practical privacy tips… with attitude

Big business is definitely aware and guarded against hacking and espionage.

So the hackers are going after the low-hanging fruit — the small business.

Gone are the days when big business was the prime target of amateur hackers and professional cybercriminals. The security advances made by larger firms have deterred many of them, says Howard Schmidt, president and CEO of R&H Security Consulting and former White House cybersecurity adviser. Seeking an easier target, troublemakers are now attacking small businesses, which are often inadequately protected against cybercrime, Schmidt explains. That’s because small firms have less time, resources, and experience to devote to the issue.

While the small business owner understands that security is important, more often than not the protections in place are completely inadequate due to a lack of knowledge and basic precautions.

Almost one-fifth of the small businesses surveyed didn’t use virus scanning for e-mail, and more than 60% didn’t protect their wireless networks with even the simplest encryption.

This is a huge problem, and a huge opportunity for companies that can painlessly take care of the security needs of the huge small business market.

The Washington Post tracks the life of a Realtor for one day to show the multitude of ways we are watched in the 21st century.

The tracking of Kitty Bernard begins shortly after she wakes up. All through the 56-year-old real estate agent’s day, from walking in her building’s lobby to e-mailing friends and shopping and working, the watchful eye of technology records her movements and preferences.

You are watched pretty much every waking hour, even if you don’t leave the house (thanks to the Internet). It’s an elightening read.

Via Bruce Schneier.

The proliferation of cheap surveillance technology means this type of sad story is being repeated all over the place, and will only increase in the future. It’s actually amazing this pervert got caught.

Brabson was also an assistant swim coach at the school when detectives say he set up a video camera in his office and asked girls to change clothes. Carey claims both his daughters are on the tapes. They’ve since graduated.

Of course there is now a lawsuit. But the scary thing is, the law is only effective if the surveillance is detected. And even then, what’s been taken cannot truly be restored.

What do we do when bombarded with over 200 marketing messages before you arrive at work in the morning?

We tune out.

But technology is working against that problem while continuing to erode personal privacy.

Soon, malls across the country will implement new technology to serve customers and boost the bottom line. Plasma screens will analyze a customer’s features to determine age, gender, and ethnic background. Stores can then gear advertising to a customer’s personal profile.

I often hear people say, “What’s the big deal if I get more relevant offers?”

That’s true in this particular context, but what’s not being taken into account is what happens down the line when these “personal profiles” have been constructed, stored, and combined with other personal data, and impact decisions about jobs, healthcare, insurance and more.

Databases are often wrong, and they never forget.

You already know that identity theft can wreck your life.

But what if someone stole your identity and killed you off? Could you prove you were still alive?

October 29, 2006, Gary Gagnon died. Or did he?

“There is a death certificate out there with my name on it, and I am not dead,” Gagnon told WTOC Friday morning. “No. I am not dead.”

Gagnon found out about his death when he was pulled over by the police. He thought it was a joke. It wasn’t. Social security papers listed him as deceased, along with his bank, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and his insurance companies.

Someone got a hold of Gagnon’s identity, and reported him dead.

Gagnon believes an ex flame virtually did him in, and he’s having a heck of a time proving otherwise to countless databases and authorities. Meanwhile he’s gone deeply in debt and cannot get credit of any kind.

All it took was his social security number in the wrong hands.

Via WTOC TV.