ZDNet – “Mozilla removed today four Firefox extensions made by Avast and its subsidiary AVG after receiving credible reports that the extensions were harvesting user data and browsing histories. The four extensions are Avast Online Security, AVG Online Security, Avast SafePrice, and AVG SafePrice. The first two are extensions that show warnings when navigating to… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Privacy
Mobile apps developed in Russia are potential counterintelligence threats
One more time – “For all of you that used the FaceApp to see what you would look like in old age, the FBI just told @SenSchumer that “the FBI considers any mobile application or similar product developed in Russia, such as FaceApp, to be a potential counterintelligence threat…” [via Frank Thorpe – producer and off-air… Continue Reading
Now even the FBI is warning about your smart TV’s security
TechCrunch: “If you just bought a smart TV on Black Friday or plan to buy one for Cyber Monday tomorrow, the FBI wants you to know a few things. Smart TVs are like regular television sets but with an internet connection. With the advent and growth of Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services, most saw… Continue Reading
Facebook Gives Workers a Chatbot to Appease That Prying Uncle
The New York Times – “Some Facebook employees recently told their managers that they were concerned about answering difficult questions about their workplace from friends and family over the holidays. What if Mom or Dad accused the social network of destroying democracy? Or what if they said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, was collecting their… Continue Reading
Alternative search engine provides google results but with privacy
FastCompany – “Picture for a moment a version of Google Search that barely evolved from its early years. Instead of a results page cluttered by informational widgets, this one would primarily link out to other sites. And instead of tracking your search history for ad targeting purposes, this search engine would be decidedly impersonal. It… Continue Reading
Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues November 30, 2019
Via LLRX – Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues November 30, 2019 – Privacy and security issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the… Continue Reading
Stanford research – search results not biased along party lines
“According to newly published research by Stanford scholars, there appears to be no political favoritism for or against either major political party in the algorithm of a popular search engine. Stanford scholars reviewed the first page of Google search results for every candidate running for federal office in the 2018 U.S. election over a six-month… Continue Reading
What to know before posting a photo of your kids on social media
Vox: “Some studies suggest that kids will have over 1,000 photos of them on social media before they’re 5 years old. But posting cute pictures of your children online can make their images vulnerable to pornographic use or identity theft. So even if your social media settings are set to private, all it takes is… Continue Reading
Police can keep Ring camera video forever and share with whomever they’d like
Stars and Stripes – “Police officers who download videos from homeowners’ Ring doorbell cameras can keep them forever and share them with whomever they’d like without providing evidence of a crime, the Amazon-owned firm told a lawmaker earlier this month. More than 600 police forces across the country have entered into partnerships with the camera… Continue Reading
Edge vs. Chrome: Microsoft’s Tracking Prevention hits Google the hardest
ZDNET -“The new Edge browser, built on the same open source code as Google Chrome, contains a new Tracking Prevention feature that blocks third-party trackers and, at the Strict setting, many ads. My tests show that one in four items blocked are from Google. On January 15, 2020, Microsoft is scheduled to roll out a… Continue Reading
Safest gadgets for privacy according to Mozilla
Be Smart. Shop Safe. “How creepy is that smart speaker, that fitness tracker, those wireless headphones? We created this guide to help you shop for safe, secure connected products…” Continue Reading
Uber Embraces Videotaping Rides, Raising Privacy Concerns
The New York Times – “The company says it is increasing the recording of rides to settle disputes between drivers and passengers and to improve safety…Uber began the video recording program in Texas in July, and is conducting smaller tests of the program in Florida and Tennessee. In November, it announced a similar effort in… Continue Reading
