News: Privacy Matters!

PRIVACY MATTERS!​

Forums originally shaped the internet and thanks to tech companies that violate user trust, forums are thriving again. In fact, Facebook started Groups to compete with Internet Forums because forums still drive the bulk of online information based searches. Social media is fun, but privacy is essential. We've spent 21 years building a digital documentary on yachting without ever tracking readers or selling user information. Some of our earliest members were recognizable names from the Fortune 500; folks who answer to shareholders, employees and competitors. For security reasons they take privacy seriously.

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One of our earliest members was Tom Perkins, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist behind Google, Amazon and Netscape (which became the privacy-based; Mozilla Firefox). He was also the owner of the Maltese Falcon. As early adapters of the net, Tom and I shared common interests; building better medias and flying remote control helicopters. We had discussions about the evolution of the Internet and the importance of Privacy. Tom saw two Internet users; those who seek notoriety and those who understand the risk of putting personal information online.

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Tom foresaw the implications of exploiting privacy and we are watching it play out today. Tech companies are collecting user data without consent. The scope of this is more than targeting you with advertising, they are peering into your thoughts, your life and building algorithms that will determine your future access to healthcare, education, opportunity, credit, connection and employment.

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It's important to be proactive about your privacy. If a website asks you to accept cookies, you are being tracked! The best solution to stop this nonsense is to close your browsing tab, don't visit their webpage again and don't buy products or services from them. They're putting profit before your privacy.

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Everyone should have the right to access the internet without Big Tech playing Big Brother. This is why we don't use ad networks. Instead, YF is supported by companies in the marine industry that value our readers.

• We never tracked our visitors or sold member information.
• We don't install cookies on your device without your consent.
• Our mailers are text based. Graphics in emails often hide embedded trackers.

Tips to protect yourself:

• Use privacy-based search engines like DuckDuckGo.
• Use secure email providers such as ProtonMail.
• Choose secure browsers like Mozilla Firefox.
• Unsubscribe emails from Constant Contact, MailChimp, etc.
• DELETE Facebook & Instagram!
• Use a VPN.

Google competitor DuckDuckGo is predicted to serve over 30 billion private searches in 2023. Its user base now tops 100 million worldwide. Market share has quadrupled since 2016.

At YachtForums, we put Privacy First.​

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