05/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/01/2024 07:31
A data broker(also known as an information product company) is an organization that makes money by collecting your personal information, analyzing it, and licensing it out to be used by other companies for things like marketing purposes.
Data providersgather data from many different sources to create a profile of who you are. This profile includes things like your interests, hobbies, demographics, and even the products you use.
Generally, data broker companiesonly deal with customers to collect information. A few of the top data brokeragecompanies are Epsilon, Acxiom, and Experian, but there are many data brokeragesworldwide that make a hefty profit from aggregatingand distributing consumers' personal data.
This article explains everything you need to know about data brokers, including what they do, how they get your information, and what you can do to limit the data they can access from you.
Where do data brokersget your information?
There are several ways information brokerscan get your information - both online and offline.
Are data brokersillegal?
Generally, it's legal for data brokersto get your information through public sources. However, different locations have different protections in place for consumers and different rules for how data brokersmust operate.
Many countries have laws to protect consumers from having their information shared without their consent. For example, the European Unionhas the General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR) to protect data privacy. The GDPRsays data brokersneed to get consent from consumers before sharing their information. The law also gives consumers the right to demand that companies delete any personal information that they have stored.
On the other hand, the United States doesn't have federal privacy lawsprotecting consumer informationfrom data brokers. It's up to the states to make their own laws. Some states prioritize consumer privacymore than others. For example, Californiahas the Consumer PrivacyAct, which gives customers the right to see what data a broker company has and the ability to delete it.
Typically, companies ask for consent to share your information through the fine print of their agreements. You might not be aware of how much of your personal information you've allowed organizations to share.
Who are the largest data brokers?
Data brokeringis a huge industry. In fact, data brokersaround the world bring in hundreds of billions of dollarsa year. Here are some of the largest data brokeragecompanies that may collect your information.
What personal information do data brokers collect?
By using various sources, data brokerscan aggregatea lot of information about you. This information can be used to create user categories that businesses can market to. For instance, if you visit websites that sell baby products, the broker might put you into a category like "new parents."
Some of the information that brokers collect might be things you'd like to keep private. For example, a broker might collect sensitive data about health issues, past bankruptcies, or legal issues.
Sometimes, brokers may place you in the wrong category. Let's say you're buying a new cookware set as a birthday gift for your mother. You check out several cooking sites before purchasing your set. If the broker sees that you've visited cooking sites and purchased cooking products, they may place you in a category like "cooking enthusiasts" even though you brought the gift for your mother.
Here are some personal details that a broker can collect to create a consumer profile of you:
How data brokers use your information
Businesses are always looking for useful consumer information. Purchasing consumer datafrom brokers helps them tailor marketing campaigns to the demographics that are most likely to buy their products.
Let's say you're a fan of virtual reality (VR) gaming. You've watched countless YouTube videos about the subject, and you've searched Amazon for VR headsets multiple times. You'd likely be an ideal consumer for a company that manufactures VR headsets or a company that creates VR games.
Other companies might use your data for risk mitigation. For example, a bank might use your personal financial history to determine whether you're likely to default on a mortgage loan.
How to protect your data from data brokers
There are a variety of public recordsand sources that data brokerscan use to gather information about you. The good news is that there are some things you can do to limit the amount of personal information they can access:
There are also a few organizations you can join to protect your information:
Discover how McAfee's leading identity protection software can help
Data brokersare always looking for ways to get their hands on your personal information. Many reasons businesses want access to your personal dataaren't malicious. They simply want to provide you with a targeted advertising experience and introduce you to products you might like.
However, the more your personal information gets shared online, the more chances cybercriminals have to get their hands on it. There might also be some sensitive information you don't want to share with businesses in general. If you're careful about what you post and take steps to protect your cybersecurity, you'll greatly reduce the amount of data that a broker can collect from you.
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McAfee can help you safeguarddata like financial records and health care information so you can have less stress online. You're meant to enjoy the internet - and we're here to help make that a reality.