privacy

Encrypt your family: How to send safer, smarter messages

Posted by Phil Nickinson on 6 Apr 2017 3:56 pm

I just wanted my family's messaging habits to be a little more secure. And the move was easier than I expected. Nothing scares a parent more than letting their kid roam free — even just a little bit — online. I'm under no illusions that my daughters won't run into something nefarious at some point, be it adult content, or a phishing scheme, or cyber-bullying. For the most part that's all...

How can I protect my browsing history from my ISP?

110 Comments

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 30 Mar 2017 3:00 pm

There's no foolproof way to be 100% anonymous, but you don't have to just give away your data without a fight. You ISP has been given free reign to record 100% of what you do online and sell that information to the highest bidder. An FCC rule designed to at least get your permission was voted away by the people elected to represent us, and an existing FTC suggestion to allow us all to opt out...

U.S. Senate votes to strip away Americans' online privacy

133 Comments

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 23 Mar 2017 7:49 pm

The resolution would also prevent the FCC from enacting similar consumer protections in the future. Your service provider needs permission to sell your private information under current rules. But that might be changing if the House follows the Senate's lead on S.J Res 34. Senate Joint Resolution 34 is congressional disapproval of the Federal Communications Commission rules relating to "...

3 essential privacy tips for your new Android phone

13 Comments

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 28 Dec 2016 10:00 am

Your digital life is only as private as you make it. Android phones are awesome and make for pretty great holiday gifts. They're also different than most other types of phones, and there's a learning curve. It's cool — all great stuff takes a bit of time to master. If you were gifted an Android and it's your first time using one, or if you've been doing the Android thing a while and just want...

Google is making it easier to view your data and set ad preferences

3 Comments

Posted by Rich Edmonds on 29 Jun 2016 4:55 am

Google is working to make it easier for those who rely on its services and platforms to control what adverts are displayed on PCs, smartphones and other connected hardware. The search giant will also provide a tool that will allow for certain ads to be blocked from being displayed on search results. This will save you some time by not having to manually fire off special requests per ad on each...

How to use Private Mode on the Samsung Galaxy S7

3 Comments

Posted by Mike Tanasychuk on 12 Mar 2016 12:17 pm

For your eyes only isn't just a terrible Bond film. You want to keep your information safe and may even want to keep it a secret. That's where Samsung's Private mode comes in. By enabling Private mode, you can lock sensitive data, so that authentication is required to access that information (files, photos, video, etc.) in a finite number of Samsung apps. This way, when someone starts to swipe...

Ask AC: Does Google sell your personal data?

49 Comments

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 19 Feb 2016 5:18 pm

The short version — No. It's more valuable to them if they keep it for themselves. This is a question (often posed as a fact, but it's not) we see almost daily. Someone in an article's comments or on social media will trot out the line about how Google sells your private data and it is evil and so on. That's usually followed by how another company is better because they don't collect user...

As companies line up behind Apple on encryption, Google's response is lacking

197 Comments

Posted by Phil Nickinson on 17 Feb 2016 9:37 pm

The debate over encryption, privacy and security won't be won in 140 characters. We deserve more from those with whom we entrust our data. When Apple CEO Tim Cook published his "message to our customers" Wednesday morning — laying out the company's opposition to a federal judge's order to aid in the unlocking of an iPhone used by one of the two San Bernardino terrorists — reaction was fairly...

Google CEO tweets support for Apple's stance in encryption debate

136 Comments

Posted by Phil Nickinson on 17 Feb 2016 7:03 pm

Google CEO Sundar Pichai, in a string of tweets this afternoon, has weighed in on the lengthy message Apple CEO Tim Cook penned to customers and the U.S. government — and, frankly, the world — regarding encryption on personal devices. Cook was responding to a federal judge's order directing Apple to help the FBI unlock an iPhone used by one of the shooters in December's massacre in San...

French privacy watchdog orders Google to expand 'right to be forgotten' globally

87 Comments

Posted by Harish Jonnalagadda on 12 Jun 2015 7:17 am

A French regulatory authority is asking Google to remove search results delisted from the "right to be forgotten" ruling globally or face sanctions.

This week's sidebar poll: Do you think Google is concerned with your privacy?

76 Comments

Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand on 9 Jun 2015 7:44 pm

Privacy is important. So is understanding how companies handle your private data. There's been a bit of discussion (and a lot of FUD) about Google and your personal, private data lately. Phil did a great job here talking about the opinions you might be hearing, the reasons why they may have been formed, and most importantly, things to consider to make up your own mind. You should read it....

