Is online privacy over? Findings from the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future show Millennials embrace a new online reality | via USC Annenberg News
The survey, conducted by the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future and Bovitz Inc., reveals a “Millennial Rift” — distinct differences in online behavior and core values among Millennials (ages 18-34) compared to other users, many of whom are only a few years older. Millennials, the survey found, report more willingness to allow access to their personal data or web behavior and a greater interest in cooperating with Internet businesses — as long as they receive tangible benefits in return.
See the full infographic breakdown here.
What’s this hack call, BTW?!
Recently, there were reports of several celebs and politicians who had their social security numbers, mortgages, phone numbers, and more leaked online. Was this a major hack, or this is information easy to obtain by anyone who wants to do a little research? Buzzfeed says,
To call this a hack, though, isn’t quite right. It’s actually a fairly straightforward process.
A Guide to Facebook’s Privacy Options
The Wall Street Journal attempts to make sense of it all. As the Journal points out, Facebook offers many privacy options, but the “trick is knowing how to use them.”
I’d also suggest, where to find them. — Michael
Image: Via the Wall Street Journal. Select to embiggen.
Facebook Emerges Victorious In Defending Its Name Policy In Germany
Has it ever crossed your mind as to how many people you chat with on Facebook exist in reality? Facebook has managed to defend its stand on its name policy in a German Court. Facebook Ireland has also got the verdict in their favor after its name policy was questioned and it was contested that the social media giant should allow users to access account with ‘pseudonyms’.
The Unabhaengiges Landeszentrum fuer Datenschutz (ULD) data protection agency had earlier reported that German law protects an individual from fear of unpleasant consequences and remain unnoticed and ensures the fundamental right to ‘freedom of expression’ on the Internet. The social networking giant, in turn, argued that Irish data protection officials handle privacy-related issues in Europe concerning Facebook. The Schleswig-Holstein court in Germany agreed stating that users should know who they are communicating with on the Internet.
According to Facebook’s name policy, “Facebook is a community where people use their real identities. We require everyone to provide their real names, so you always know who you’re connecting with.” As a result, users are not permitted to craft MySpace-esque names with symbols, numbers, unusual capitalization, repeating characters, or punctuation.
Facebook may have gotten away with its arguments but the fact remains that this decision will only cause users to be apprehensive about expressing themselves online. The Honorable judges fail to realize that online anonymity can actually aid in receiving genuine views from the public at large without being intimidated as to its consequences.
Obama signs executive order for better protection from cyber attacks
(Photo: Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed an executive order seeking better protection of the country’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks that are a growing concern to the economy and national security.
(via truth-has-a-liberal-bias)
Twitter to fight hacking by boosting login security »
With the recent development of hackers breaking into the Twitter account of actor Ashton Kutcher and other incidents of security being compromised on the popular micro blogging firm, along with the possibility of user data including email addresses and encrypted passwords being compromised with, Twitter has come up with the “2FA” (Two Factor Authentication System) system to tackle any future breach.
The “2FA” system, which is also offered as an option by Google for its Gmail email system, blocks access from new devices or internet addresses, even when using the correct password, unless accompanied by a short numerical code that is sent separately to the account owner’s mobile phone.
This system enables an extra layer of safety to the services provided and alerts the true owner (through SMS to the registered number) whenever there is an unauthorized trespassing attempted. This demand for extra security was coming up for some time and with the introduction of this new technology, Twitter can now provide re-assurance to the users that their account won’t get hacked easily.
Facebook testing $100 charge to send messages to strangers
A dollar isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? $100.
But, is it cool enough to spend $100 on strangers?!
Are app developers violating children’s privacy rights?
“Lots of companies know about you,” Athey said. “But knowing what you want to buy now — that contextual information is so much more powerful.” It’s why search ads sell better than display ads. The problem? “If only one company has that data, we can’t actually expect the benefits of that data to benefit the ecosystem.”
The F.B.I.’s request to access the private Gmail account maintained by General Petraeus would have been only one of 34,614 such requests Google received from governments as well as civil litigants around the world between January and June, 2012.
John Seabrook talks to Kent Walker, Google’s general counsel, about how these requests are handled, and how the Electronic Communications Privacy Act affected the Petraeus scandal: http://nyr.kr/W7O4aH
