I provide numerous tips for protecting your online privacy. If you haven’t already, perform this quick 30-second check to ensure the security of your Google and Facebook accounts.
What happens when you leave your house? You are being watched almost everywhere you go.
Not all cameras are visible, either. I once discovered over a dozen cameras in an Airbnb I rented. Here are my top tips for detecting hidden cameras in a rental, new apartment, house, or hotel room. But now we have to deal with drones.
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A drone in the sky catches my attention.
I was swimming in my backyard pool the other day when I heard a familiar buzz. A drone flew overhead and quickly vanished when I shooed it away with my hand. That’s where the idea for this post came from.
The legality of drone surveillance varies by country and state, but if the drone is flying over your private property and filming you without your permission, call the cops. It is an invasion of your privacy.
It can be difficult to determine who owns a drone. It flew out of my sight in seconds in my case. I would have photographed the drone if my iPhone had been nearby. Some drones display their registration numbers in case the owner loses sight of them.
The FAA maintains a database of drone owners who have registered their aircraft with the agency. You’ll need the drone’s registration number to search the FAA’s drone owner database. Here’s how to access the FAA’s drone owner database.
Things you must never do to a drone
There are legal and effective ways to avoid surveillance. There are a few other methods that are illegal for private citizens.
Drones are legally protected by the FAA from being:
• Shot at: It is dangerous and illegal to fire a gun into the sky. Simply do not do it.
Physically interfered with: This includes lasers and other objects.
• Disabled or tampered with: Using a jammer and hacking are both illegal.
There could be other things you’re doing that are illegal. Examine this list.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, here’s what you can do.
Bring an umbrella.
Although it may appear to be cumbersome, an umbrella is a cheap and practical way to protect your privacy. It’s a no-brainer in rainy or overcast weather. Who cares if you get some strange looks?
It’s not like you have to use it all the time. Keep one in your bag for when you need to use it.
There are numerous technological products available to protect your data and privacy. Tap or click for eight options ranging from muting your microphone to protecting your credit cards.
Make use of your surroundings as cover.
Do you have a drone or know someone who does? I’m sure you’ve had to deal with something being thrown at it. That is not the proper method of avoiding drones.
You should adopt a more passive posture. Drones have difficulty flying or filming in bad weather, such as heavy rain, fog, and wind. You get a point.
When it’s sunny and you see a drone buzzing overhead, go somewhere where it’s less likely to notice you. Trees, alcoves, awnings, and tunnels are all great places to hide while the drone passes overhead.
Use this free tool to see if the police have saved your face in their database.
Put on an invisibility cloak.
Take a look at this: The University of Maryland discovered that patterned sweaters can fool artificial intelligence systems.
The images used to train AI systems to recognise objects are used in these sweaters. Wear one, and the system may interpret you as an animal, such as a giraffe, instead of a person.
Fashion labels are taking notice. Cap able, an Italian startup, sells clothes with these patterns, known as “adversarial patches,” that confuse facial recognition software.
But be warned: these garments are not cheap. A hoodie will cost you around $450. If these become popular, the price will likely fall, as with all new inventions.
