Browsing tag
Whether or not it’s directly responsible, the Cambridge Analytica scandal has motivated (forced) Facebook to up its privacy game. Ever since the news came out, Facebook has been busy revamping its services and adding new controls that supposedly enhance our privacy. As part of the damage repair process, the company also announced its App Developer […]
When the data breach fiasco hit Facebook, the social network knew it had to take care of the mess it created. Doing the same, FB has a new privacy feature for us, giving us more control over our data (something we need more than anything!). Off-Facebook Activity Feature The new Off-Facebook Activity feature allows you […]
Facebook isn’t yet over the massive FTC fine that was slapped on the company recently. Now, it appears that the company has been hit by “another” Cambridge Analytica — or at least that what it looks like. The company has banned a marketing company Hyp3r from Instagram’s ad platform because it reportedly exploited a “security […]
It’s known that Netflix tracks your viewing activity to make its content more relevant (which hasn’t been the case for me). But now it wants even more from the users. It’s being reported that the streaming giant is now collecting physical activity data from the devices of selected users. It was first spotted by a […]
A new EU ruling against Facebook (and more importantly against other websites) suggests that sites using Facebook’s Like Button will be held responsible for the data the sites share with Facebook. According to the Court of Justice of the European Union, various websites that use Facebook’s Like Button plugin can’t send users’ data to Facebook […]
Google Maps is probably the most used app on my phone. In fact, it’s kind of a Google Search replacement for me because I have spent hours using Maps to plan random trips and check out places I have never been. The app is getting more feature-packed every day. I already have an idea of […]
Various companies collect data from our devices almost all the time. While there is always a privacy concern in the picture, they try to assure that our data is in completely safe hands. Also, if it gets shared with third-parties, all the information that could be used to identify people is redacted and de-identified. Turns […]
In the 21st century, you can easily find people saying that data is the new oil. Because, it is. Once you get on the internet, all you become is a source of data to the countless number of trackers fitted in each and every website, including this one. These trackers are designed to collect data […]
Needless to say, privacy is one of those areas where recently tech companies are willing to give whatever it takes to maintain an image of a trustworthy company. Now, Apple and Google are possibly the strongest pillars of the smartphone industry. It’s expected from both the companies to harbor a positive attitude towards the privacy […]
Now, when almost every company is facing the privacy heat, the latest one to face the dirt is Apple. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the company for “intentionally and unlawfully” disclosing people’s iTunes listening data to third parties. The suit was filed by 3 people, two of them living in Rhode Island and […]
If you’re one of the riders of the London Underground (aka Tube), then in the coming days you’re going to be a part of its data collection program. Transport of London (TfL) which manages Tube’s operations said it will start tracking riders from July 8, 2019. It will set up Wi-Fi access points at 260 […]
At this year’s I/O event, Google embraced privacy with open arms and made it evident that privacy is its priority. The company’s push towards ensuring that users have control over their data was visible during different sections of the event — Be it offering users the option to remove their personal data from Assistant settings, […]
To say that Google knows more about you than you know about yourself would not be an exaggeration. In a fresh attack on Google, Oracle has submitted a 17-page attachment titled “Google’s Shadow Profile” to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s digital platform inquiry. Oracle has accused Google of building profiles of Australian users by logging […]
A recent report by Tech Crunch states that phone numbers linked to Facebook accounts could be used to look up profiles. Last year, the company had pestered users into registering their phone numbers for two-factor authentication. The problem here is that users cannot opt out of this feature and anyone with or without an account […]
Germany’s competition watchdog has banned Facebook from collecting user data from WhatsApp, Instagram, and other Facebook apps, without users’ consent. The Federal cartel office ordered Facebook not to combine data from its own suite of social platforms without user consent. It also prohibited the social media giant from linking the data obtained from third-party websites using technologies like […]
On Tuesday, Techcrunch reported that Facebook is paying teenagers to install a “Research” VPN app in iOS devices in exchange for $20 gift cards. The main motive behind the app was to analyze the web activity and smartphone usage patterns of teenagers. The social media company invited participants to the dubious research program by putting […]
Apple CEO Tim Cook has time and again advocated strict laws to prevent misuse of user data by companies. The Cupertino giant takes pride in introducing itself as a company that doesn’t treat its customers as a product. The Cupertino giant skipped CES 2019, but it made a strong statement nonetheless by hanging a billboard stating, “What happens […]
Sick of paying money for coffee at your favorite chain? Well, this Japanese cafe offers free coffee, but for a different currency. At Japanese chain Shiru Cafe, you pay with your personal information, instead of money. Students and faculty members give away their ID which includes personal information like names, dates of birth and work experience. Afterward, they […]
There is a Windows file named WaitList.dat that covertly collects your passwords and email information, with the help of Windows Search Indexer service. Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) expert Barnaby Skeggs first discovered the information about the file back in 2016 but wasn’t paid much attention. However, in after a new and exclusive interview with ZDNet – […]
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Android app is allegedly collecting your personal data and sharing it with a third party without your consent. This claim has been made by the French security expert who goes by the name Elliot Anderson on Twitter. Elliot made this revelation is a series of tweets and detailed how Narendra Modi […]
In an announcement made on Ubuntu mailing list, Will Cooke, on behalf of the Ubuntu Desktop team, announced Canonical’s plans to collect some data related to the users’ system configuration and the packages installed on their machines. Before you read anything further, it’s important to note that users will have the option to opt-out of […]