Network World on Privacy

Facebook, states agree to boost efforts to protect children

2008-05-10T00:00:00Z

Social networking site Facebook Thursday announced that it is boosting its privacy protections as part of an ongoing effort to work with 49 state attorneys general to protect children online.

Google takes Street View snaps in Paris; lawsuits may follow

2008-05-09T00:00:00Z

Google has begun scanning the streets of Paris, gathering data for its Street View service, which adds street-level photography to the satellite views offered by Google Maps. The search company will gather a wealth of data from the project but, thanks to France's strict privacy laws, it may also pick up a few lawsuits on the way if it chooses to publish the photos unedited.

Facebook partners with AGs for kids' safety

2008-05-08T00:00:00Z

Facebook is following in the footsteps of its rival MySpace by reaching an online safety agreement with the attorneys general of 49 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Internet Archive challenges FBI's secret records demand

Grant Gross — 2008-05-07T00:00:00Z

The FBI has withdrawn a secret demand that the Internet Archive, an online library, provide the agency with a user's personal information after the Web site challenged the records request in court.

Security ahead of risk at the border

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

News continues to worsen for business travelers carrying sensitive information. In a troubling ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can continue its practice of warrantless searches through computer data held by U.S. citizens and foreigners alike. With no cause or suspicion, the CBP may inspect, copy or seize data devices carried by anyone returning to the U.S. I'm not convinced that passive compliance is the best response to this situation.

Safest way to bank online? Your cell phone

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

So you want to bank safely online? Then ditch your computer and make the transaction via your cell phone instead.

Stop thieves from stealing your laptop

2008-05-02T00:00:00Z

Lock It Up

Privacy advocates: Court posting personal data in documents

2008-05-02T00:00:00Z

Privacy advocates claim that Social Security numbers, medical histories, tax records, bank account data and other sensitive types of personal data are freely available online via the Web site of the Superior Court in California's Riverside County.

U.K. agency disciplines staff over unauthorized data access

2008-05-01T00:00:00Z

Over 600 staff at HM Revenue and Customs have been disciplined or fired in a three year period after they accessed sensitive data without authorization.

Anonymizer acquired by risk-mitigation firm

Ellen Messmer — 2008-05-01T00:00:00Z

Herndon, Va.,-based risk-mitigation firm Abraxas Corp. announced it has acquired, for an undisclosed price, San Diego-based Anonymizer, which makes products that shield a user's identity online.