On Google, Apple, data, privacy, rhetoric — and making up your own mind

171 Comments

Posted by Phil Nickinson on 8 Jun 2015 10:08 am

There's a bit of a witch hunt lately against data-driven services. But it wasn't long ago that the torch-bearers were singing a different tune. Today Apple executives will take the stage at the keynote address for the Worldwide developer conference. WWDC. I'll be watching. Like Google I/O nearly two weeks ago and Microsoft's Build conference earlier this year, it's a preview of things to come...

Google, Apple, and Microsoft urge President Obama to throw support behind smartphone encryption

48 Comments

Posted by Joseph Keller on 19 May 2015 10:15 am

Google, Apple, and Microsoft urge President Obama to throw support behind smartphone encryption

Google and Apple are among the technology companies are asking President Obama to reject proposals that would compromise security on smartphones and other devices. Several technology companies have signed the letter to President Obama, with companies like Facebook and Dropbox joining in with Google, Apple, and Microsoft. The letter urges the President to instead encourage the wide adoption of...

Tech giants rally together to curb NSA spying

66 Comments

Posted by Dan Thorp-Lancaster on 14 Nov 2014 7:04 pm

Tech giants rally together to curb NSA spying

A number of big-name tech companies are teaming up to lobby the Senate to pass legislation that would limit the reach of the NSA's spying activities, Bloomberg reported today. The coalition of tech giants includes the likes of Apple, Google, and Microsoft, among others.

Congressional committee meeting to discuss privacy in wake of recent nude leaks

81 Comments

Posted by Chuong H Nguyen on 5 Nov 2014 8:00 pm

Congressional committee meeting to discuss privacy in wake of recent nude leaks

A congressional advisory committee will be taking the initial step Thursday to discuss the legal ramifications of protecting Internet privacy. Prompted by the recent hacks resulting in the leak of nude photos of celebrities like the high profile case involving actress Jennifer Lawrence, the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee will be discussing the topic of privacy and the legal...

FBI wants you to lock up data, but allow tech companies to keep the keys

140 Comments

Posted by Chuong H Nguyen on 25 Sep 2014 5:06 pm

FBI wants you to lock up data, but don't throw away the keys

FBI Director James Comey expresses deep concern about the new encryption technologies that Apple had built into the release of iOS 8 and Google will implement with the forthcoming launch of Android L. These new encryption methods are designed to keep data safe and for tech companies to avoid the uncomfortable position of being compelled to hand over private personal data to law enforcement...

Your public Google+ images might now show in Google Maps

26 Comments

Posted by Phil Nickinson on 20 Sep 2014 10:41 am

You absolutely still have control over your own stuff, but now's a good time to check what you've been sharing Google recently started making some photos that you've posted publicly to Google+ visible in Google Maps as well, as evidenced by the notification we all got in Google+. That's not in and of itself a bad thing, nor is it an invasion of privacy. In order for an image to appear...

UK government set to rush through emergency surveillance legislation

28 Comments

Posted by Rich Edmonds on 10 Jul 2014 6:29 am

The UK government is looking to reinforce powers of security services to require internet and phone providers to maintain records of customer email and calls. Emergency laws are to be introduced into the Commons next Monday, following private talks and gaining support of both Labour and the Liberal Democrats on the basis that there will be new board to oversee the functioning of new powers. The...

In three weeks, Blackphone hopes to satisfy privacy concerns

95 Comments

Posted by Chuong H Nguyen on 15 Jun 2014 8:49 pm

Blackphone will ship its privacy-centric phone in three weeks

After having been available for preorder since the beginning of the year, the privacy-centric Blackphone will be shipping in three weeks for $629. The device is pitched as an Android smartphone that's designed around security and privacy, both areas of growing concerns with the rise of malicious software, hacks, and government surveillance.

Apple, Google, Microsoft increasingly defying U.S. government, informing customers of data demands

58 Comments

Posted by Rene Ritchie on 2 May 2014 12:10 am

Google already notifies customers unless prohibited by law If the government demands your personal, private email or other data, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple, and others are reportedly taking steps to notify you faster and more frequently than they did in the past. That's putting them at odds with prosecutors who believe such notifications can interfere with ongoing investigations and...

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