Privacy

Mozilla’s Suggest A Privacy Unrest

May 31, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

Sooner or later, this way or another, you are going to be ad-stabbed-back by all those shiny, friendly and colorful service providers. This has already happened with Google, and the history repeats itself with Mozilla. We have to admit, we are a little bit heartbroken. All great ideas have greedy endings.

Mozilla is about to introduce the thing called Suggested Tiles. So, what is the big deal about it? Well, this is a new kind of advertisement. You are going to search, and Mozilla is going to suggest. If you do not like it, you do not have to use it. As simple as that. When you put it this way, it sounds like a fair deal.

However, there is a catch. Mozilla’s suggestions are actually based on your browsing history. Now, it does not sound so fair, does it? We do not care about the things you advertise. Nevertheless, we have a right to ask, how did you create your offer? Based on what data?

Somehow, we have a feeling that this particular corporate greed is going to hit back Mozilla like a boomerang. Mozilla’s power is directly derived, or even better to say, borrowed from us, the users. No users. No trade. You have to maintain a careful balance. Otherwise, we will have to migrate to some other ad-free place.

Facebook vs EU

May 30, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

First Google, and now Facebook has some tough times in Europe. Why? What you can do to the USers, you obviously cannot even think of repeating to the EUsers. The Belgian authorities are protecting their citizens, who have been followed without their knowledge nor approval.

On the other side, Facebook claims that its HQ in Ireland entitles it to a special position in relation to the EU regulations. Seriously? What is that supposed to mean? The last time we checked, Ireland was still an island much closer to Europe than the North American continent. Right?

Outside the US homefield there are not too many rain-me-money markets for the IT giants. We are talking about Europe and China. The catch is that if you want to make money there, you have to play by the rules, whether you like them or not. As simple and as complicated as that.

So, what is going to be the most probable outcome of this cyber-quarrel? Well, you do not have to be a rocket scientist, nor an EU-law-guru, to figure that one yourself, do you? Facebook is going to cry, but eventually it will have to comply. Europe is a too important market to play stubborn games. 

Google Maps Privacy Traps

May 28, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

Here is a simple experiment, which can make you consider your privacy more seriously. It comes without saying that you have already tried to type your own name in Google search engines more than once. How about Google Maps? How about that for a change? You will be surprised.

However, there is a catch about the way you do it. Do not type your full name. You should try with an email, or a username associated with your social network account. Oh boy, you are going to be blown away, when you see how much is there in Google Maps about you and your movement.

Now, you see how crucial the location can be for your privacy. Do you have to disclose it so easily each time you use some service or install a new app. On the other side, it would be wrong to think that you should hide away from Google Maps and its associated location services.

However, you should invest at least a couple of additional invaluable seconds before making a final decision about sharing your location with a service or an app. You are not a secret agent nor on the FBI most wanted list, but you can think twice about your reckless behavior.

NSA Plays With Google Play

May 27, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

To tell you the truth, we are not quite sure if this is one more of those crazy urban legends or a lost page from Edward Snowden’s diary. However, for what is worth, at some point in time the NSA planed or still plans to get its cyber hands on Google Play. What for? What is there to gain for them, in the first place?

Well, you do not have to be a rocket scientist nor a notorious NSA man in black to know for sure, do you? Instead of paying the countless malicious visits to mobile devices all over the world, it is a much smarter thing to get yourself a nice seat in Google Play and wait for the potential victims. Right?

Google is more or less surprisingly silent on this one. On the other side, it would be ridiculous to think that a users’ exodus is going to take place, if this information proves itself to be true, after all. We are all aware that our cyber privacy is nothing more than a huge and powerful illusion, aren’t we?

In addition, why bother with an expensive, complex and above all a compromising Google Play invasion? We have every reason to believe that for quite some time Google has been giving everything and anything the NSA asked for on a silver plate. We sure hope that Google Play is not a foul play.

AdultAdAttack

May 16, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

The ads are annoying. The ads are running your good mood. Yet, the notorious world of ads can be surprisingly innovative when attracting your attention is an absolute must for their basic business survival. Now, put some of the adult websites into this story and what do you get as a result?

The worst case scenario, that is for sure. If you can help yourself against the overwhelming online porn impulses, then you should be fully aware of the most recent changes in this field. It turns out that as soon as you visit some of the adult website you are already “adoomed” before you know it.

What is that supposed to mean exactly? Well, in order for your system to get infected with the ads you would not consider looking under the normal circumstances, you do not have to interact with a certain adult website. The simple visit is all what is required. And unfortunately, that is only the beginning.

These ads are going to be patient for a while before launching their merciless campaign of an endless annoyance. It seems that the bad-ad-boys did a proper homework. In case, you are already wondering how to get rid of these ads, we have to warn you. This is a hot topic for one of our next posts.

