Healthcare.gov is sharing your personal data

Chris0nllyn

Chris0nllyn

Well-Known Member
The government's health insurance website is quietly sending consumers' personal data to private companies that specialize in advertising and analyzing Internet data for performance and marketing, The Associated Press has learned.

The scope of what is disclosed or how it might be used was not immediately clear, but it can include age, income, ZIP code, whether a person smokes, and if a person is pregnant. It can include a computer's Internet address, which can identify a person's name or address when combined with other information collected by sophisticated online marketing or advertising firms.

The Obama administration says HealthCare.gov's connections to data firms were intended to help improve the consumer experience. Officials said outside firms are barred from using the data to further their own business interests.

There is no evidence that personal information has been misused. But connections to dozens of third-party tech firms were documented by technology experts who analyzed HealthCare.gov and then confirmed by AP. A handful of the companies were also collecting highly specific information. That combination is raising concerns.
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Third-party sites embedded on HealthCare.gov can't see your name, birth date or Social Security number. But they may be able to correlate the fact that your computer accessed the government website with your other Internet activities.

Have you been researching a chronic illness like coronary artery blockage? Do you shop online for smoking-cessation aids? Are you investigating genetic markers for a certain type of breast cancer? Are you seeking help for financial problems, or for an addiction?

Daoudi's company, Catchpoint Systems, came across some 50 third-party connections embedded on HealthCare.gov. They work in the background, unseen to most consumers.

The AP replicated the results. In one 10-minute visit to HealthCare.gov recently, dozens of websites were accessed behind the scenes. They included Google's data-analytics service, Twitter, Facebook and a host of online advertising providers.
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http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3149...concerns-over-governments-health-care-website
 
Chris0nllyn

Chris0nllyn

Well-Known Member
DEEKAYPEE8569 said:
Let's say it's true. No one can say they didn't suspect this was going to happen.
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Yep. Even the GAO knew there were holes in the security of the website.
•Security tests aren't complete. Health officials aren't conducting full, system-wide exams to make sure everything works together safely.
•The Obamacare website didn't require strong passwords.
•The website didn't patch bugs quickly enough.
•The system didn't restrict test servers from accessing the Internet.
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http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/665840.pdf
 
SG_Player1974

SG_Player1974

New Member
So essentially, signing up for Obamacare is/was the equivalent of submitting to one of those free trip give-away boxes in the corner of a Papa John's pizza shop? :killingme
 
Hijinx

Hijinx

Well-Known Member
SG_Player1974 said:
So essentially, signing up for Obamacare is/was the equivalent of submitting to one of those free trip give-away boxes in the corner of a Papa John's pizza shop? :killingme
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It's done everywhere.
I looked for a pair of boots the other day and anytime I go to a site I get advertising for boots.
Is it so strange the the healthcare industry does the same?
Is anyone really Naive' enough to believe we can trust the Government?

PS I just finished watching a commercial for a credit company that gives you a free credit score.
No way can they do that unless you supply them with information about yourself.
Guess what they do with that?
 
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