Privacy

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Open-source Carnivore clone released

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Internet service providers looking to sidestep the controversy surrounding the FBI's Carnivore system for sniffing Internet communications will soon be able to use an open-source program that also conforms to the needs of law enforcement.. . .

Online Privacy Tools Are Within Reach

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A slew of privacy software applications are hitting the market or are in final testing to address the growing concerns of Internet users about how their data is collected. Some of the tools highlighted at a Commerce Department conference Tuesday . . .

SDMI or not?

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This is a good discussion of the issues surrounding the different perspectives of SDMI. "Music-sharing Net-freaks and digital rights management mongers have begun an epic battle to choose the replacement for the much-maligned 20th century record company system. Both sides offer . . .

Carnivore FAQ

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This is great document that serves to clarify some of the rhetoric and misunderstandings regarding Carnivore. "Carnivore is a computer-based system that is designed to allow the FBI, in cooperation with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), to comply with court orders . . .

Hack alert: Where's the outrage?

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If you're keeping score, here's the tally from this week: three international Web sites hacked; two damning reports regarding Internet privacy standards released; and one shocking statistic published, claiming that nearly one-third of e-businesses don't even use firewalls.. . .

Groups drop Amazon over privacy policy

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Charging that Amazon.com's new privacy policy does not adequately protect customers' personal data, two consumer privacy groups have ended business relationships with Amazon. The Electronic Privacy Information Center and privacy advocate Junkbusters said they wanted to call consumers' and legislators' attention . . .

Most federal sites fail privacy test

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A staggering 97 percent of federal Web sites fail to adhere to the four basic privacy principles that the Federal Trade Commission has recommended be made mandatory for all private sector Web sites, according a government report scheduled for release Tuesday.The . . .

OMB clarifies use of ’cookies’

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The Office of Management and Budget last week amended its privacy policy to allow agencies to use certain types of technology to personalize their Web sites for visitors. Privacy has become one of the overriding concerns of agencies, Congress and citizens . . .

Trading Net Privacy At E-Checkout

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Signs are multiplying that online privacy is fast becoming a moot point - at least for shoppers. Americangreetings.com, the second largest retail site on the Web, has a click-through rate on its privacy policy link of 0.009 percent, or 9 in 100,000 visitors. The company had 8.1 million unique visitors in August.. . .

Bills would protect against Net surveillance

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The proposed wiretap bill would make it more difficult for prosecutors to obtain court permission to monitor the telephone numbers dialed by a suspect. The bill would require the same standard of evidence now needed for permission to tap a telephone conversation. . . .

Privacy Not High Priority For E-Businesses

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E-businesses place privacy low on their list of priorities and appear most worried about hackers and other security issues, a survey has found. The survey, part of the Cutter Consortium's E-Business Trends, Strategies and Technologies report released Wednesday, pegged security, cost . . .

Researchers refuse Carnivore review

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Five groups of researchers have bowed out of the competition to evaluate the so-called Carnivore Internet surveillance system. And that likely will dash Justice Department hopes that a major university would validate its controversial eavesdropping device, participants said Tuesday.. . .

E-mail monitoring bill studied

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A bill proposed earlier this summer that would prohibit companies from secretly monitoring their employees' e-mail messages and Internet usage could get key congressional subcommittee approval next week as lawmakers rush to finish up business before adjourning early next month. . . .

FBI Defends Carnivore Before Congress

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The FBI vigorously defended its controversial "Carnivore" email spy tool Wednesday during Congressional hearings probing the balance between law enforcement needs and privacy rights. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the assembled senators and witnesses that . . .

Amazon snafu leaves email addresses exposed

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Just days after Amazon.com tightened its privacy policy, a bug in one of its Web pages exposed numerous email addresses of the site's Affiliate members. Dave English, who runs a software quality assurance company in New Hampshire, discovered the problem . . .