Illinois Verizon Users Might Want to Check Their Privacy Settings Today

If you're a Verizon Wireless customer, you might want to look into your privacy settings today.

Apparently, Verizon has relaunched a new website tracking program that logs every website and app you use on your phone.

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A post on the popular subReddit r/YouShould Know from user grandlewis pointed out what's going on saying there's "a new program launched today called Verizon Custom Experience" that "tracks every website you visit and every app you use."

Further mentioning Verizon "automatically enrolls all customers, who must specifically opt-out if they don't want to be tracked."

Inputmag.com caught the news first saying a "seemingly bland email blast contains some potentially major privacy changes under the guise of a more 'tailored' service."

Verizon.com explains the new Verizon Custom Experience saying it "helps us personalize our communications with you" to "give you more relevant product and service recommendations."

Later in the description, Verizon does add they "do not sell information we use in these programs to others for them to use for their own advertising."

There are essentially two camps on this one, the first is the folks who have really nothing to hide and don't care if Verizon wants to track what customers are doing on their phones.

Then there's the second group, those who are appalled wondering why a company like Verizon would even attempt to do such a thing.

Like grandlewis said on Reddit "There is essentially no benefit to giving away your information to Verizon Wireless. Unlike with other sites, where one can at least argue targeted ads pay for free services, with this Verizon program, you are essentially receiving nothing in return for giving up your privacy."

Finally, there's the third group, which I guess, is me. I'm not angry, truthfully, unsurprised. At the same time even with nothing to hide, I'm still gonna opt-out, that seems a little too shady for me.

Lucky for us, Wired put together a quick how-to opt-out of Verizon's new program. Check it out HERE.