Smashing Devices?

Before recycling a Windows XP laptop, netbook or Android smartphone you might want to consider that you might need to blow the thing to smithereens first if you really want to wipe it of all your sensitive data, says McAfee identity theft expert Robert Siciliano, in USA TODAY. Siciliano bought 30 random used devices off Craigslist and tested them and found that while half were wiped clean, the other half revealed all kinds of sensitive data including bank account numbers and records, work documents and Social Security numbers. Apple's iPad and iPhone and Research In Motion's BlackBerry don't represent the same risk, he says. But you should reset your used Apple or RIM device to the original factory settings before it leaves your possession.

Covering Your Tracks on the Internet

“There are no secrets online,” writes Kate Murphy, in the Personal Tech section of The New York Times and she is right. Whatever email you sent in a fit of pique, those vulture videos you watched to help out a friend’s daughter who is a field biologist and that illness you checked out online – they are all part of an online profile of you that can be easily gathered. That information can then be stored, analyzed, categorized and synthesized and then sold as a package deal to data brokers who in turn can sell it without a “by your leave” to advertisers, employers, health insurers, or credit rating agencies. So what can you do to help cover your tracks on the Internet? Murphy outlines several ideas in her article, “How to Muddy your Tracks on the Internet”, to help readers try to figure out the best balance between cost, convenience, and privacy.

Demand Your Personal Data Back?

Tim Berners-Lee, one of the pioneers of the Internet, recently gave an interview urging Internet users to demand their personal data back from Facebook and Google and to further insist on the means to use that data to make their personal life easier. There is some common sense to that. It would be great to have your computer help you manage what you eat, your exercise level, and more. Berners-Lee also cites that it would be great to have your computer tell you what you should read in the morning based on past preferences. (The latter I find a bit dangerous to democracy as I am not really interested necessarily in just what Google thinks I should read, but it would be helpful if my computer could help keep me up with issues of interest.) Berners-Lee also recognizes that online privacy is a balancing act, and thinks the “do not track” feature, being debated by the Federal Trade Commission, would increase web users' confidence that data about them was not being abused. The “do not track” feature would mean you could "flip a switch" on your browser (like Safari, Chrome, or FireFox) which would prevent the tracking of your online activity.

Is He Talking About Parents?

Blogger Shelly Palmer went on vacation to Florida for a family event and he came back to write an article entitled “The Attack of the Pridefully Ignorant” about how there are no more excuses for not being connected that I think all parents should read. If you still think that “digital is for kids,” as Shelly claims is the war cry of the “Pridefully Ignorant,” you need to read what he says about how you need to inject yourself into the process. To lead a connected life with your kids, you need to be digitally connected. Discussions of digital literacy or digital citizenship need to start at home, with both sides having some semblance of what they are talking about because they have at least tried it.

Twittering Away

Do your kids Twitter?  Maybe. There seems to be more hype about Twitter, the instant messaging service that lets you gather fans for your every utterance called tweets, than there are users. Nevertheless you might want to check out how Twitter works. David Pogue, our favorite NY Times columnist has laid all the ins and outs of Twitter.com in Twitter Tips for Beginners and you might want to see if it is something that might be useful to you.

YouTube to Ban Some Violent Videos

YouTube, known for its outrageous video clips, is taking a new look at submission guidelines following criticism from Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman that the site was too open to terrorist groups disseminating militant propaganda. The company earlier this year removed some of the videos that Lieberman targeted, many of which were marked with the logos of al-Qaeda and affiliated groups. But the company refused to take down most of the videos on the senator's list, saying they did not violate the Web site's guidelines against graphic violence or hate speech. Now that videos inciting others to violence are banned, more videos by the terrorist groups in question may be removed. Exactly what kind of videos will be deemed "inciting others to violence" will be considered on a case-by-case basis, though First Amendment experts said the company could run into trouble if the phrase is interpreted too broadly. "We subscribe to the common sense rule," a company spokesperson said. "Our guidelines are not written for lawyers." My question – who’s common sense are we talking about here? (This entry is linked to an article in the Washington Post  which you can read for free by registering.)

Printers Leave a Yellow Dot Road

Believe it or not, if you own or use a laser printer, it leaves microscopic yellow dots on each printed page to identify the printer's serial number which can ultimately leave literally, a yellow dot road right back to you. While for most of this may not seem like a big deal, privacy experts point out that for political dissidents, whistle-blowers or anyone who prints materials that authorities want to track this may be a very easy way to catch up with them. As the cost of laser printers declines, more homes are installing them as their printer of choice beyond businesses who have been using them for years. All of this came about because the US Secret Service who is in charge of counterfeiting investigations was interested in tracking criminals who used laser printers to copy bills and asked printer manufacturers to help with the dilemma. While privacy experts have no problem with that, they do warn that your laser printer may be leaving a trail of yellow dots to your door - which so far only the Secret Service can read. Just something to be aware of......

Maghound Fetches Magazine Subscriptions

So let's say this month you are feeling you need help from Martha Stewart to prepare a Thanksgiving feast, but next month you are interested in the latest in business news. No problem says Time Inc., which in September will launch Maghound, a service that promises to blend the convenience of subscriptions with the flexibility of newsstand sales. How does that work? You pay a monthly fee for the home delivery of the publications you want. However, unlike with subscriptions, which typically run for fixed terms, you can go online and swap one title for another whenever you want. Maghound will start with about 300 consumer magazines including People, Sports Illustrated and Fortune. Users will pay about $5 a month for three magazines, $8 for five, $10 for seven and $1 for each additional. About 10 percent of titles, including some weeklies, will cost more. Sounds like a pretty innovative way to pump up magazine publishing which has been in a slump of late.

Don’t Trust the Crowd

It may be the Cyber Age but parental advice just doesn't change that much - for example, when it comes to accurate information, "don't trust the crowd" still applies. It's so hard to both kids and adults not to trust sources online, but here are some basic tips:

1. Use more than one source
2. Use the CARS Checklist (Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support)
3. Decide how you feel about Wikipedia and always monitor what you find there (ie look at more than just Wikipedia)
4. Think about an online subscription to an encyclopedia or other general resource for your family - if you pay for the info it is LIKELY to be more accurate.

Are You Ready for Ransomware?

Ok - here's a new one. IT security provider Kaspersky Lab has issued a security alert following the detection of a particularly malicious piece of "ransomware." Even though not widespread, as of yet, the new virus called Virus.Win32.Gpcode.ak, if downloaded, employs RSA 1,024-bit encryption to lock users out of just about every common data file format found on their PCs, including .doc, .txt, .pdf, .xls, .png and .jpg. A ransom note is then generated, instructing the victim to fork over funds for a decryption key. (Sounds rather medieval, eh?)

Kaspersky is urging Net users to take extra precautions, make sure they are running the latest versions of anti-malware solutions and back up their data regularly, making sure to disconnect storage devices as soon as the back-up process is completed to avoid infection. If infected, do not power down or restart your PC, the company advises. Kaspersky also urges victims not to succumb to the ransom threat and instead report details of infection to their security providers, Kaspersky and law enforcement authorities.