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- I got an unsolicited email from an online store even though I never gave it my email.
- Data-privacy experts say websites often know more about you than you think, thanks to data brokers.
- Most legitimate companies avoid sending cold emails because they know it can creep people out.
I was shopping online for a mattress topper — of all the mundane things — when something creepy happened.
I had opened a website of a company that I hadn't heard of but that several popular review sites recommended. I lingered on the product page for several minutes, reading the specifications of the topper and comparing it with other options. Then I closed the window and went on with my day.