White House And Black Cyber Laws

May 10, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

In order to protect you properly, we need to spy on you enormously. Does this sound like a fair or a win-win scenario to you? The White House is a breath away from passing the Protecting Cyber Networks Act. So, what is the catch with a new member of the numerous cyber laws family?

Well, to make the long story short, we will get more surveillance in an exchange for the better cyber security. It seems that our government just cannot get enough of additional authorizations. One fine day, we will not need laws in this extremely controversial field.

Why? Because, every single moment and every available square inch are going to be covered by the state’s surveillance, this way or another. We have every reason to believe that we are not going to make it to the 2084 in order to have a proper anniversary. Are we being too much pessimistic?

Ask Edward Snowden for a second opinion, because he certainly has a lot to tell you about it. In the meantime, there is no other comfort for you than a timeless NSA advice. If you have nothing to hide, then there is nothing to worry about. Seriously? Is that all we are left with?

Bad Cyber Boys With Real Toys

May 8, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

How do you imagine an average hacker from your neighborhood? A harmless and innocent teenager, a little bit overweight, who spends days and nights on a keyboard, under the Coca-Cola and pizza delivery ambalage. Well, if this is a case, then you are both helplessly and dangerously romantic.

What would you say, if you were to hear that more than 60% of cyber criminals already have the real-life criminal record. How about this for a change? I am not a criminal in a traditional sense, I am merely a freedom fighter on a keyboard. This hacker’s statement is just so far from the reality, isn’t it?

So, what is the moral of our story? When you are a criminal, it does not matter where you get caught. The virtual world is not an excuse for the real one, and vice-versa. Do your best to keep it clean and flawless in both worlds. What is even more important forget about the wrong kind of empathy.

There is no point in feeling sorry for the hackers and all kinds of cyber criminals. We do not need fake heroes. Your friendly neighbor hacker has not hurt anyone in the virtual world, but there is a 60% chance that someone is suffering in the real world as a result of his wrongful doings. Think about it.

The Pirate Percentages

May 7, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

Imagine a world with no cyber-pirates. Imagine a moment where all computers all over the world will use and run only the fully legitimate and legal software and licenses. Would not that be a sight? Yet, what could this unrealistic scenario change for real? Does it mean that you would be a happier person?

Or, maybe you will have less money to spend on other things? Why? The pirate software version is substantially cheaper, by default. Here is a catch. In the EU alone, more than 70 million jobs, which is almost one third of its entire labor market, depends one way or another on the proper protection of the intellectual property rights.

When you mess up with the intellectual property and copyrights in the wrong way, there is no win-win scenario. Someone will always lose. Strong legal pressure means that we will pay more. Cyber loopholes can allow pirates to give us cheaper functional alternatives. Yet, that is a loss for the corporate world.

And, here we are where we are, where we have been all of this time. There will be some cosmetic changes, but the main troubles will remain the same more or less. Pirates are not going to disappear, and a software is not going to be offered for free. Our cyber seas will be restless for quite some time.

Big Gun China #1

May 3, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

Here is our word of advice. If you plan to read this post, then you should listen ACDC. You do not have to guess twice, which song in particular, do you? Oh dear, if you thought that the so-called Great Firewall of China is something special, then wait until you hear about the Big Cyber Gun.

The busy little Chinese bees in charge of censorship have really done something amazing. Now, not only are they capable of blocking the entire Internet traffic, but also they can redirect it and manipulate according to their wishes with all kinds of malicious software solutions.

One serious rumor has it that compared to the Big Gun, the notorious Great Firewall of China looks and works like an outdated toy. However, this is not something you say our hats off for a respectable achievement. It is actually a sad fact. Just imagine resources and time required for its development and maintenance.

All of that, for what exactly? So, you can monitor and control your own citizens? Unfortunately, we have every reason to believe that the Big Gun made in China is going to give all kinds of crazy ideas to their US colleagues in the NSA. The Internet and freedom. Oh, that is such a bad joke. Indeed.

Scrapbook = Kidsbook

April 12, 2015 — Leave a comment

image

Kids’ privacy is always in danger. The social networks are the notorious El Dorado for all kinds of children’s picture misuses. When it comes to this, Facebook is definitely not an exception. That is why Facebook has decided to do something about it, for real. Welcome to the new book – Scrapbook.

What is this book all about? Well, it is actually quite simple. Here, the parents can put their kids photo in one place. This option is open to all minors’ parents under 13. As you probably know, this age is a limit imposed for creating an independent Facebook account. So, what do we get in return?

Your kids’ photos get an invaluable extra privacy protection. The parents will have an easy task of deciding with whom and how to share these extremely sensitive pictures. Our hats off to Facebook for making it possible to have a book within a book. The invaluable extra layer of privacy protection.

We sure hope that the other social networks love their users’ children too. Save the children of social networks that is our next homework. We have to be dead serious about it. For what is worth, YouTube has already launched the special channel for kids only. We need more kids oriented social networks.