Security

Privacy Topic Center

News, trends, in-depth analysis and more about privacy and data privacy

FDA defends its monitoring of whistle-blowers' email

The FDA Friday said it monitored the private email accounts of nine agency whistle-blowers starting in 2010 to determine whether any of them leaked confidential information to the public.
Read more...

EPIC sues FTC over Google privacy plan

The Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission to force the agency to take action against Google over planned changes in collecting personal data.

Google to pay users to track their movements online

Amid widespread concern about its new privacy policies, Google is now facing criticism over an offer to give users Amazon gift certificates if they open their Web movements to the company in a program called Screenwise.

Microsoft wraps up ads aimed at Google with IE9 pitch

Microsoft on Friday wrapped up a three-day campaign against rival Google by claiming its newest browser, Internet Explorer 9, is superior in stopping users from being tracked by online advertisers.

Lawmakers question proposed change to video privacy law

Let's say you like to watch heady documentaries over Netflix's streaming service and would like to share recommendations with your friends on Facebook. Netflix would like to offer that service, but the company says a 24-year-old U.S. law is in the way.

In letter to Congress, Google defends privacy changes

In a letter sent to eight members of Congress, Google yesterday defended its move to consolidate its privacy policies and users' personal information.

Lawmaker pushes consumer notification bill in wake of Carrier IQ concerns

U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) has proposed a bill that would require all phone companies to notify consumers of any user tracking and monitoring software in their cell phones.

Feds say Megaupload user content could be deleted this week

Federal prosecutors say that two companies hosting Megaupload's servers in the U.S. could begin deleting all user content on them as early as Thursday.

Hawaii legislators bid aloha to controversial data retention bill

Lawmakers in Hawaii quietly dropped a bill that would have required Internet service providers to collect the browsing histories of Internet users in the state and store the data for at least two years.

Google says privacy change won't affect government users

Google today dismissed concerns by a former senior federal IT official that its controversial new privacy policy would create problems for customers of Google Apps for Government.

5 ways to secure your Facebook profile in a post-Timeline world

The new Timeline layout introduces some changes that may mean you're suddenly sharing more than you should. Here's how to lock down Facebook without going overboard.

Ira Winkler: Is Google evil? The jury is out

Google's changes to its privacy policy should have been expected. It's what any corporation intent on maximizing value would do. But does that make it right?

In civil litigation, 'private' social media data isn't private

The rules governing e-discovery apply to social media and trump both a social media website's privacy guidelines and an individual user's privacy preferences.

Privacy 2012: I know what you did at 3:30 a.m.

For a peek into what experts expect this year and beyond when it comes to privacy, we turn to the Rebecca Herold (a.k.a. the Privacy Professor) for answers.

Cloud adviser: Where's your data?

Be sure your contract specifies where your data can be located and obligates the cloud provider to tell you when the data has been disclosed to a third party.

Social networking, ignorance, and apathy

Social networking services really do a bad job with managing our privacy ... and the problem apparently is that we and they don't know and don't care to fix it

Mobile device management -- what you should know

As more and more iPads, iPhones and Android devices show up in the workplace -- the 'bring your own device' trend writ large -- IT shops have to figure out how to manage and secure them all. Columnist Ryan Faas has some advice. (Insider, registration required)

Inside Carrier IQ-gate

Carrier IQ software is marketed as a diagnostic tool for improve phone service, but critics say it's a hard-core violation of privacy. The critics are right, says columnist Mike Elgan.

Has the spam problem been solved?

Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in 2004 that the problem of spam would be solved within two years. His timing was off, but I was shocked to realize this week that I really don't get much spam anymore.

Free service can tell if your email address has been compromised

Has your email or username been snatched by hackers and posted to the Internet? You can find the answer to that question at a new online service called Pwnedlist.