Category «Privacy»

Are VPNs really protecting your privacy and security?

An Analysis of the Privacy and Security Risks of Android VPN Permission-enabled Apps. MC 2016, November 14-16, 2016, Santa Monica, CA. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2987443.2987471. “Millions of users worldwide resort to mobile VPN clients to either circumvent censorship or to access geo-blocked con- tent, and more generally for privacy and security purposes. In practice, however, users have …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Internet, Legal Research, Privacy

The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do

FTC – “If you have a credit report, there’s a good chance that you’re one of the 143 million American consumers whose sensitive personal information was exposed in a data breach at Equifax, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies. Here are the facts, according to Equifax. The breach lasted from mid-May through …

Subjects: Financial System, ID Theft, Privacy

Appellate court rules tracking cellphones without a warrant unconstitutional

Washington Examiner: “The D.C. Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday [September 21, 2017] that it is unconstitutional for law enforcement to use certain technologies that allow the tracking of a suspect’s cellular phone without a warrant. The ruling reversed a decision of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia that allowed police to use …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Legal Research, Privacy

Court upholds Illinois biometrics law on use of facial scans

Fortune – “A federal judge this week delivered a key victory for customers who claim the digital scrapbook company Shutterfly violated their privacy by collecting scans of their faces without permission. In a 19-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall rejected Shutterfly’s argument that an Illinois state law, which restricts how companies can use biometric …

Subjects: Courts, Legal Research, Privacy, Social Media

Wharton – After Equifax, Can Our Data Ever Be Safe?

Follow up to previous posting – Equifax is one of many companies that collect information about you – via Knowledge@Wharton – “In the annals of data breaches, the Equifax hacking stands alone due to its sheer scale: Digital thieves traipsed through the personal information of 143 million Americans for several months to do with it …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Economy, Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy

Equifax is one of many companies that collect information about you

Via NBR/CNBC: “There are literally hundreds of smaller consumer-reporting companies [33-page PDF] operating in the U.S. and the smaller ones are collecting information you might not expect. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains a self-reported list of the companies. Consider Milliman IntelliScript, for example. The company collects information on the prescription drugs you buy. If …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Economy, Financial System, Legal Research, Privacy

Under EU General Data Protection Regulation large fines result from failure to protect consumer data

eSecurity Planet: “The massive Equifax breach that recently affected 143 million consumers would have led to hugely significant fines if the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which takes effect in May 2018, had already been in place. Under the new rules, organizations that fail to protect sensitive data can be fined up to …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Economy, EU Data Protection, Financial System, Legal Research, Privacy

FTC alerts consumers about post Equifax scams

Ring, ring. “This is Equifax calling to verify your account information.” Stop. Don’t tell them anything. They’re not from Equifax. It’s a scam. Equifax will not call you out of the blue. That’s just one scam you might see after Equifax’s recent data breach. Other calls might try to trick you into giving your personal …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy

Online translation applications may pose security risk

Quartz: “…On Sept. 3, the Norwegian news agency NRK reported that sensitive Statoil information—contracts, workforce reduction plans, dismissal letters, and more—were available online because employees had used the free translation service Translate.com, which stored the data in the cloud. The news traveled fast in Scandinavian countries. In response, the Oslo Stock Exchange even blocked employee …

Subjects: E-Records, Intellectual Property, Legal Research, Privacy, Search Engines

NYT – How the Kremlin built one of the most powerful information weapons of the 21st century

RT, Sputnik and Russia’s New Theory of War How the Kremlin built one of the most powerful information weapons of the 21st century — and why it may be impossible to stop. Jim Rutenberg. September 13, 2017. “…After RT [Russia’s state-financed international cable network] and Sputnik gave platforms to politicians behind the British vote to …

Subjects: Defense, Internet, Legal Research, Privacy, Social Media

New on LLRX – The ‘internet of things’ is sending us back to the Middle Ages

New on LLRX.com – The ‘internet of things’ is sending us back to the Middle Ages The Internet of Things (IoT) has permeated all facets of our lives – professional, family, social – more quickly and expansively than many are willing to acknowledge. The repercussions of IoT are multifaceted – and directly impact issues that …

Subjects: Cybersecurity, Intellectual Property, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Privacy

New Report on Improving Effectiveness of Government Programs

“September 7, 2017 the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) released the following statement in response to the release of the report of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking: “Taxpayers deserve to know that the programs they fund are working—especially when those programs are meant to help lift people out of poverty. But too often, Washington measures …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Legislation, Poverty, Privacy