Podcast #2 Coprights

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Blog #4: Online Security

Online privacy is an important issue within the realm of the Internet. Some people have stronger feelings then others but personally I am concerned. Infringements of online privacy can happen multiple ways. Many websites will install cookies into your computer that will track some of your actions on the net and even off of the net. In some cases these cookies take information that many people aren’t aware of. These cookies take names, addresses, bank statements, pretty much you name it and it is done. Some websites sell your information to data companies who then sell it to other companies.

A lot of the time people are un-knowingly agreeing to allow websites and companies to install cookies or claim the rights to the information or pictures they upload. Facebook sort of indirectly claims the rights to your photos as you can see by reading their terms, “By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose, commercial, advertising, or otherwise, on or in connection with the Site or the promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing.” They also note that if you delete your account the above statement will expire but Facebook will still have archived data from you. Facebook does give its users the option to make their profiles private so that only their friends can view their info.

Sears has been under much scrutiny from the public and anti-spyware eye. A little while back in 2008 they encouraged online users to join the “Sears Holdings Community”. When joining the community they are asked to install software that is really spyware. This spyware monitors their Internet usage including logging onto bank accounts (Vamosi, 2008). The one thing the people failed to notice when check the “accept the terms” box was that they were actually agreeing to this. I can’t believe that in today’s society large companies like Sears Holding Corp. would try to undermine their customers in such a way. The customers are the most important thing to the company so why lose their trust like that? Sears settled charges brought upon them by federal authorities for being found guilty of being deceiving and not making it clear enough that they were in fact installing spyware on your computer. Ben Edelman, a Harvard University Professor who is a frequent critic of spyware companies said, "Sears to their credit fixed many of the most egregious problems after public concern” (Goodin, 2009).

Ken Denmead said he feels as if younger groups seem to care less and less about online privacy, however a new study on behavioral advertising states that it is exactly this age group (18-24) who care the most (Denmead, 2009). There is such thing as the Fair Information Practices (FIP) which is regulated by the FTC. This is meant to protect online users from getting their information stolen. It touches on subjects such as users being able to find out what info is being kept, information not being used improperly, info not being kept secret and info not being misused (Denmead, 2009).

I think online security is very important. I feel like the situation is getting increasingly worse with the amount of spam and phishing occurring through e-mail. Phishing as explained on webopedia is “The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.” I think the FTC really needs to crack down on online privacy and help keep unsuspected users safe.

Works Cited
Denmead, Ken. "Is Online Privacy a Generational Issue? GeekDad Wired.com." Wired News. 1 Oct. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. .

Goodin, Dan. "US mega retailer settles spyware charges • The Register." The Register: Sci/Tech News for the World. 4 June 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009. .

Vamosi, Robert. "Spyware found in Sears online community installation News Blog - CNET News." Technology News - CNET News. 3 Jan. 2008. Web. 18 Nov. 2009.

Blog #3: Conflict in the Digital Age

Here is a video from the National Cyber Security Alliance whose goal is to "goal is to reach all users with education and awareness messages about cyber security."

Cyber war is conducting warfare in cyberspace by means of computers and Internet. Somewhere between the last decade or two people have found that the Internet can be a very powerful weapon. There is so much valuable information kept on it. Expert hackers have the ability to attack critical infrastructure such as transportation services, electricity and water. When you think about the opportunities a hacker with experience has it is mind boggling and frightening. It goes deeper than hacking websites for personal information or to damage infrastructure. Countries will try to steal secrets and classified information from other countries. This could be extremely detrimental to a country; for example if China hacking into a computer that had the ability to shut down missile defenses. All of these threats are very real. Many people expect the next war to begin over computers through use of the Internet rather than traditional techniques. According to an article by Graham Messick of CBS Interactive, "some people are already saying that the next big war is less likely to begin with a bang than a blackout"(Messick).

"It is now clear this cyber threat is one [of] the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation," President Obama said during a speech (Messick). One of the biggest worries is our adversaries shutting down a power grid, which they are fully capable of doing. Admiral Mike McConnell, former chief of national intelligence, who oversaw the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, claims that the United States is not prepared for this sort of attack (Messick).

The conflict in the Digital Age isn't confined just to hacking computers. Something more familiar to everyone is malicious software, things such as mal-ware, trojan horses and spyware. In the scheme of things these are much less threatening than having a power grid shut down but on a smaller scale they can ruin computers. One of my biggest concerns personally is that my identificartion or private information, such as banking information, would be stolen over the Internet. I have a lot of information, mostly scattered, throughout various sources.

The next decade will hold very interesting events regarding the Internet being used as a weapon. I do think that the next war will begin from an attack over the Internet, whether it may be shutting down power or stealing critical information will be up the attacker. I do think it is very interesting that Obama has put this at the top of his priority list. This makes it evident that it is becoming a more and more serious issue.