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NSA calls Steve Jobs “Big Brother” and Apple customers “Zombies”!
If you own an IPhone you’ll want to read this.

New documents revealed on Monday show the U.S. National Security Agency has the capability of deploying software implants on Apple’s iPhone that grants remote access to on-board assets like SMS messages, location data and microphone audio.
Read more: http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/12/30/nsa-worked-on-iphone-spyware-to-remotely-monitor-users-leaked-documents-show
Posted by DontMineonMe

Report: NSA intercepts computer deliveries to install spyware!

Based on internal NSA documents, Der Spiegel reveals that the spy agency planted backdoors to access computers, hard drives, routers, and other devices from companies such as Cisco, Dell, Western Digital, Seagate, Maxtor and Samsung.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57616334-83/nsa-reportedly-planted-spyware-on-electronics-equipment/
Posted by DontMineonMe

A glimpse into the near future of wearable recording devices.
Another threat to personal privacy!


In a perfect future, Stephen Balaban wants plenty of people to be wearing his Lambda Hat, a soon-to-be-released baseball-hat version of Google Glass. But even he has mixed feelings about the results…
“The sheer amount of data one can collect is frightening,” he said. “We don’t have the framework to deal with this from a legal perspective.”
Read more: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/12/glass-hats-persistent-privacy-violations/
Posted by DontMineonMe

Here’s the 2013 cyber security highlight / lowlight reel!

As 2013 winds to a close, it’s time to look back at the biggest security events and incidents of the year. Here’s hoping there are some lessons to be learned—something to provide a foundation for stronger protection and a safer online and mobile world in 2014 and beyond.
With each passing year, the world of technology evolves and improves, and that includes building stronger defenses against cybersecurity threats. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are continuously adapting and acquiring new techniques, too, and successfully exploiting emerging technologies in a perpetual game of security leapfrog.
Read more: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2082961/why-2013-was-the-year-of-the-personal-data-breach.html
Posted by DontMineonMe

A Christmas message from Edward Snowden.
Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower, delivered a video message on Christmas Day via UK’s Channel 4 with a simple theme: “privacy matters.”
“A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all. They’ll never know what it means to have a private moment to themselves — an unrecorded, unanalyzed thought,” Snowden said in the 1-minute, 43-second message. “And that’s a problem because privacy matters. Privacy is what allows us to determine who we are and who we want to be.”
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57616281-83/snowdens-christmas-message-privacy-counts/
Posted by DontMineonMe

Privacy software is becoming more user friendly.

Given concerns about NSA mass surveillance, the general public has taken an interest in privacy as never before. In response, developers have worked on beefing up the security of their privacy tools as well as making them more user-friendly. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but it provides a glimpse into some of the most impressive and impactful privacy software of the year. When discussing privacy tools, it’s always important to remember that none of these is a magic bullet–but they do provide significant improvements over the technologies we would normally use and that they replace or augment.
Read more: http://www.fastcolabs.com/3024212/how-privacy-software-improved-in-2013-following-the-nsa-revelations?partner=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fastcompany%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Company%29
Posted by DontMineonMe

The top Privacy and Security stories of the past year.

Stories related to US National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden’s revelations about internet mass surveillance programmes by the US and the UK have dominated this year.  The revelations have sent ripples through the technology industry and international political community, sparking unprecedented debate around online privacy, security and related issues.
Read more: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240210682/Top-10-IT-privacy-stories-of-2013
Posted by DontMineonMe

Federal court rules that the bulk collection of Americans phone records is likely unconstitutional!

When President Barack Obama responded to this summer’s torrent of disclosures about the National Security Agency by commissioning a review board, some wondered whether waiting for the committee to report its findings would involve a lot of delay and not much in the way of progress.
But Wednesday the panel issued a blockbuster report urging big changes in how the NSA does business. The recommendations are not perfect, but civil libertarians should embrace many of them, and we are glad that on Friday Obama said that they are being seriously considered. There is no question that all of us will be substantially better off if they are followed.
Read more: http://us.cnn.com/2013/12/21/opinion/crump-privacy-victories/index.html
Posted by DontMineonMe

Use duct tape for Privacy!

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) have demonstrated a unique type of malware that forces iSight cameras in older MacBook and iMac models to capture images – without ever turning on the camera’s warning light.
While most webcams have an LED indicator light that turns on when the camera is active, it’s possible for malware to disable this privacy feature on legacy Mac computers, the researchers said.
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1113033095/malware-turns-webcam-into-spying-tool-no-warning-122013/#WMvlYD8HXgaGAEyj.99
Posted by DontMineonMe

Developers should be clear about what data is being accessed and why.
A case for Personal Clouds.
Learn more at www.RespectNetwork.com

App developers should ensure they do not misuse customers’ data, says the Information Commissioner’s Office in new guidance. The ICO says nearly half of all app users have decided not to download an app because of concerns over privacy. It wants developers to be clear about what data is being accessed and why.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25422629
Posted by DontMineonMe