The most shocking thing to me about the recent Target data breach was not that it happened. Although the scope of the Target breach is extraordinary, I am always aware of the risks of using credit cards. I used to manage a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance program. I understand the … Continue reading Lesson from Target data breach: Don’t shop with your debit card
Category: Online Security and Privacy
A lot of people use pseudonyms online. If they don't use a completely made up name they may omit their last name or only use their initials. People say they do this to protect their privacy or their children's privacy. That they want to be anonymous. Unfortunately, pseudonyms are pretty weak privacy protections. Think of … Continue reading Pseudonyms and anonymity: A fake name won’t protect privacy for long
Apple announced that the new iPhone will include TouchID to allow users to make purchases by identifying themselves with a fingerprint. Sounds great, right? But while biometrics (such as fingerprints, palm prints, and retina scans) do have some advantages over passwords, they have their weaknesses too. And, yes, fingerprints can be stolen. I'm not talking … Continue reading How to steal a fingerprint
How much do marketing companies really know about you? A lot. How do marketers know so much about you? They pay data brokers for information that has been collected from financial and legal records as well as your own disclosures. Now you can see that data too. Data brokerage giant Acxiom is offering an unprecedented … Continue reading Get an unprecedented look at what marketers know about you
Documents leaked by Edward Snowden have revealed details of NSA surveillance programs including those that monitor email and other Internet activity. These revelations have invigorated the debate about sacrificing privacy under the guise of trying to increase security. This is a debate that happens on a smaller scale in the minds of many parents. Should … Continue reading Should parents use NSA surveillance techniques to spy on their kids?
Kim Z. Dale 