i.webthings
random ageless

webeldotnet


daily pointers
other projects
special thanks


Validated XHTML 1.0
Validated CSS


2000-2012 © Joe Jenett.
Some rights reserved.

the missing option...

A Modest Proposal: Google, Take My Money

I just wish you'd take alternative forms of payment besides my eyeballs and my personal information.

Related:
disconnect.me: Paying with our data

Posted by jenett on 01/30/12

'you have no privacy'

privacy matters
Posted by jenett on 01/25/12

'what if...'

my data. forever.

i would love to be in a position where one day, all of my data was my data, rather than that of evernote, dropbox, twitter, facebook, gmail and icloud. forever.

Posted by jenett on 01/22/12

'weirdly unsocial' networks

The Social Graph is Neither

Social networks exist to sell you crap. The icky feeling you get when your friend starts to talk to you about Amway, or when you spot someone passing out business cards at a birthday party, is the entire driving force behind a site like Facebook.

[Valhalla Island]
Posted by jenett on 11/23/11

new in social media

Unthink

From its Preamble:

Today, social media has reached a decisive crossroads. The direction we choose to take will affect the course of human events and shape our destiny. Facebook has established a social media cyber-monopoly that tramples on our rights and limits our freedoms. The history of Facebook is a history of arrogance and repeated exploitation of the people. Its dictatorship must end. Social media must turn in a new direction. The time has come for the people to rise up and declare their emancipation.

Posted by jenett on 10/26/11

Facebook privacy is a joke...

...and it's not funny anymore!
Posted by jenett on 09/25/11

'there's an app for that!'

How To Improve Your Burglary Skills

A note to burglars: The above link is not intended for your use – just move along please…;-))

Posted by jenett on 09/14/11

honoring users' privacy prefs

Mozilla Publishes Developer Guide on DNT

Related:
Introduction to Do Not Track

Posted by jenett on 09/09/11

'protecting against tracking'

ShareMeNot

a Firefox add-on designed to prevent third-party buttons (such as the Facebook "Like" button or the Twitter "tweet" button) embedded by sites across the Internet from tracking you until you actually click on them

[The Letter]

Posted by jenett on 07/31/11

Don't do that!

Plain Text Offenders – "Did you just email me back my own password?!"
Posted by jenett on 07/15/11

'easy hacking'

It's not just Big Brother watching (ads)
Posted by jenett on 07/07/11

'aims to respect its users'

Instantbird » News » Instantbird 1.0 released in 11 locales!

As part of our belief in respecting our users, we give them an ad-free experience and respect their privacy by not collecting any information about them (Instantbird contacts our servers only when checking for updates, or in the unfortunate and uncommon event of a crash).

Note: This is not an endorsement.

Posted by jenett on 06/30/11

protect your sensitive data... (3)

Michigan: Police Search Cell Phones During Traffic Stops
Posted by jenett on 04/21/11

protect your sensitive data... (2)

How Dropbox sacrifices user privacy for cost savings
Posted by jenett on 04/14/11

thoughts on private info

Assange v Zuckerberg
Posted by jenett on 03/31/11

online 'privacy manager'

SelectOut

SelectOut is here to help enlighten internet users about their choices, the companies that are behind data online, and give users the options choose for themselves.

Posted by jenett on 03/07/11

'camouflage from face detection'

CV Dazzle

CV Dazzle™ is camouflage from computer vision (CV). It is a form of expressive interference that combines makeup and hair styling (or other modifications) with face-detection thwarting designs...

[Futurismic]
Posted by jenett on 03/01/11

Google without the Google

Startingpage Search Engine

When you search with Startingpage, we submit your search query to Google and return the search results to you in total privacy. Because Startingpage does the searching for you, you never make direct contact with Google. That means Google can’t record your IP address, log your visit, or put tracking cookies on your browser. And we won’t either.

Note: This appears to be a duplication of another product by the same company: Startpage

Posted by jenett on 02/10/11

Is privacy dead?

