Iwon.com has responded swiftly to a 10/22/2002 report by TechTV.com documenting iWon’s use of a malicious spyware program users were encouraged to downloaded as part of a promotional effort to win money. Not only was the use of this software in violation of iWon’s own stated privacy policy, it has proved to be almost impossible… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: October 2002
Major Attack on Internet Backbone
Many news outlets reported what was described as an historic denial of service attack(DoS) that began on Monday, and lasted about an hour. Reports vary, but at least 9 of the 13 root servers were affected. See the Washington Post coverage here, and CNN’s coverage here. Continue Reading
E-Government Act May Become Law in 2002
The E-Government Act of 2002 would establish the position of Federal Chief Information Officer within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and with an agenda to further development in the delivery of government services to citizens via web sites. The Senate has passed their version of the bill (S. 803), and the House verion… Continue Reading
Consequences of "Trusted Computing"
The trusted computing model is advocated by an alliance of technology heavyweights – Compaq, HP, IBM, Intel and Microsoft, and involves issues such as privacy, digital rights management, and the marginalization of open source software. The implementation of increasingly complex proprietary encryption programs automatically installed on PCs via software applications and required upgrades has resulted… Continue Reading
Free Software May Carry Along Spyware
There are hidden consequences to downloading freeware programs from web sites. The cost of free software is often an agreement to be subjected to a constant barrage of pop-up ads. However, there is a higher price that may be involved – spyware programs that often tag along in download process. Once activated, spyware programs can… Continue Reading
E-Mail and Internet Use Policies
The ABA has published a new book focused on protecting companies from claims associated with employee use of e-mail and the Web. The book is titled Employee Use of the Internet and E-Mail: A Model Corporate Policy With Commentary on Its Use in the U.S. and Other Countries. See the press release here. Continue Reading
Privacy Law Presentation
The International Association of Privacy Officers (IAPO) has posted a PowerPoint presentation by attorney F. Lisa Murtha, titled “Privacy Law in Brief.” It is useful outline on the topic. Continue Reading
ADA and Websites
The text of the order granting motion to dismiss from the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, in Access Now Inc., v. Southwest Airlines is available in PDF here. Judge Patricia Seitz determined that Title III (Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accomodation in Commercial Facilitites) of the American’s With Disabilities Act… Continue Reading
Who is Eric Eldred?
This Chronicle of Higher Education article profiles this shy man whose love of the great books and his fight to make them freely available on the web has resulted in a national focus on the Supreme Court case that bears his name. Continue Reading
Fraud and Online Commerce
Consumers have indicated that they doubt the safety of online credit card transactions, a fear that is borne out by the $1 billion in merchant loses per year. The New York Times reports that a group of large, high profile merchants have joined together to create a database to fight credit card fraud. Continue Reading
Patriot Act Implementation
The House Judiciary Committee released the text of the DOJ’s 28 answers from a total of 50 questions submitted by Representatives Conyers and Sensenbrenner concerning privacy, surveillance and data collection issues associated with the implementation of the Patriot Act. Many of the answers however remain classified. The ACLU is certainly not satisfied with the answers,… Continue Reading
California Focuses on Privacy
The California Office of Privacy Protection, opened in November 2001, is lauded as tops among all the states in country by the Privacy Journal, published monthly in hard copy. This is according to an article from SignOnSanDiego.comarticle. Continue Reading
