It is in the fine print!

When it comes down to it, most of us if not all of us skip over the terms of service when we are installing new software on our computers and phones. I am guilty of doing that most of the time. There is an interesting article over at the Digital Reader website about Adobe using their Digital Editions 4 epub software to spy in users of the software.

Who's watching you?

What is even more interesting is the fact that if you had read the license agreement when you installed this software, you wouldn't have seen this disclaimer. For that you had to go to their website to read about the invasion of privacy there. So now you not only have to beware of the fine print in the TOS (terms of service), you have to worry about what is on the companies website about privacy as well.

Well, at least you know now!

What do you give up for convenience?

The latest "feature" in Google+ allows you to ask Google when your bills are due. It sounds awesome, just ask your phone when the bill is done through Google and get an answer for when and how much you owe.

Is nothing private anymore?

You don't have to remember when the bill is due and you can just ask your phone. All of this also means that Google is scanning your e-mail for bills. We already knew Google could read what they want out of your e-mail, but when they are advertising it as a feature, it seems we've crossed the convenience/security/safety line somewhere.

Previewing Windows 10 may cost you some privacy!

Microsoft is offering a preview of the Windows 10 operating system. It is still not ready for prime time, but they will let you look it over. There just happens to be a little catch! When you agree to the software license, you agree to send them what your doing in real time. This just happens to include a keylogger (recording your keystrokes). I'm sure they won't call it that, but they are collecting text you type, and that sounds like a keylogger program to me.

Windows 10 Preview

So keep that in mind as you are checking out the new Windows 10 preview. I'm sure something like that would never make it to the real release of Windows 10, but if you don't like the idea of every keystroke you make being recorded, you might want to just let someone else preview Windows 10 for you. You can read more about it at winbeta.org.

E-mail Privacy - Your E-mail is not really private!

E-mail Privacy



The old saying that nothing is for free definitely applies to e-mail. Whether you have your e-mail from one of the software or web giants, or if you have e-mail from your provider or employer, many people can legally read your e-mail. The Electronic Communications and Privacy Act states that the government can read your e-mail without a warrant and this includes your cell phones.

Your Internet Service Provider (your home Internet access company) can read your e-mails and so can your employer. I'm not trying to make you paranoid, but at least you know what can or cannot be read and who legally can read it.




You can encrypt your e-mail and there are many software choices if you want to go that route, but when your e-mail is on a server somewhere, whoever has access to the files on that server can technically read your e-mail whether or not you are using encryption on your end.

The only private communication is the one you have with yourself. I know that doesn't help you if you are wanting to express yourself to someone, but at least it won't ever get you fired or sent before a judge!

The importance of Password Security

eBay recently had a security breach that possibly allowed every eBay's user's password to be compromised. They recommend that everyone not only change their password, but that every should also change the password for all their other accounts that use the same password! That implies to me that the breach lost not only passwords but usernames and e-mail addresses as well.

 



The best policy to have is to keep separate passwords for all of your different accounts. I know this isn't easy, but have the best security never is. People should also change their passwords from time to time and just not by incrementing values or numbers like 'password1' and 'password2'. These are too easy to guess and automated password crackers use those type of algorithms.

 

There are password utilities that can store you passwords for you and these utilities use the latest encryption, but if you forget that one password, you are in trouble.

 

Now there is news that a hacker in Australia is breaking into and locking iPhones and iPads using the 'Where is my iPad' feature. When you feel your passwords or accounts have been breached, it is the best policy to change ALL of your passwords. You can never be too safe when it comes to online security.