The tech industry is a virus
Posted by jenett on 11/16/10

sharing your personal details

Online Tracking Company RapLeaf Profiles Users by Name

RapLeaf knows even more about Mrs. Twombly and millions of other Americans: their real names and email addresses.

This makes RapLeaf a rare breed. Rival tracking companies also gather minute detail on individual Americans: They know a tremendous amount about what you do. But most trackers either can't or won't keep the ultimate piece of personal information—your name—in their databases. The industry often cites this layer of anonymity as a reason online tracking shouldn't be considered intrusive.

Related link: RapLeaf
Posted by jenett on 10/25/10

comparing privacy policies

Privacy is the new search quality
Posted by jenett on 09/26/10

'unsurprisingly common' vulnerability

XSS – an Underestimated Threat?
Posted by jenett on 08/24/10

'sophisticated and dangerous'

New trojan virus Zeus v3 empties online bank accounts
How to protect yourself from trojans when banking online
  • Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date.
  • Keep firewalls set to the highest level.
  • Never open an e-mail attachment from someone you don't know.
  • Never double-click on an e-mail attachment that ends in .exe. It is an 'executable' file and can do what it likes in your system.
  • If you think your machine has already been infected, contact your bank immediately. If the bank thinks you are a genuine victim of fraud it will reimburse you.
Posted by jenett on 08/11/10

for iPhone users

Opting Out of Targeted iAds
Posted by jenett on 07/24/10

a parody with a point

Openbook - Connect and share whether you want to or not

"They 'trust me'. Dumb fucks."
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook

Posted by jenett on 07/13/10

noteworthy traveling precautions

Summer Vacation - A Privacy and Identity Theft Primer
Posted by jenett on 05/24/10

'privacy scanner'

ReclaimPrivacy.org
Posted by jenett on 05/17/10

'lack of privacy, and spammy newsfeeds'

Why I Canceled My Facebook Account
Posted by jenett on 05/02/10

'don't fall prey' to scammers

Census Scams - You Can Count on It
Posted by jenett on 03/15/10

some recent scams

Scare Away Scammers (PRC)
Posted by jenett on 02/23/10

public-to-anyone by default

WARNING: Google Buzz Has A Huge Privacy Flaw
Posted by jenett on 02/10/10

control over one's data

Is it possible to opt out of social networking?
Posted by jenett on 02/08/10

'privacy-friendly' search

Startpage Web Search
Posted by jenett on 01/29/10

'prevent google from tracking'

GoogleSharing :: A Special Kind Of Proxy
Posted by jenett on 01/20/10

'jail-break' with care

Worm attack bites at Apple iPhone

The worm, known as ikee, only affects "jail-broken" phones, where a user has removed Apple's protection mechanisms to allow the phone to run any software.

Posted by jenett on 11/09/09

'subtle security holes'

Secure computers aren’t so secure
Posted by jenett on 10/30/09

'sophisticated ways'

Online thieves step up bank raids
Posted by jenett on 09/29/09

Flash: Security and Privacy (2)

BetterPrivacy Firefox extension
Posted by jenett on 08/23/09

Flash: Security and Privacy

Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager
Posted by jenett on 08/11/09

'surveillance solutions'

UAE Blackberry update was spyware
Posted by jenett on 07/21/09

'modern surveillance'

When employers become watchers
Posted by jenett on 06/01/09

UK government is watching... (4)

Camera grid to log number plates
Posted by jenett on 05/22/09

UK government is watching... (3)

Agency denies internet spy plans
Posted by jenett on 05/04/09

UK government is watching... (2)

Plan to monitor all internet use

The new system would track all e-mails, phone calls and internet use, including visits to social network sites.

Related post: UK government is watching you!

Posted by jenett on 04/27/09

'stretching the law'

Net firms start storing user data

Details of user e-mails, website visits and net phone calls will be stored by internet service providers (ISPs) from Monday under an EU directive...

Posted by jenett on 04/06/09

UK government is watching you!

