SPRINT and privacy

Exactly.. but i was trying to just keep it in the celluar topic.
--
SAVE YOUR BREATH....

You'll need it to blow up your date.


"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> "Big Poppa" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > When a Sprint CSR Ask for your password, it is to just verify you
> are
> > who you say you are.. It is not needed for the CSR to access your
> > account, but to insure they are speaking to the account holder...
> It's
> > the same for every celluar company. Its just for verification not
> for
> > the rep to access the account.
>
> I view it the same as calling any institution where one has an
> account, whether it's the bank, utility (Water, Electric, Gas,
> telephone) company, etc. It's just there to confirm the caller is who
> they say they are ...
>
> Bob
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

---

› See More: SPRINT and privacy

TechGeek <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> ben dejo wrote:
[snip, I know what I said]
> Like I asked before, do you expect me to go out and ask every customer
> who's phone I'm working on for permission to check their accounts for
> warranty information, validation etc?


But you were not doing that, not in Justins' case. You went on a
mission to locate a customers account based on what you found on USENET.
What legitimate purpose could that serve?
>
> I did absolutely nothing other than what I would do if I had a cusotmer
> in my store with the same issue. I didn't post any "personal" or
> "confidential" infomration regarding his account, and when I was done,
> it was exactly that, I WAS DONE.

But with a customer in the store you would have a legitimate business
use. Here you clearly did not.


> I went on. (And if you'd like to
> know, I checked what model phones he had, the notes on the account, and
> the coverage where he lives, which I am allowed to do with any account
> being in my position).

And what exactly what is that, your position. What could you possibly
do with this information?
>
> By signing onto SprintPCS service, you allow SprintPCS access to this
> information, when I'm at work, I have every right to view any
> cusotomer's account information, with or without their permission, I'm
> just not allowed to go announcing it, which I have not.


So let me get this straight,

You get my phone number and you want to go out with my sister (who lives
in the same house as me, but who also has a restraining order against
you), and you go into Sprints billing without restriction to get my
personal information to see where I live. Based on fragmentary
information of nothing more than a name? Is this what you do during the
day? I find that disturbing.
>
> --
> Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
> Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

TechGeek <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
[snip]
>
> And if you have concerns this serious about employees of a company that
> you have dealing with, then you might as well, cancel all your credit
> cards, bank accounts, cable or satellite TV, other phone services, ISP,
> loans, bank cards, Retail "discount" cards, everything you've ever
> registered, etc..

It is people like yourself, who do not respect privacy and announce that
fact, that scare people like me into using alises. Protecting my
privacy is VERY important to me and I take what steps I can to
facilitate this.


>
> --
> Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
> Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

ben dejo wrote:[color=blue]
> *So let me get this straight,
>
> You get my phone number and you want to go out with my sister (who
> lives
> in the same house as me, but who also has a restraining order
> against
> you), and you go into Sprints billing without restriction to get my
> personal information to see where I live. Based on fragmentary
> information of nothing more than a name? Is this what you do during
> the
> day? I find that disturbing.
> >
> *

Your analogy is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Getting an account information
for NON WORK RELATED information is a fireable offence.

Justin posted on the UseNet asking for help, I took the information I
had and tried to see IF I COULD HELP.

Sorry for trying to HELP SOMEONE.

> It is people like yourself, who do not respect privacy and announce
> that
> fact, that scare people like me into using alises. Protecting my
> privacy is VERY important to me and I take what steps I can to
> facilitate this.

I fully respect privacy policies. I've even been to the point where I
have caught people in federal offences, such as theft, yet because of
the privacy policy, I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I can watch America's Most wanted every week, see if any of the people
who were profiled have a Sprint PCS phone, and if they do, I can see
the general area where they are using it, yet due to the privacy
policy, I cannot call the police and inform them.

Going into someone's account to try to HELP them is in no way a breach
of the privacy policy.

And for your information, using an alias doesn't protect you too much,
people can easily trach where and who you are just by your IP address.

