online privacy: 6 Ways to halt Online Tracking
- 04/21/15 11:12 PM
“On the Internet, you can be ANYBODY!”
Not quite. Remaining anonymous in cyber space isn’t as easy as it used to be. Your browsing habits can be tracked, leading to your true identity. But there are things you can do to remain as anonymous as possible.
Don’t feel you must use your full, real name when filling out forms or whatever, just because it’s asked or even a “required field.” Of course, you’ll want to use your real name when registering online with a bank, for instance, or making a purchase. But sometimes, the real name just isn’t necessary, such as when … (1 comments)
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online privacy: How to recognize Online Risks
- 04/06/15 11:25 PM
Would you give up your bank account and credit card numbers to a stranger on the street after he approaches and asks for them? Of course not. But that’s essentially what people do when they’re tricked by online crooksters into revealing sensitive personal information, including their Social Security numbers.
One of the most common ways this is done is through phishing.
The phishing attack is when the thief sends out thousands of the same e-mail. If enough people receive the message, sooner or later someone will take the bait. The bait may be a notice you’ve won a prize; a warning that … (4 comments)
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online privacy: The White Hat Hacker
- 03/13/15 11:18 PM
These days, it is hard to pick up a newspaper or go online and not see a story about a recent data breach. No other example highlights the severity of these types of hacks than the Sony breach late last year.
While a lot of information, including creative materials, financials and even full feature-length movies were released – some of the most hurtful pieces of information were the personal emails of Sony executives. This information was truly personal.
You have a right to privacy, but it’s not going to happen in cyberspace. Want total privacy? Stay offline. Of course, that’s not … (1 comments)
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online privacy: How the Internet of Things is further killing Privacy
- 03/06/15 09:01 PM
Privacy used to mean changing clothes behind a partition. Nowadays, say “privacy” and people are likely to think in terms of cyberspace. Stay connected, and you risk losing your privacy.
Even if you’re not connected, don’t even own a computer or smartphone, information about you can still be out there on the Internet, such as a listing for your address and phone number or a way for someone to get it with a small fee if you live in owner-occupied property.
An article on wired.com points out that the Internet of Things (IoT) is a privacy killer. But it’s also more … (2 comments)
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online privacy: Having the Privacy Talk with your Kids
- 02/04/15 09:01 PM
Years ago, having “the talk” with your kids meant telling them where babies come from. Nowadays, “the talk” has a whole new meaning. Your kids may be able to explain in detail how a baby is created, but may be clueless (because so many adults are) about something called “data permanence.”
Don’t beat around the bush. Tell your kid outright, “If you post any racy images of yourself online—it will be there for the next million years for anyone to see. And it can be used against you.” Give this same warning about comments your child might post to an article. … (4 comments)
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online privacy: Feds warn of more Online Predators
- 01/20/15 09:11 PM
What goes on in the home life of a 14-year-old girl such that she feels there’s nothing better to do than send nude photos of herself to a man whom she’s been corresponding with online? Though this goes well-beyond the parents not bothering to find out what their kids do online, another huge issue is the proliferation of online predators.
And for parents who DO care enough to monitor their kids’ cyber activities, here’s some unsettling news: A 2013 survey called Digital Deception: Exploring the Online Disconnect between Parents and Kids revealed that 69 percent of the young respondents reported … (0 comments)
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online privacy: Use an ePrivacy Filter to prevent Visual Hacking
- 11/11/14 08:52 PM
In an average year I’ll tally 75,000 airline miles. In an average week while waiting for the plane to board or while in flight I’ll see multiple laptop screens flipped open with an over the shoulder view of emails being sent and received, PowerPoint presentations being tweaked, proposals being written and various client and employee records being crawled through. The fact is, I’m a good guy with no bad intentions, but I can’t help seeing what I see, it’s distracting. The screens are bright and propped right in my face. If I was a bad guy, this would be considered “visual … (4 comments)
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online privacy: Steps to Manage a secure online backup
- 10/28/14 11:33 PM
Cyber storage does not always = secure backup. Users of cloud storage have many potential tools at hand to beef up security. And just because cloud services have some loopholes doesn’t mean you should just throw in the towel, as the saying goes, and figure “What’s the point?”. Here are some ways to beef up cloud storage security and manage your online backup.
Take inventory of what’s stored in your cloud account. Evaluate how important each data item is. If the cloud service can access your data, you may want to make some adjustments, since some of your data might … (3 comments)
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online privacy: Beware These College-Related Scams
- 09/26/14 10:58 PM
The last group of college students has headed off to school for another semester of dorm rooms, late-night library sessions, and the occasional college party. For many students, college is the first time they’ve lived away from home. They are young, open to new things, and sometimes, naïve. These traits make them prime targets for scams.
Here are some of the most popular college scams:
Fake College Websites
Here’s how this works. Scammers copy a college’s website but use a fictitious name on the site (in essence creating a spoofed site). They use this site to collect application fees and gather personal … (3 comments)
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online privacy: Is private NSA proof E-mail possible?
- 09/17/14 11:01 PM
You can buy encryption tools to prevent people from reading the contents of your e-mails should they intercept them. But what about those who have NSA-caliber resources and skills?
The problem is that encryption services usually leave wide open the e-mail’s metadata: e.g., sender, recipient, subject line and timestamp.
But a new service, ShazzleMail, delivers e-mail straight from sender to recipient without any metadata.
ShazzleMail software is downloaded, then encrypts e-mails, but your device must be switched on so that the recipient could download the e-mail.
