Prying Eyes: Protect Your Privacy from People Who Sell to You, Snoop on You, or Steal from You

Without pandering to alarmist sentiment, the author reveals intricate, simply told anecdotes and examples of how electronic advances have threatened basic civil liberties. Well researched and filled with candid insights from an expert in the field. Excellent, topical reference for libraries and anyone interested in freedom issues.

Prying Eyes is an essential read for anyone with a computer, a cell phone, a credit card, or a mailbox. Gertler alerts the reader to the very real risks of life in the information age, while contintually offering suggestions for how you can protect yourself. He covers topics that reach far beyond those normally associated with identity theft, like privacy in the workplace, the confidentiality of medical records, and the ways we all allow our homes to be invaded every day. Yet, Gertler offers these sobering facts without becoming hysterical. Serving as more than just a warning, Prying Eyes offers its readers tools to protect their privacy, while still allowing them to profit from all that technology has to offer.

As a victim of identity theft via mail fraud, I was in great need of a resource to assist me, as I strive to secure my identity and avoid common privacy pitfalls in the future. Fortunately for me, I found Eric Gertler's PRYING EYES -- a solution oriented guide that provides real world examples, useful facts, and clear steps to protect one's personal privacy from unwanted intrusions. For anyone who has ever purchased anything on the Internet, received credit card applications in the mail or been contacted by telemarketers, PRYING EYES is a must-read. I strongly recommend this title as an essential navigation tool in today's highly connected world.

Quite simply the BEST book on Identity theft I've seen. It's scary what can happen to you if you don't watch out when you use your computer. I thought I was careful, but Gertler gives easy and simple things you can do in minutes to prevent getting into REAL trouble when using your PC which can wipe out your life savings, ruin your credit rating and keep people from knowing exactly what you do online. And it's not geared towards computer geeks, but average people like me, who only use email, shop online or download music.I have been using anti-virus programs, downloading security patches and using firewalls, but Gertler points out that computer criminals are one step (or TEN) ahead of you. And it's not just hackers, but your bosses are spying on you too!Read it and you'll first get scared and then, if you do what he says, feel calm and protected right away. Once you're attacked, he explains that there's very little the law can do to protect you. For those interested in how this criminal cottage industry grew, he gives some nice historical background on how this activity happened. Gertler protects you from everyone from Bill Gates, profiteers on down to thrill-seeking thugs. I've read other books on the subject, but this one is the most comprehensive and practical. A MUST read for anyone with a personal computer or who knows someone who uses one.