Back in May 2006 I wrote abut why I use tagged email addresses. Just today, I found yet another company violating their privacy policy. On October 31, 2007, I registered with BlogFlux.com. Their current privacy policy says:
Your email is only used for contacting you about Blog Flux updates….Your email will also not be distributed to anyone for any purpose….Blog Flux maintains a strict “no-spam” policy. Your e-mail address will not be sold to a third party.
In the past 14 months, I’ve received a handful of messages (well, three) from BlogFlux. Each message clearly identified who they were, each had an opt-out link at the bottom, and each message was related to my BlogFlux account. Today I received a message from “Lesley.” She’s somehow affiliated with LoadedWeb.com. LoadedWeb.com has nothing on their web site about who they are, who’s running the site, their affiliations. LoadedWeb.com also does not have a privacy policy at all. Google searches show that LoadedWeb.com several years ago was a web host.
BlogFlux.com’s privacy policy refers people to their contact page “[i]f you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this Web site…” Unfortunately the contact.php page has no contact info on it at all. That’s the same URL they give in the footer of the site.
Looking at the message headers, I would guess that BlogFlux and LoadedWeb are probably owned or operated by the same people. Their IP addresses are on the same block. (204.11.52.70 and 204.11.52.71). That address is registered to enthropia.com. Their web site looks to be ancient, not updated since 2003?
I’d have to say avoid using BlogFlux.com, or LoadedWeb.com. It is probably just a couple guys doing cool web stuff from their basement, but it feels very random. I don’t think I’d trust them with my personal data or information.