If the recipient doesn’t have ShazzleMail, they’ll get a message headline, “Secure Message from … (1 comments)
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online privacy: Back to School Time Means Online Safety Time
- 08/17/14 11:11 PM
It’s August which for parents (and kids) means it is back to school time. It can be easy to reminisce about your school days—passing notes to the cute girl or boy in class, late-night study sessions with friends, or playing tag on the playground.
But your kids’ school experience is way different from when you were in school. Snapchat, Facebook, and text messaging have replaced those folded handwritten notes. Educational apps have replaced flash cards. A lot of your kids have their own smartphone or are probably asking for them.
Your kids are growing up as digital natives, with technology … (3 comments)
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online privacy: The Right to Privacy
- 07/20/14 04:52 AM
The more technological advanced we become, the higher the degree the potential exists for an invasion of our privacy. Imagine how difficult it must have been for people’s personal information to get stolen—10,000 years ago.
We now live in a world where someone half-way around it from you can nab your most personal information in seconds.
Our right to privacy is just as strong now as it ever was, despite the ease at which criminals and snoops can get your personal data.
Famed attorney and associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court Louis Brandeis was a champion of a person’s … (0 comments)
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online privacy: Recognize Your Willingness to give up your Privacy
- 07/08/14 10:53 PM
If a stranger stopped you on the street and requested your e-mail address and birthdate, would you give it to that person? A rational person would never give up this information.
This is the same guard you should have when giving out your personal information to set up an online account, setting up a social account or to get some bargain or great deal on a product or service. Most people will give up all their data for 10% off at a shoe store.
Many people blindly give out personal information online or in person to get that bargain. Sometimes, … (4 comments)
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online privacy: Can your Privacy Policy be Read by a 5th Grader?
- 06/16/14 10:28 PM
Zero. The number of people who have ever read word for word—and understood—a website’s privacy policy.
Well, maybe not zero, but the actual number is pretty close to it. And this excludes the lawyers who compose these thick walls of tiny text that are filled with legalese.
How many people even open the link to the privacy policy? After all, it’s almost always at the bottom of the site page, called “Privacy Policy,” in a font that doesn’t even stand out.
It’s time that the privacy policy (aka transparency statement) be short, sweet and simple, with an attractive graphic to … (1 comments)
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online privacy: Your Customers’ High Cost of Privacy
- 06/04/14 11:15 PM
This writer has said numerous times that privacy is waning and dying. Partly because we have allowed it with our bazillion posts to social and partly because of the shift from print advertising to digital. During that shift, lots of creative types figured out how to figure you out and get inside your digital head. But all at a cost of your privacy.
Arwa Mahdawi in the Gurdian brilliantly posed “Privacy isn’t dead, but it’s getting very expensive.” So true.
Ask yourself: as a decision maker for your business or employer, when it comes to protecting your organization’s customers’ or … (2 comments)
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online privacy: Spring Clean Your Online Reputation
- 05/20/14 10:41 PM
Spring is fast approaching, which means that spring break and college graduation are not too far away. Things could get ugly if your friends take photos of you acting foolish and then post them online for everyone to see.
Whether you’re searching for your next career move or are on the verge of graduation and feverishly sending out your resume, like it or not, potential employers are going online and Googling you. (Yes, Googling is considered a verb now.) Every time they find something online that is appropriate, they print it out and attach it to your resume. While I … (2 comments)
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online privacy: 6 Tools to protect your Privacy Online
- 05/18/14 03:00 AM
The more advanced that communications become, the more likely your personal information is getting leaked out—every time you search the Web, send texts or e-mails, etc. Your private data is literally “out there.” However, there are six software programs to protect your privacy online.
Expiration date tag. Files, photos and messages are tagged with an extinguish date, then erased from your smartphone. The iOS and Android application for this is Wickr and it’s free. The only content that passes the wire is encrypted. The user’s device will encrypt and decrypt.
Block the intrusion. Where you go on the Web is … (2 comments)
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online privacy: Meeting a Stranger: Safety Tips for Online and In-Person
- 03/26/14 11:04 PM
A simple yet comprehensive guide to staying safe when meeting a stranger in person or dealing with one online.
I have been involved in the security industry for years, and one of the most common questions I get is how to be safe when meeting a stranger online or in person.
Safety Tips for Online Stranger Encounters
When online, give out as little info as possible. If possible, meet people on sites that scrutinize their users, though even an extensive profile can be convincingly faked. Do your homework on these sites. Don’t rely only on profiles. Seek out their name … (5 comments)
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online privacy: Privacy is more than locking your Doors
- 03/21/14 11:23 PM
There are 10 distinct meanings of privacy.
Protecting Reputation
You’ve heard of money management, right? Well, there’s also reputation management. There’s a difference between having facts about a person and then making judgments based on those facts. Often, judgments are skewered, and the result is a soured reputation.
Showing Respect
We must respect one’s desire to keep personal data about themselves personal. That’s why it’s called personal data. It’s not so much that revealing one’s private information would do little, if any, harm. It’s the principle of respect that’s the bigger picture.
Trust
Trust is vital in any kind of … (1 comments)
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online privacy: Why Should You Care About a Site’s Privacy Policy
- 01/31/14 09:15 PM
Most websites should have a privacy policy (although I don’t think it’s always the easiest thing to find). And then once you do find it, you’ll see a huge amount of what I consider to be legal mumbo jumbo. And because you really should care about this stuff, the question becomes how do you sort through all this stuff?
Most privacy policies usually begin with something around them collecting, using and sharing your personal information or data. For example, here’s how Google, Twitter and Apple’s privacy policies start out:
Google (http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/) – “There are many different ways you can use … (4 comments)
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“On the Internet, you can be ANYBODY!”
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