Posts Tagged ‘Communications privacy’
When Can Police Force You to Decrypt Your Data?
Can police in the United States to force you to unlock an encrypted hard disk—or individual files on your PC—for inspection? A pair of federal appeals court decisions issued on February 23 clarified the murky answers to these questions. The answer is basically: If police know what you encrypted, they can make you decrypt it [...]
Mind the Snail Mail!
By L. Burke Files We seem to be very conscious of e-mail security, but are often oblivious to the security of the “snail mail” we receive at our homes and offices. Recently, in our role as consultants in the due diligence arena, we were asked a series of questions relating to personal and corporate snail [...]
Internet Telephony: Cheap, but NOT Private
Only a few years ago, it seemed like a dream: place—or receive calls—from anywhere you have an Internet connection, for only a few dollars a month—or for free? With a technology called “voice over Internet Protocol,” or VOIP, you now can. VOIP technology chops your phone conversations into digital packets and sends them over the [...]
Congress Inveighs Against Surveillance Abuses—in China
It’s great to know that our elected representatives are vigilantly guarding civil liberties. Only, they’re much more concerned about surveillance in other countries, not here in the USA. Case in point: China. Over the last few weeks, congressional civil libertarians have revived legislation that, if enacted, would forbid U.S. companies from selling electronic surveillance equipment [...]
Can Police Search Your Cell Phone without a Warrant?
Modern cell phones do a great deal more than simply send and receive calls. They’re sophisticated personal computers with the same capabilities, and more, of a laptop PC. You can use them to send and receive e-mail and instant messages, browse the Internet, keep track of your appointments, take photos and videos, etc. If you [...]
Supremes to Rule in Electronic Privacy Case
“Sexting”—sending sexually explicit text messages—is an increasingly popular pastime. And it’s one with increasing legal fallout. Tiger Woods allegedly “sexted” women in several different countries. His messages will no doubt be a prominent part of any divorce proceeding that his wife, Elin Nordegren, eventually initiates. Several teenagers in the USA face child pornography charges related [...]
How Thieves Can Use Your GPS—and Cell Phone—to Rob You Blind
Modern electronic technologies such as GPS and cell phones are wonderfully convenient. But they’re also irresistible targets for thieves. GPS devices are now the number one item being stolen from motor vehicles. You might think that thieves might simply fence your GPS at a local pawnbroker. That’s often the case, but a more sophisticated thief [...]
Yahoo, Verizon: Our Spy Capabilities Would Shock You
Every now and then, ordinary citizens can glimpse the breadth and depth of the surveillance infrastructure erect to monitor us. In the last few days, Americans have had such an opportunity, thanks to privacy researcher Christopher Soghoian, a doctoral student at Indiana University. On December 1, Soghoian published an audio recording of a presentation to [...]
Heaven Forbid…a GOOD Lawsuit?
Some lawsuits are frivolous, but most are not. If industry practices, the government, or any other combination of factors makes it impossible for you to avoid some kind of loss, your only recourse may be to file a lawsuit. I was reminded of this principal recently when I learned a couple in Illinois recently sued [...]
The Internet Never Forgets
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ve hopefully deleted any “digital dirt” that may be floating around on the Internet. Among other reasons to do so: Web-savvy employers and universities are increasingly employing a new tactic to screen applicants: conducting online research to unearth photos, blog entries, or other Internet data you might [...]