--
Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap

Two Words, Dynamic IP

TechGeek <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:[color=blue]
>
> ben dejo wrote:
> > *So let me get this straight,
> >
> > You get my phone number and you want to go out with my sister (who
> > lives
> > in the same house as me, but who also has a restraining order
> > against
> > you), and you go into Sprints billing without restriction to get my
> > personal information to see where I live. Based on fragmentary
> > information of nothing more than a name? Is this what you do during
> > the
> > day? I find that disturbing.
> > >
> > *
>
> Your analogy is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Getting an account information
> for NON WORK RELATED information is a fireable offence.
>
> Justin posted on the UseNet asking for help, I took the information I
> had and tried to see IF I COULD HELP.
>
> Sorry for trying to HELP SOMEONE.
>
> > It is people like yourself, who do not respect privacy and announce
> > that
> > fact, that scare people like me into using alises. Protecting my
> > privacy is VERY important to me and I take what steps I can to
> > facilitate this.
>
> I fully respect privacy policies. I've even been to the point where I
> have caught people in federal offences, such as theft, yet because of
> the privacy policy, I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
>
> I can watch America's Most wanted every week, see if any of the people
> who were profiled have a Sprint PCS phone, and if they do, I can see
> the general area where they are using it, yet due to the privacy
> policy, I cannot call the police and inform them.
>
> Going into someone's account to try to HELP them is in no way a breach
> of the privacy policy.
>
> And for your information, using an alias doesn't protect you too much,
> people can easily trach where and who you are just by your IP address.
>
> --
> Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
> Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

"ben dejo" <direcció[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Two Words, Dynamic IP

That's three words ... or one word and one abbreviation ...

Bob

TechGeek <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> ben dejo wrote:
[snip]
> > >
> > *
>
> Your analogy is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Getting an account information
> for NON WORK RELATED information is a fireable offence.
>
> Justin posted on the UseNet asking for help, I took the information I
> had and tried to see IF I COULD HELP.


But could you verify the customer was indeed legitimate through USENET?
Maybe it was his ex-wife (hey, I said maybe)
>
> Sorry for trying to HELP SOMEONE.

Why are you sorry?
>
> > It is people like yourself, who do not respect privacy and announce
> > that
> > fact, that scare people like me into using alises. Protecting my
> > privacy is VERY important to me and I take what steps I can to
> > facilitate this.
>
> I fully respect privacy policies. I've even been to the point where I
> have caught people in federal offences, such as theft, yet because of
> the privacy policy, I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Then, Using pronouns, describe whom you have caught doing what.

>
> I can watch America's Most wanted every week, see if any of the people
> who were profiled have a Sprint PCS phone, and if they do, I can see
> the general area where they are using it, yet due to the privacy
> policy, I cannot call the police and inform them.


>
> Going into someone's account to try to HELP them is in no way a breach
> of the privacy policy.

Please detail how you were helping Justin. And how could you possibly
help him from where you are at (BTW-where are you at?)
>
> And for your information, using an alias doesn't protect you too much,
> people can easily trach where and who you are just by your IP address.

Public terminal, Dynamic IP, Open wireless networks, These are just a
start. If you feel the need to find out though, I suppose there is
little I can do to stop you.
>
> --
> Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
> Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Smartass :-)

"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> "ben dejo" <direcció[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Two Words, Dynamic IP
>
> That's three words ... or one word and one abbreviation ...
>
> Bob
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Ben, why can't you just accept the explanation of what TechGeek (TG)
was doing? Justin did ask for help here on this newsgroup, and TG
obliged ... TG didn't release any of Justin's personal information.
Justin did that himself.

Bob::Thinking that the recent crosspost by Anon. is going to raise a
bit more activity in this newsgroup::


"ben dejo" <direcció[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> TechGeek <[email protected]> wrote in article
> <[email protected]>:
> >
> > ben dejo wrote:
> [snip]
> > > >
> > > *
> >
> > Your analogy is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Getting an account
information
> > for NON WORK RELATED information is a fireable offence.
> >
> > Justin posted on the UseNet asking for help, I took the
information I
> > had and tried to see IF I COULD HELP.
>
>
> But could you verify the customer was indeed legitimate through
USENET?
> Maybe it was his ex-wife (hey, I said maybe)
> >
> > Sorry for trying to HELP SOMEONE.
>
> Why are you sorry?
> >
> > > It is people like yourself, who do not respect privacy and
announce
> > > that
> > > fact, that scare people like me into using alises. Protecting my
> > > privacy is VERY important to me and I take what steps I can to
> > > facilitate this.
> >
> > I fully respect privacy policies. I've even been to the point
where I
> > have caught people in federal offences, such as theft, yet because
of
> > the privacy policy, I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
>
> Then, Using pronouns, describe whom you have caught doing what.
>
> >
> > I can watch America's Most wanted every week, see if any of the
people
> > who were profiled have a Sprint PCS phone, and if they do, I can
see
> > the general area where they are using it, yet due to the privacy
> > policy, I cannot call the police and inform them.
>
>
> >
> > Going into someone's account to try to HELP them is in no way a
breach
> > of the privacy policy.
>
> Please detail how you were helping Justin. And how could you
possibly
> help him from where you are at (BTW-where are you at?)
> >
> > And for your information, using an alias doesn't protect you too
much,
> > people can easily trach where and who you are just by your IP
address.
>
> Public terminal, Dynamic IP, Open wireless networks, These are just
a
> start. If you feel the need to find out though, I suppose there is
> little I can do to stop you.
> >
> > --
> > Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
> > Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap
> >
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com]

Glad you asked that question, Bob.

