Oops: All your Twitch belongs to us
An anonymous hacker claims to have leaked the entirety of Twitch, including its source code and user payout information. The user posted a 125GB torrent link to 4chan on Wednesday,…
Feds order Google to turn over contact info of anyone who uses certain search terms
The U.S. government is secretly ordering Google to provide data on anyone typing in certain search terms, an accidentally unsealed court document shows. There are fears such “keyword warrants” threaten…
Should all of your bank deposits and withdrawals be reported to the IRS?
President Biden has proposed that all personal bank records be turned over to the IRS every year. Really. Specifically, the annual return would report gross inflows and outflows on all…
One year later: Smart phone, Bluetooth-based contact tracing apps remain AWOL
One year ago, the tech sector jumped in with a plan to develop smart phone based contact detection apps. These would use Bluetooth to estimate potential contacts with someone later…
Instagram’s new Data Policy – And why I deleted the Instagram app yesterday – Social Panic
I deleted my last FB/IG app from a device yesterday. I still had IG running on one Android tablet but I no longer view use of FB/IG apps as safe.…
Schools using invasive surveillance of home-based students during exams
Colleges are racing to sign deals with “online proctor” companies that watch students through their webcams while they take exams. But education advocates say the surveillance software forces students to…
7 in 10 Americans won’t use contact-tracing apps
No surprise: More than 7 in 10 Americans won’t use contact-tracing apps, data shows | Ars Technica With 30% agreeing to install such apps today, that means just 9% of…
Norwegian Institute of Public Health cancels their smart phone tracing app due to privacy issues
One of the first national coronavirus contacts tracing apps to be launched in Europe is being suspended in Norway after the country’s data protection authority raised concerns that the software,…
#IOT Internet of Things
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Smart Phones
Covid tracking apps summarized
When people mention “Covid tracking apps” it would be useful to first define what is meant by “Covid tracking app”. There are many approaches in use and many that are…
Duh: Contact-tracing apps have a trust problem
Experts believe that at least half the population needs to use contact-tracing apps for them to work. The challenge will be convincing the public to opt in after years of…
A call for a code of tech ethics?
Some are calling for a "code of tech ethics", particularly regarding social media and privacy issues. Where this is logically headed is to Professional Engineer licensing for at least some…
How your phone’s location history is used against you
The FBI recently demanded from Google the data about all people using location services within a 100-acre area in Portland, Maine, as part of an investigation into a series of…
Google admits turning off ‘location history’ does nothing
Turning off Location Services in Android has no effect on Google's data collection. They still track you everywhere you go.
The reason Google tracks your location, everywhere you go
We now know that even with Location Services disabled, Google still tracks and records your every move. The data is collected, ostensibly, for targeted advertising. An advertiser could request thei……
Data mining enables many companies to discern your health conditions
Data brokers compile health and frailty profiles that have wide-ranging applications for drug companies, advertisers, insurers and other buyers. Source: How bits of captured data paint a stealth portrait of…