Re: 'Something to ponder when enjoying innovative free services'
Don't think you're any safer using paid services. Any company will eagerly store and monetize your private data -- regardless of whether you're paying for their product or service.
Microsoft is an obvious and egregious example. You pay for a Windows license when you buy a PC, you pay for Office 361, yet they still aggressively track you and exploit the collected data.
You pay for cellular service, yet carriers monetize your web and location activity*.
You pay for your cell phone, yet phone makers are regularly caught embedding spyware, adware, and trackers in their OS "enhancements." That has also happened with PC hardware (looking at you, Lenovo).
You pay for merchandise in stores, yet they also monetize your transactions with them.
You (indirectly) pay swipe fees to use credit cards, yet credit card banks and processors whore out your data relentlessly.
Free or not doesn't matter. You're always the product now.
* At least in the US, but probably elsewhere too to varying degrees.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
