Privacy For Sale: How Big Brother And Others Are Selling Your Private Secrets For Profit (Paperback)

by Michael Chesbro (Author) "One of the greatest threats to personal privacy is the unrestricted use of Social Security numbers (SSNs) as a national identification number..." (more)
Key Phrases: video tape service provider, amending this section, mail drop operator, Freedom of Information Act, Postal Service, Public Law (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
If you think that your life is nobody's business but your own, you'd better think again. Get a practical understanding of the legal rights guaranteed to you by federal law and learn tried-and-tested techniques for keeping privacy profiteers and potential records, telephone communications, personnel files, personal buying practices and more.

About the Author
Michael Chesbro is a senior counterintelligence agent with the U.S. Department of Defense. He holds degrees in security management, paralegal studies, and jurisprudence, and is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He is professionally certified as a protection officer and as a security supervisor by the International Foundation for Protection Officers. He is a board-certified forensic examiner and a fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners, as well as a diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Examiners and the American Board of Law Enforcement Experts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158160033X
• ISBN-13: 978-1581600339
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,622,179 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Privacy Means $$$ To Unscrupulous Controllers, August 6, 1999

By A Customer

The book "Privacy for Sale, How Big Brother and Others AreSelling Your Private Secrets For Profit" by Michael Chesbro is awonderful resource for guarding against invasions of privacy in your home, your finances, your mail, your electronic communications and just about any other place someone might find it profitable to abscond with your personal information. This is happening in many places today, and Mr. Chesbro makes short work of explaining the Who, How, Why, When, and Where behind the phenomenon, as well as clueing the reader about ways to defeat the many times illegal, but rife collection of personal data in our society. It appears from the reading that Mr. Chesbro himself has been prey to the thieves of privacy at one time or another, and fully one third of his book is comprised of resources by which his information can be checked, or expounded upon. Michael Chesbro has also delved deeply into the very root of Defining privacy, not something I see very often, and though privacy seems to be a right taken for granted by many people in America and the world, you Will be surprised at the tactics employed by governments and individuals to usurp and thereby profit from invading the inner sanctums of your private information. There are chapters in "Privacy For Sale" Dealing with every aspect of securing your privacy, and then some...by reading this book you will probably discover at least a few aspects of security in your life that are novel and new to you, of which you were previously unaware, and it is constantly stressed throughout the book that as new technologies and methods are developed, so must countermeasures be developed, if one wishes to retain private dealings anywhere. Privacy has become an exploitable commodity, and there are always those who will wish to exploit YOUR privacy for THEIR profit. Government is by far the greatest predator of individual privacy, and Michael Chesbros book advises knowingly of the aspects of this, and provides ways to combat the many-times illegal government intrusion. Here are some things from the book proper: Protecting the Privacy of your electronic mail, your regular mail, your financial information, your telephone communications, your home...There is a chapter briefing you on Voluntary disclosure of your information and it shows here that many people just up and GIVE their privacy away...I myself am guilty of that through my social conditioning, as many of us are, but no more, no more. There is a lot of information concerning the Freedom Of Information Act and its amendments, that will allow you to learn who has what about you, also information about protecting your privacy in the workplace, privacy of your medical records, and your credit privacy. Many times subterfuge and coercion are used by government or corporate information gatherers, and it is this occurence that causes the greatest harm to privacy anywhere. It is what the book is about, mainly, and the information is what you need to realistically begin protecting your privacy. Its a firm foundation, and every structure needs that. The author posesses a clarity not often found in publications of this sort, and you will no doubt enjoy the style by which Michael Chesbro imparts information of the utmost importance to you and your family. The book can be read in a couple of hours, and for the time invested I know of no better source by which to guarantee the integrity of your privacy.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST PRIVACY BOOK ON THE MARKET!, July 9, 1999

By A Customer

This is one of the best books I have ever read, concerning privacy. The author explains privacy law in a way that is simple to understand, and teaches you the best ways to use the law to protect your own personal privacy. As rouge government agencies continue to trample our rights under foot, here is a way to fight back using the law. My complements to Mr. Chesbro - it's about time someone wrote a book like this!

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for all who need more insite on personal privacy, July 6, 1999

By	proteus325 (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

An insightful book that anybody who desires to learn more about privacy awareness should read. Chesbro gives 15 useful guidelines that will increase your knowledge of how to protect and safeguard your privacy. Strongest part of book is chapter on e-mail privacy.