mysecurepc.com blog

The Federal Trade Commission’s do not call list started receiving numbers in June, 2003. The expiration date was 5 years later…June 2008. The telemarketers are salivating at that date because they know people will forget to reregister their phone numbers. After all their are 149 million registered numbers.

The FTC plans on a program to alert people to reregister their phones starting next year.

For the most part annoying telephone calls have dropped dramatically though some telemarketers still abuse the system.

The program is supported by the government requiring telemarketers to pay annual subscription fees so they have access to blocked numbers so their autodial programs will not call them.

How to Reregister

People can register their home and cell phone numbers or file complaints at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
Do not forget that organizations engaged in charitable, political or survey work are exempt. Also companies that have an established business relationship with a customer also may call for up to 18 months after the last purchase, payment or delivery.

Doug

And why would I dislike iTunes? One word: privacy. When a song is purchased and downloaded from Apple your email and customer information is embedded in the file. The worst part is the data is -not- encrypted; it is exposed as plain text. What if your iPod is lost or stolen? You are out of luck. For me, I will skip iTunes and stay with my MP3 player.

Doug

Though this is in the state of Nevada similar laws are being passed around the country. As of 1 January 2007, no one, including the government, can require a person to include a social security number on a document except for the usual government exclusions. The statute is NSR 239B.030 – confidentiality of social security numbers.

What this means is you do not have to give out your social security number unless required by law. We have been very successful at not giving out our social security number – just refuse.

Doug