Social network sites 'monitored' – "It is part of a plan to store details of all phone calls, e-mails and websites visited on a central database..."
Posted by jenett on 03/26/09

dealing with targeted ads

Targeted Advertising Cookie Opt-Out (TACO) Firefox extension

Sets permanent opt-out cookies to stop targeted advertising by 28 different advertising networks, including Google/Doubleclick and many other members of the Network Advertising Initiative.

Please read the "Long Description" before installing this add-on, for important note regarding privacy settings in Firefox.

Related Information: Developer's Homepage

Note: This is not an endorsement.

Posted by jenett on 03/22/09

'integrity of the internet'

Web founder's 'snooping' warning
Posted by jenett on 03/11/09

don't click

Facebook users hit by virus – "The virus tricks users by telling them they're in a video..."
Posted by jenett on 12/09/08

things to consider

5 dangers of social media
Posted by jenett on 11/13/08

blatant abuse

Sale of bank data alarms Germany
Posted by jenett on 08/21/08

so much for your privacy rights...

Court Ruling Will Expose Viewing Habits of YouTube Users
Posted by jenett on 07/03/08

'did not inform customers'

Call to prosecute BT for ad trial

Related previous posts:
snooping and profiling
'fears over the future of the internet'

Posted by jenett on 06/06/08

says Candadian privacy group

Facebook 'violates privacy laws'
Posted by jenett on 06/01/08

invading privacy (for 'good')?

Vote! How to Detect the Social Sites Your Visitors Use
Posted by jenett on 05/30/08

'Big Brother' indeed

Criticism for 'UK database' plan
Posted by jenett on 05/21/08

from BBC's 'Click' program

Identity 'at risk' on Facebook

Related: Click's Facebook security advice

Posted by jenett on 05/01/08

snooping and profiling

The Phorm 'Webwise' System

Related post: 'fears over the future of the internet'

Posted by jenett on 04/05/08

issue is 'privacy' not 'piracy'

Policing internet 'not ISP's job'

The head of one of Britain's biggest internet providers has criticised the music industry for demanding that he act against pirates.

Related: ISPs could face piracy sanctions

Posted by jenett on 04/04/08

no privacy here, thank you

Security Lapse Exposes Facebook Photos

Beware of links to other news sites with heavy and/or intrusive advertising.

Posted by jenett on 03/25/08

'fears over the future of the internet'

Web creator rejects net tracking

Related:
Phorm 'illegal' says policy group
Phorm needs 'better protection'

Posted by jenett on 03/17/08

security and privacy concerns

Anger over pupils database plan
Posted by jenett on 02/14/08

here's your proof...

Clarkson stung after bank prank

TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has lost money after publishing his bank details in his newspaper column.

The Top Gear host revealed his account numbers after rubbishing the furore over the loss of 25 million people's personal details on two computer discs.

He wanted to prove the story was a fuss about nothing...

Posted by jenett on 01/07/08

dealing with direct marketers...

On Labour, Ipsos MORI and the TPS...
Posted by jenett on 10/02/07

'under surveillance'

Small Print / Large Print
Posted by jenett on 10/01/07

'unacceptable intrusion'

German spyware plans trigger row – "German government plans to spy on terror suspects by deploying malicious e-mails have drawn sharp criticism."
Posted by jenett on 09/02/07

company denies security breach

Monster attack steals user data
US job website Monster.com has suffered an online attack with the personal data of hundreds of thousands of users stolen...
Posted by jenett on 08/21/07

'selling your privacy'

The Price of Privacy
Posted by jenett on 07/02/07

'a risk to all Internet users'

Dangerous Ruling Forces Search Engine to Log Users
Posted by jenett on 06/25/07

'faceless cameras barking'

'Talking' CCTV scolds offenders
Posted by jenett on 04/05/07

'streamline the shakedowns'

RIAA to ISPs: Help Us Sue Your Customers Better
Posted by jenett on 02/21/07

good to know...

Debit card versus credit card – "Your federal debit card legal rights are weaker than your credit card rights."
Posted by jenett on 01/31/07

privacy issue...

Friendster's sneak attack on your anonymity
Posted by jenett on 10/29/05