Topic: Facebook Login

The "Off-The-Grid" (OTG) segment discusses the privacy implications of using Facebook for universal logins on third-party sites. A property manager warns that some rental application software allows landlords to view an applicant's Facebook profile if they use it to log in for a credit check. The hosts advocate for using "dumb" phones like the Nokia E71 to avoid modern tracking and data harvesting.

The hosts discuss Facebook's $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp, suggesting the high price tag is for the database of social relationships rather than advertising revenue. They also touch on the "war on passwords," criticizing the move toward biometric and centralized login systems like Google's Slick Login as a way to make user data more accessible to hackers and intelligence agencies.

An experiment in blocking all browser cookies reveals that most tracking mechanisms do not significantly impact the user experience when disabled. The hosts note that while some services like Google Maps require specific cookies, the vast majority of ad network cookies are unnecessary. They criticize the government's focus on "fair use" of data rather than empowering users to withhold it entirely.