Ask Slashdot: Why Do Firms Leak Personal Details In Plain Text?

An anonymous reader writes "Having entered my personal details (full real name, home address) to websites with an 'https://' prefix in order to purchase goods, I am still being sent emails from companies (or their agents) which include, in plain text, those same details I have entered over a secure connection. These are often companies which are very keen to tell you how much they value your privacy and how they will not pass your details on to third parties. What recourse does one have to tell them to desist from such behaviour whilst still doing business with them if their products are otherwise desirable? I email the relevant IT team as a matter of course to tell them it's not appropriate (mostly to no avail), but is there any legislation — in any territory — which addresses this?"

Comments

I totally agree!!

[EvilSS]

I opened up my door the other day and there was a huge document, just sitting there, with my name, address and phone number inside of it in PLAIN TEXT. Something called a "phone book"!? WTF!? And it's all over the OUTSIDE of all the mail in my mailbox! These companies should be sued!