I am a firm believer in the precise use of language. By doing my best
to state exactly what I intend to say and not leave room for doubt as to
what I meant. With TechGeek I found that what he was saying very easily
can be construed to be abuses of his position at Sprint. By using the
most ridiculous examples (but not impossible) I sought to show the
potential harm that these statements could bring. ( I believe the term
is "reducio ad absurdum"). Do I believe that Techgeek has actually
violated customer privacy issues, I cannot honestly answer as I do know
him/her (though I believe it is a him), do they have the potential to
construed as such, absolutely.

"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<q%[email protected]>:
> Ben, why can't you just accept the explanation of what TechGeek (TG)
> was doing? Justin did ask for help here on this newsgroup, and TG
> obliged ... TG didn't release any of Justin's personal information.
> Justin did that himself.
>
> Bob::Thinking that the recent crosspost by Anon. is going to raise a
> bit more activity in this newsgroup::
>
>
> "ben dejo" <direcció[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> > TechGeek <[email protected]> wrote in article
> > <[email protected]>:
> > >
> > > ben dejo wrote:
> > [snip]
> > > > >
> > > > *
> > >
> > > Your analogy is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Getting an account
> information
> > > for NON WORK RELATED information is a fireable offence.
> > >
> > > Justin posted on the UseNet asking for help, I took the
> information I
> > > had and tried to see IF I COULD HELP.
> >
> >
> > But could you verify the customer was indeed legitimate through
> USENET?
> > Maybe it was his ex-wife (hey, I said maybe)
> > >
> > > Sorry for trying to HELP SOMEONE.
> >
> > Why are you sorry?
> > >
> > > > It is people like yourself, who do not respect privacy and
> announce
> > > > that
> > > > fact, that scare people like me into using alises. Protecting my
> > > > privacy is VERY important to me and I take what steps I can to
> > > > facilitate this.
> > >
> > > I fully respect privacy policies. I've even been to the point
> where I
> > > have caught people in federal offences, such as theft, yet because
> of
> > > the privacy policy, I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
> >
> > Then, Using pronouns, describe whom you have caught doing what.
> >
> > >
> > > I can watch America's Most wanted every week, see if any of the
> people
> > > who were profiled have a Sprint PCS phone, and if they do, I can
> see
> > > the general area where they are using it, yet due to the privacy
> > > policy, I cannot call the police and inform them.
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Going into someone's account to try to HELP them is in no way a
> breach
> > > of the privacy policy.
> >
> > Please detail how you were helping Justin. And how could you
> possibly
> > help him from where you are at (BTW-where are you at?)
> > >
> > > And for your information, using an alias doesn't protect you too
> much,
> > > people can easily trach where and who you are just by your IP
> address.
> >
> > Public terminal, Dynamic IP, Open wireless networks, These are just
> a
> > start. If you feel the need to find out though, I suppose there is
> > little I can do to stop you.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
> > > Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap
> > >
> >
> > [posted via phonescoop.com]
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

I think the pissing contest should end now. Just my two cents.

--
Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap

>And for your information, using an alias doesn't protect you too much,
>people can easily trach where and who you are just by your IP address.

Really?

Try.

I bet you $10,000 that you will not be able to determine within one year's time the IP address of
the machine that this post was originally sent from.

If you can manage to get a hold of transit information from seven different remailers in seven
different countries, none of which keep logs of any kind ... then you will have my everylasting
respect and I know a company that would be willing to pay you several millions of dollars per year
for your talent.

You cannot trace the IP address of any Internet user who desires privacy, and knows what he/she is
doing.

Are you sure you are a "Tech Geek"?

ben dejo wrote:
> *Glad you asked that question, Bob.
>
> I am a firm believer in the precise use of language. By doing my
> best
> to state exactly what I intend to say and not leave room for doubt as
> to
> what I meant. With TechGeek I found that what he was saying very
> easily
> can be construed to be abuses of his position at Sprint. By using
> the
> most ridiculous examples (but not impossible) I sought to show the
> potential harm that these statements could bring. ( I believe the
> term
> is "reducio ad absurdum"). Do I believe that Techgeek has actually
> violated customer privacy issues, I cannot honestly answer as I do
> know
> him/her (though I believe it is a him), do they have the potential
> to
> construed as such, absolutely.
>
> *

http://www1.sprintpcs.com/explore/in...sPrivacy.jsp#6

There is Sprint's security and privacy policy, where did I break it?

I never did deny the fact that some malicious employee could seek out
this information for their own benefit, but this is the case with ANY
company (like the ones I've mentioned before).

