Privacy »
US officials say PRISM surveillance program helped prevent terrorist plots in more than 20 countries
US intelligence officials sent Congress a document over the weekend in regards to recently discovered PRISM mass surveillance program. The Senate Intelligence Committee made the document public in an attempt to explain the massive government data collection program which was recently uncovered.
According to the Associated Press, the intelligence [...]
Read More »US National Security Agency can collect location data from cell phones but “chooses not to” collect it
Prepare for a massive heap of stories about the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the controversial leak of information pertaining to its questionable data collection operations. We’re certainly going to hear about it for quite some time. Whether you think Edward Snowden, the individual responsible for most of the [...]
Read More »![“On the internet, nobody knows you are a dog”… except for the NSA [Comic]](http://cdn.dottech.org/media/2013/06/nsa_wtf-290x160.gif)
US government has “tapped directly into international fiber optic internet cables”, does not have direct access to tech company servers
When details on the NSA’s secret surveillance program called PRISM first emerged, much of the fear stemmed from the idea that the government had “direct access” to the servers of major tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple. Many of the companies unsurprisingly denied allegations of direct access to [...]
Read More »Facebook and Microsoft reveal NSA data request numbers in transparency reports, Google and Twitter refuse due to restrictions
More than two weeks after the NSA’s secret surveillance program, PRISM, was leaked to the world, the companies involved are understandably still taking some heat from its users. Facebook and Microsoft, however, have worked out a deal with the US government to begin including national security-related requests in its transparency [...]
Read More »US government has direct access to data servers of major tech companies, is potentially spying on… everyone
This is a little late, but in light of recent events it’s still certainly worth covering. Just days after the news broke that the NSA or National Security Agency had a secret court order which allowed them to view various wireless records, we found out it was a lot worse [...]
Read More »![“I’m going to take a stand to protect my privacy” [Comic]](http://cdn.dottech.org/media/2013/06/protecting_my_privacy-290x160.gif)
New privacy settings on Facebook: “Friends & CIA” [Image]
![New privacy settings on Facebook: “Friends & CIA” [Image]](http://cdn.dottech.org/media/2013/06/facebook_and_cia-290x160.png)
Share settings: “Close Friends and the CIA”, “Only the CIA”, “Only me and the CIA”, “Friends and the CIA”, “Public”
Read More »Xbox One needs to connect to the internet every 24 hours, used games can only be given away once, and Kinect features can be turned off
After basically keeping us all in the dark on the finer details of how the new Xbox One will work since its announcement, Microsoft has finally shed some light on the issue. Today the company released details on the console’s online requirement, games licensing and privacy concerns — here are [...]
Read More »US government is collecting millions of phone records from Verizon on a daily basis, courtesy secret court order
In some rather disturbing news, it has been revealed that the US National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting the telephone records of millions of Americans making calls through Verizon’s phone service. The news came from The Guardian, who acquired information from a top secret court order which was issued [...]
Read More »FBI does not need warrant to access data of Google users, says US judge
A federal judge has ordered Google to release customer data to the FBI. This is interesting because the FBI has no warrant for the information, and typically warrants are required in the United States for law enforcement to access such data. The FBI made its request for data from Google [...]
Read More »Is Microsoft gathering your personal data from the Xbox One and selling it? Australia and Germany are concerned
As most of you probably know, Microsoft announced the Xbox One last week. It has a ton of new features including an always-on camera and microphone. Which is bringing up some privacy concerns. In fact it’s said that it could potentially gather personal data to be sold to the highest [...]
Read More »![This is why the government hates Google Glass [Comic]](http://cdn.dottech.org/media/2013/05/gov_google_glass_comic-290x160.jpg)
Indian government now has a Central Monitoring System to monitor calls, texts, emails, and more
We may be paranoid about the government watching us closely here in the States and elsewhere in the world, but we certainly don’t have it as bad as India. A brand new monitoring system launched in India that will allow government officials to keep an eye on public network channels. [...]
Read More »Apple and Amazon give your private data to the government without a warrant, says EFF report
The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF) annual “Who Has Your Back?” report looks at how 18 big tech companies protect their users’ data from the American government. 2013′s report is out, and it isn’t a good reading for some companies.
EFF’s report looks at six points regarding user privacy:
- Does the
[...]
Read More »FBI wants backdoor wiretapping access to Google, Facebook, and other popular websites
The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act in the United State allows law enforcement to wiretap internet communications, like VoIP (typically a warrant is needed for such wiretaps but there are so many “national security” loopholes nowadays, it is hard to tell). But the law only applies to internet service [...]
Read More »FinFisher spyware used by governments around the world is disguised as Firefox, and Mozilla is not happy about it
FinFisher, also known as FinSpy, is a piece of malware developed by Gamma International and sold to governments of 36 different countries (the US included) to monitor the activities of computer users. The spyware was originally designed to aid with criminal investigations, but there have been reports that say it [...]
Read More »PayTouch is a new system that allows you to pay for purchases… using your fingerprints
Imagine going to a store without your wallet, purse, credit card, or cash and yet still paying for goods. Thanks to a relatively new system called PayTouch, consumers will be able to make purchases with their fingerprints.
Of course, in order to pay through the system both you and the [...]
