August 2010
Malware-Riddled Flash drive Created "Worst" U.S. Military Breach
Submitted by SafeInternet on Mon, 2010-08-30 15:18A malware-laden flash drive inserted in a laptop at a U.S. military base in the Middle East in 2008 led to the "most significant breach of" the nation's military computers ever, says William J. Lynn III, deputy secretary of defense in a newly released essay titled "Defending a New Domain: The Pentagon's Cyberstrategy," for the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs magazine. (you must register to read full article)
Facebook Places - What it Does, Why They Built it, and its Impact on You
Submitted by SafeInternet on Fri, 2010-08-27 08:58Guest posted by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
If you haven't heard that Facebook has rolled out 'Places' a new feature that allows you to broadcast your location, you're probably over the age of 30 and not a Facebook user. But that still makes you part of a huge segment of the population, and one in which many parents of Facebook users fall into.
New materials from the CyberBullying Research Center
Submitted by SafeInternet on Thu, 2010-08-26 12:01Guest posted by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
About the Center:
The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents. Cyberbullying can be defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices." Run by two leaning experts in the field, I have the utmost respect for the work of Drs. Patchin and Hinduja.
HHS Strengthens Health Information Privacy & Security, is it Enough?
Submitted by SafeInternet on Wed, 2010-08-25 08:51Guest posted by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
The National Health and Human Services department has announced new rules intended to strengthen the privacy of your health information. The goal of these new rules is to ensure that as use of health information technology expands, Americans can trust that their health information is protected and secure. The new rules include broader individual rights and stronger protections when third parties handle individually identifiable health information.
Back-to-School and Internet Safety
Submitted by SafeInternet on Tue, 2010-08-24 11:31Guest posted by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
The phrase back-to-school conjures up thoughts of trying on clothes to see what fits and what doesn’t, and purchasing the notebooks, pens, and other paraphernalia your student needs for the year ahead.
However, new to most parents is the realization that an Internet safety checkup also falls into this seasonal rhythm.
Back-to-School Shopping with Internet Safety In Mind
Submitted by SafeInternet on Mon, 2010-08-23 15:05Guest posted by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
The back-to-school shopping list these days often includes laptops and cell phones. The instant access and the convenience that laptops and cell phones afford make them ideal for studying, socializing, and coordinating schedules. By instituting a few precautions, your student can enjoy all the benefits of Internet connectivity and make the most of a great school year.
With Sexting, Webcams and Indiscretion, Come Dangers
Submitted by Safe Internet on Wed, 2010-08-18 10:26Guest posted by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
It was inevitable that the number of sextortion cases reaching the public's attention would climb as the spread of sexting and sexcam sessions continues unabated.
Broadband Adoption Slowing in Spite of National Plan
Submitted by Safe Internet on Mon, 2010-08-16 16:21Guest Post by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
At the same time as the government pushes forward with the National Broadband Plan to provide high speed access to greater numbers of Americans, new research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project indicates that broadband adoption has dramatically slowed in 2010.
What's driving this paradox?
Even More Adults Search for Health Information Online
Submitted by Safe Internet on Mon, 2010-08-09 10:50Guest post by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
Mobile Privacy Concerns; Is Your Phone's App Spying on You?
Submitted by Safe Internet on Thu, 2010-08-05 12:00Guest post by: Linda Criddle, president of Safe Internet Alliance
Mobile security company, Lookout Inc., has unveiled their App Genome Project to "understand what mobile applications are doing and use that information to more quickly identify potential security threats."
And their findings are concerning.
After studying 300,000 Android and iPhone apps - and fully analyzed nearly 100,000 free apps - they found that many of them secretly pull sensitive data off users' phones and ship them off to third parties without notification.