Posts tagged online data
It’s NOT “just a number!”
Jan 26th
by Ann Cavoukian
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of understanding of a key privacy issue – the ease of data linkages in an ever-increasingly online world, that renders otherwise non-identifiable information, identifiable.
Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
New analytic tools and algorithms now make it possible, not only to link a number with an identifiable individual, but also to combine information from multiple sources, ultimately creating a detailed personal profile of a personally-identifiable individual.
In this information age, people are sharing personal information about themselves in new ways, including through personal blogs and social networking sites. Imagine a scenario where your “anonymous” comments on a newspaper website or in an online chat forum could be tracked back to you personally, simply by linking your IP address and browser data across multiple platforms. Read the rest of this entry »
Dropbox accused of misleading users about data security
May 17th
By Tony Bradley
Dropbox, a provider of cloud-based data storage services, is in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission over claims that it lied and intentionally deceived customers into believing that their data is more private and secure than it really is. Whether Dropbox was deliberately misleading, or just failed to clearly communicate policy changes, the complaint filed with the FTC illustrates concerns over online data security.
At issue are Dropbox’s terms of service. Previously, the company stated in its terms of service that “all files stored on Dropbox servers are encrypted (AES-256) and are inaccessible without your account password.” But, Dropbox has continued to modify the terms of service, and backpedal on exactly how secure customer data is–sometimes putting its foot in its proverbial mouth.