Read More »You’ll be able to wink to take photos using Google Glass, according to device code
We’re all pretty aware what Google’s Glass project is capable of at this point, and those lucky few who already have their hands on the device have been kind of enough to rub it in our faces. But it looks like those online videos and official spec sheets haven’t quite [...]
Read More »![“An outrageous privacy breach” [Comic]](http://cdn.dottech.org/media/2013/03/privacy_breach-290x160.png)
Seattle bar bans Google Glass due to privacy concerns
The 5 Point Cafe in Seattle announced via Facebook that they would be banning Google Glass from its premises, even before the device is officially on sale to the public. ”For the record, The 5 Point is the first Seattle business to ban in advance Google Glasses. And ass kickings [...]
Read More »Search warrant reveals just how much the government (or anyone else) can find out about you from your cellphone
Drug dealers, watch out! The government can find a whole lot about you if they seize your phone. As for everyone else, you probably wanna know just how much data your phone is carrying about you regardless of if you have committed a crime or not. And thanks to a [...]
Read More »Kim Dotcom wants to expand Mega into email, chat, voice, video, and mobile products
Kim Dotcom advised his Twitter followers not to use US-based web services like Apple’s iCloud, Google Gmail and Skype because they ”provide (by law) secret & untraceable NSA backdoors to all your data.” So what will people use if they ditch those services? His next tweet provided the answer:
In
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Google Play is sending your email address, where you live, and sometimes full name to developers
Australian developer Dan Nolan has discovered that Google is sending him the name, suburb (where people live), and email address of anyone buying his app on the Google Play store.
He discovered it after checking his merchant account to update his seller payment details. He isn’t sure about customer details [...]
Read More »SOPA/PIPA-like CISPA bill is coming back from the dead to kill your digital privacy [USA]
If you thought that bills like SOPA, PIPA, and CISPA were all behind us and the Internet was safe from prying eyes, I’ve got bad news for you — one of them is coming back. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger and Rep. Mike Rogers of the USA are planning on re-introducing CISPA [...]
Read More »Microsoft tells users to ditch Gmail for Outlook.com because Microsoft “doesn’t go through your email to sell ads”
So while we take a break from all the Apple versus Samsung lawsuits, why don’t we shift our attention over to the brewing Microsoft versus Google battle. This time, we have Microsoft on the offensive with their current “Scroogled” ad campaign — which also cost them a seven figure amount. [...]
Read More »Facebook is developing an always-on app that tracks your location, so you can “find your friends”
Facebook’s current tracking system allows you to check-in places ala Foursquare, and add locations to your posts. According to a report by Bloomberg, Facebook expand its tracking into a standalone app that can track your location in the background so you can find friends and your friends would be able [...]
Read More »[Windows 8] How to block access to your location by websites in Internet Explorer 10 and other Windows Store apps
![[Windows 8] How to block access to your location by websites in Internet Explorer 10 and other Windows Store apps](http://cdn.dottech.org/media/2013/02/0205-1-290x160.png)
Nowadays on the Internet, privacy is the most sensitive thing to everyone. However, websites want every piece of your information for their purposes (usually for advertising goals); even it’s your location. Yes, your location! Most of current popular web browsers have the ability to track your location. However, the websites [...]
Read More »US law allows ‘wire-tapping’ of people who use US-based cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud — even if you don’t live in the United States
European privacy expert Caspar Bowden is warning that the data of people who use US-based cloud services might be monitored by the American authorities. In other words, Dropbox, Apple’s iCloud, Google Drive, and Amazon’s Cloud Drive are all services that could be “wire-tapped” due to the American Foreign Intelligence Surveillance [...]
Read More »Google protects user privacy and defies the government by asking for search warrants to access Gmail emails
To most Americans (and other countries that have laws to protect citizens from search and seizure without warrant), it may come as a surprise that a search warrant is not required for the American government to access private emails. This is due to the ‘Electronic Communications Privacy Act’ (ECPA), a [...]
Read More »Watch Kim Dotcom’s ridiculous Mega launch event
Leave it up to Kim Dotcom to not be content with simply launching a new file-sharing service, but to have an actual launch event to go with it that is probably crazier than he is.
The whole event can be viewed on Youtube…
…and it’s up there in terms of [...]
Read More »Disney wants to track your movements and behavior in its theme parks
Disney wants to make its theme parks more interactive and more intimate. To try and accomplish that, the company plans to introduce a new program called MyMagic+ that will track your current location and spending habits in the park to monitor behavior. Sound a little excessive and creepy? Stay with [...]
Read More »American government extends warrantless wiretapping until 2017
Looks like warrantless wiretapping in the name of counter-terrorism in the US isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. After a Senate vote last Thursday that saw the bill passed by a vote of 73 to 23, it looks like the proverbial nail is in the coffin on this one.
President Obama [...]
Read More »Verizon patents technology to observe you while you watch TV
Privacy advocates are gonna love Verizon after this one. The company has filed a patent application for a set-top box that is similarly equipped as Microsoft’s Kinect — cameras, microphones and motion sensors, everything you would need to track movements in a room. What room, you ask? Why, you’re living [...]
Read More »Real name registration may become mandatory for Internet users in China
Real names on Facebook? That’s nothing. What about your real name tied to every account you use on the Internet, anonymous or not? That’s what Internet users in China might have to deal with if this new policy becomes official. A draft decision proposing a new “identity management” policy has [...]
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