What is Mark Zuckerberg’s phone number? This question remains unanswered—as with the majority of public figures, there is no publicly-known phone number for Zuckerberg. However, one can still seek to understand the multimillionaire’s privacy preferences by exploring his motivations and intentions behind his guarded lifestyle.
Mark Zuckerberg, 36, currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, Inc. He also founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, alongside his wife Priscilla Chan, to make the world a better place with an emphasis on global health, personalized learning, and criminal justice reform, as well as advocating open immigration and equal rights to all. It is no surprise that given his status and fame, he is constantly under the eyes of the public and thus is highly particular about his privacy.
One of his most touted reasons behind shying away from publicly available contact information is his push for digital wellbeing, which includes the idea of cutting back on cell phone use and focusing on quality time with closed ones. In a podcast in 2019, Zuckerberg discussed his thoughts on the matter: “we’re in this period where people just want to like disable their minds and stay distracted a lot of the time,” he stated. His push for digital wellbeing seems to be inching from a sentiment to a behavior as he has opted to use an old flip-phone due to its limitations—thereby reducing excessive use of a regular smartphone. The Guardian kept further track of his activity, noting in the same piece that he also uses a strategy to minimize emails called ‘Alone Time’, which is a ‘co-existence policy’ committed by both he and his peers to reduce the time and encourage quality time spent in person.
The flip-phone strategy has not been the only measure he has taken towards his privacy. Zuckerberg also tries to lower his on-line and off-line footprint, refraining from keeping any personal email addresses and phone numbers. Additionally, he does not use social media and his emails and messages are aggressively scrubbed for privacy. His strict privacy measures were further seen when he and his family moved from a rental in California to an estate in Lake Tahoe, away from public view. While other celebrities choose to live in high-end Beverly Hills or Los Angeles neighborhoods, Zuckerberg seems to be trying to be under the radar as much as possible.
Given the presence of big data companies, state-sponsored surveillance, and private intelligence firms, it makes most sense for Zuckerberg to remain as anonymous as possible. Big companies, such as Google and Facebook, utilize vast amounts of data, including emails, phone numbers, and even more sensitive data to create, target and refine their ads. As Facebook’s CEO, Zuckerberg is ethically obligated, to set an example and take the measures he has taken to protect the wellbeing of his data.
That being said, the measures he has taken are easier for those with the financial means to, as having access to money means able to purchase secluded and secured real estate or, like Zuckerberg, owning a Tesla that allows him to order and purchase a new car online with no contact. For the layperson, however, these measures may be more difficult—but still, necessary—when it comes to digital privacy and security.
Robocalls
Though audiences remain in the dark as to what the exact phone number of Zuckerberg is, achieving digital privacy is still possible. The simplest and most effective way is to register with the National Do Not Call Registry (DNCR). Since its establishment in June 2003, the DNCR has protected consumers from unwanted and robocalls, which have been on the rise within the past decade. Signing up to the free service and reducing public-facing contact information, such as phone numbers and email addresses, is a great and logical place to start when it comes to mitigating the risk of being targeted.
Additionally, additional features are available in smartphones that help increase one’s security and privacy even further. The most basic ones include two-factor authentication (2FA), which cross-references account sign-ins for additional security, and network encryption, which converts information such as texts, emails, and browsing activities in to code that is unreadable by any outside entities.
More integrated measures may also be taken into consideration. For example, certain phones provide the option to block incoming calls from unknown or anonymous contact information, giving users greater control over avoid robocalls and targeting. Other more advanced programs at the consumer’s disposal also exist, such as Caller ID and spam protection apps, which help identify unsolicited callers and block their messages.
Robocalls, nonetheless, remain one of the biggest threats to digital privacy. Developed to both get around the National Do Not Call Registry and to bypass other grassroots protection measures, automated calls continue to be an ever-growing concern. Some of the more sophisticated ones can even hijack a user’s contact list, scraping dozens of phone numbers from a phone’s contact list and launching an automated call to every contact listed in a matter of minutes.
Data Security
The best form of protection against data theft is to keep personal information out of the hands of untrusted parties in the first place. Reducing one’s online presence—particularly sharing as little contact information publicly as possible—is key to protect sensitive data from being stolen. As Sam Biking, the Director of Site Integrity at Facebook states, “disabling the tracking activities is an important first step that people can take to protect their data from unauthorized access.”
