The privacy illusion

Technology advances at lightning speed, and we eagerly snap up the latest gadgets that promise more and faster, faster, faster.

Yet those advances -- from the cell phone that plays movies to the cards that let us speed through the gas station -- have a price: Privacy.

These technological strides open the door for government and business to peer into our private lives and see what we do, where we go, how we spend and who we talk to.

Just take a look at some examples of that technological reach.

You may know: The general area a cell phone user is in can be located by tracing the "pings" their phones generate when the signal is accepted by a repeater tower.

But did you know: Technology exists that allows someone to turn your cell phone on if you have it off, and use it as a microphone to broadcast your in-person conversations to anyone who may be in a position to listen?

You may know: The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has 3.1 million I-PASS responders in use, and 80 percent of tolls are paid electronically.

But did you know: Officials in some states and foreign countries use the same type of equipment to time vehicles in between toll stations and issue speeding tickets to those who get from one station to the next faster than the speed limit would allow.

You may know: "Customer loyalty cards" issued by dozens of retailers save you a few cents on specific sale items, but also allow the retailer to collect an itemized list of your shopping habits.

But did you know: Customer loyalty programs are difficult to maintain and operate, and as a result have been outsourced by several major retailers. This has resulted in several incidents of unregulated abuse of the information, from unauthorized sale to direct marketers and other companies not associated with the programs to security breaches of credit card information.

You may know: Companies use microchips embedded in plastic tags on some store merchandise that can prevent shoplifting when the chips are "read" by scanners placed at store entrances.

But did you know: Some companies have applied for patents that would expand the technology, known as radio frequency identification, to place chips in thousands of items we carry every day, and use scanners in a variety of public places to track the movements of individuals.

Sources: Spybusters, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, ConsumerAffairs.com, the Electronic Privacy Institute, the University of South Florida, Lake County State's Attorney's Office