tactics that everyone can apply to limit their exposure to hackers. We’ll discuss data sharing, using privacy-focused products, and understanding legislation like GDPR and CCPA. We also dive into the shifting landscape of digital security, the role of AI in data collection and fraud, and what the future of online privacy may look like. 

Show Notes:

• [01:01] We learn about Darius's background.
• [02:16] We learn about the creation of Incogni. 
• [04:04] Data brokers are businesses who collect data and sell it to other businesses. One problem can be lack of transparency of what is happening to your data. 
• [07:19] There are probably a few thousand data brokers.
• [09:36] Does removing your data get you out of a breach?
• [10:48] Limiting what we share. Prevention, consequences, and clean up.
• [12:22] When giving identifiers like your phone number, stop and ask if you really need to do that.
• [14:10] Some brokers make it way more difficult to remove data.
• [20:13] We talk about privacy regulations and how they can help you or make things more difficult.
• [22:12] How AI will make malicious activities easier to scale.
• [23:41] Have people given up on privacy? At the end of the day, it's about personal comfort. 
• [25:00] Privacy laws are helping with data broker issues. 
• [26:59] Being mindful about what you post online. Many people don't want to share too much.
• [29:56] Physical junk mail has decreased. 
• [30:52] What to do today. Think about what you want to share. Do you really need to subscribe?
• [32:21] Use a service like Incogni to help you protect your data.

Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. 

Links and Resources:

• Podcast Web Page
• Facebook Page
• whatismyipaddress.com
• Easy Prey on Instagram
• Easy Prey on Twitter
• Easy Prey on LinkedIn
• Easy Prey on YouTube
• Easy Prey on Pinterest
• Incogni
• Surfshark
• Darius Belejevas on Facebook
• Darius Belejevas on LinkedIn