It is also important to adjust the privacy settings of a mobile phone’s apps, as well as of popular internet services such as Facebook, to keep data from being leaked or collected. Deleting old accounts and contacts also helps since many of these still contain information about the user, including full name, phone number, and even address. Furthermore, companies should also do their part in helping protect user information. Despite their many data policies, even tech giants like Google and Facebook have had their share of data breaches and other related security incidents. As a result, users need to remain vigilant, along with actively pursuing any new security updates available with the companies they use.
Using a secure password generator, such as Lastpass or 1Password, is another line of defense against data theft. Generating hard-to-break passwords and using different passwords for different accounts considerably reduce the chances of malicious activity. In addition, keeping a watchful eye on any suspicious activity, such as unusual messages or fishy emails, is essential to preventing unauthorized access.
VPNs
Secure network connections, such as virtual private networks (VPNs) also work to protect user information from falling into the wrong hands. When data is encrypted with a VPN, it is unreadable and therefore, unable to be taken and used by anyone else. VPNs, along with other encrypted features, are available on most devices, including iOS and Android cell phones, computers, and tablets.
As the largest provider of internet-based services, Google has been focusing heavily on privacy with its integration of a VPN-like service, Google Safe Browsing. Essentially, the service attempts to keep users’ information secure by pouring more than 1 billion webpages through an encryption process and onto their computer. Google also offers its own set of tools to help users keep track of their online behavior, including Traffic Light and Security Checkup, which alert users when their information has been accessed without their knowledge.
The importance of using a VPN lies in its ability to offer an extra layer of authentication and privacy. Private networks are also considered good practice because they offer a strong, public-facing security system that discourages attempts to steal data from outside or malicious sources. Additionally, VPNs make it easier for users to access geo-restricted services and content since their IP address masks the location, allowing for a higher level of anonymity.
Applications
The app stores for both Android and iOS are flooded with applications claiming to boost users’ privacy and security. Many of these, however, require users to provide personal information in order to sign up and provide a service. This leaves vulnerable users at risk of having their data unknowingly leaked or shared with others. As a result, users should exercise caution and do thorough research on all third-party applications before downloading, installing, or sharing any personal information with them.
Having the right applications on-hand can also go a long way in helping to protect one’s privacy. For example, using a browser like Tor or NordVPN can help anonymize internet browsing activities, while using an encrypted messaging apps, such as Signal or WhatsApp, is highly recommended for keeping conversations private. Disposable messaging apps, such as Burner, are also useful to avoid constantly being tracked by heavyweights such as Google or Facebook.
Applications can also employ additional features such as private browsing, which prevents the app from storing user history and bookmarks, as well as integrated ad blockers, which block advertising networks from tracking a user’s activities. Additionally, developing countries such as India and China are also now taking steps to protect their citizens from digital surveillance by rolling out initiatives like the Aadhaar system, which helps keep users anonymous even when conducting financial transactions.
End-to-End Encryption
End-to-end encryption, or ETE, is one of the most advanced forms of data security technology available. By utilizing an ETE system, data is encrypted and only the sender and receiver have the ability to access the information. As a result, even companies and government agencies are unable to monitor and track user activity.
This type of security protocol is becoming increasingly popular among tech companies and is being implemented by giants such as Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook. The technology is already adopted by several platforms such as WhatsApp, which utilizes end-to-end encryption for both messages and calls. Other services such as Skype and Google Hangouts also benefit from the additional security provided by encryption technology.
Using an end-to-end encryption system also lowers the risk of governments spying on online activities. Encryption technology also helps prevent third-party tracking and data collection, ultimately allowing users to have more control and privacy over their online activity. Furthermore, using an ETE system can also minimize issues stemming from malicious intent such as data theft.
Be the Change
It is clear that Mark Zuckerberg has gone to clear lengths to ensure his data remains private. However, although everyday people may not have the financial means to do the same, it does not mean one cannot be vigilant about their privacy. Becoming aware of one’s data rights, taking advantage of available protections, and understanding the importance of digital privacy are all important steps in achieving this.
Companies and governments have a responsibility to offer protection, but responsibility also falls on the shoulders of the users; this includes following advice from experts such as Mark Zuckerberg, who have taken the initiative to protect their own privacy, even shying away from publicly known contact information.
It is also pertinent to advocate for individuals’ rights when it comes to controlling their digital data, as well as holding companies responsible for any misuse thereof. Hence, it is imperative to equip oneself with knowledge on data security and privacy and to remain vigilant, as well as to hold companies accountable should any misconduct be disclosed.