SprintPCS's computer systems also have (which I do NOT have access to)
software that tracks what accounts I look up in the billing system,
what MSLs I look up, what inventory I do maintenance on (receiving,
returning, transfering, etc), any reports I run, what phones I try to
track (movement though various inventories though SprintPCS), etc..
along with tracking software to monitor web usage and email usage. I
know that any violation of any policy that SprintPCS has can result in
my termination, and that can happen quickly, and yes, people have been
terminated for abusing the systems.

I haven't worked this hard, for as long as I have with SprintPCS (and
other companies in the past) to abuse the system and get myself fired.
I have a very good reputation nationwide, from the lowest people on the
totem poll, to national department heads, in fact, I'm sure some of the
big-wig (Garcia, maybe Levine when he was with us, Lauer hasn't
beenwith us that long) may have seen my name tossed around, too (and
yes, I work with people only one or two levels below them on a regular
basis).

I go by the rules to the fullest of my knowledge, and if I am not 100%
sure, I either look up the policy on it, contact someone who would
know, or I don't do it. Even if Justin (or anyone for that matter)
asked me to email them personal information in their account, I would
not, even with the right crudentials.

It seems that either you don't take my job seriously, or you think I
don't take my job seriously. Well, I take it very seriously. I
haven't gotten the reputation or respect I have just by fooling around
with the system all day. I go out and try to help out others, in my
position, in other positions, and customers, and obviously, since I'm
posting here, in MY OWN TIME.

(Oh, and just as an FYI - if I *EVER* catch anyone abusing the systems
we use at work, I make sure they don't have a job too much longer)

--
Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap

Nomen Nescio wrote:
> *>And for your information, using an alias doesn't protect you too
> much,
> >people can easily trach where and who you are just by your IP
> address.
>
> Really?
>
> Try.
>
> I bet you $10,000 that you will not be able to determine within one
> year's time the IP address of
> the machine that this post was originally sent from.
>
> If you can manage to get a hold of transit information from seven
> different remailers in seven
> different countries, none of which keep logs of any kind ... then you
> will have my everylasting
> respect and I know a company that would be willing to pay you several
> millions of dollars per year
> for your talent.
>
> You cannot trace the IP address of any Internet user who desires
> privacy, and knows what he/she is
> doing.
>
> Are you sure you are a "Tech Geek"? *

There are programs that can track masked IP addresses, no matter how
many countries you run it though. I know people who use them. I've
seen them used.

Oh, and its also against the TOS with most ISPs to mask your ISP or
re-route to hide your true IP address, its under "hacking".

--
Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap

>It is people like yourself, who do not respect privacy and announce that
>fact, that scare people like me into using alises. Protecting my
>privacy is VERY important to me and I take what steps I can to
>facilitate this.

I second that. That is why I never post to this newsgroup without using a remailer. Piss off
the wrong person, and the next day you could have "notes on your account".

With Sprint's very lax monitoring of customer privacy issues, you would have to be an utter loon
to post here with any information that would allow you account to be identified.

And, no, not all companies do this. Banks, Credit Cards, etc ... monitor when an account is
accessed, which employee accessed the information, the time of access, and the reason for
access. There are very specific times when they are allowed to access accounts. The rest of
the time, the database is off-limits. The majority of credit card customer service agents
*cannot* just browse through accounts out of curiosity or for any reason that wasn't requested
by the customer. As a matter of fact, if they access any account without a "legitimate business
purpose" ... they can face federal charges.

They can't just pick a person out, and say "hmmm, I wonder what this guy has been up to ...
lemme check". The system flags the access, and if the reason is not obvious, they will have to
provide a damn good reason for having pulled up the data. Sure they farm out random marketing
data to other companies, etc ... but this is on a wholesale basis, the marketers don't get to
pick through their neighbors data. They go one-by-one through a pre-screened list.

So, no. You don't need to close your bank accounts and cut up your credit cards. I wouldn't
trust the cable or telephone company, but most employees of financial institutions CANNOT do
what TechGeek did. Having family in the banking business, I know this for certain.

Maybe other cellphone carriers can do it, I don't know. But they shouldn't be allowed to.

Employees especially shouldn't be able to go through someone's account, and "view the notes"
<shudder> from information they culminated from Usenet. This is downright scary. Just ....
frightening.

Someone asked me several months ago why I "cowardly" posted through remailers.

I believe that person should now have the answer.

If your going to post, and you give enough information (sometimes only an email address is
enough), realize that there are people reading your post that have ready access to your name,
phone number, employer, employers phone number, social security number, possibly your kids names
and where they go to school, etc, etc ... and the can put notes on your account which may very
well affect how Sprint treats you as a customer.

Now you know. Act accordingly.

Sorry, TechGeek. I personally like you, and I appreciate the information that you contribute,
but I strongly disagree with you on this issue.