Security companies are updating their technology to recognize people wearing masks and measure temperatures, and are making the argument that facial recognition could become widely sought as a global security solution. However, this technology still has serious privacy-threatening implications that need to be considered. . With fears of spreading the coronavirus at the forefront of everyone’s minds, security companies are arguing that facial recognition systems may be a safer, cleaner option than traditional biometric access control systems. The claim is not coming without controversy, as fingerprint scanners have become increasingly common as access control solutions at facilities around the world. But as organizations like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York Police Department shut down their typical employee fingerprint scanning protocols due to the pandemic, facial recognition could become a more attractive option to businesses. The link for this article located at Security Today is no longer available. . The pandemic has hastened the use of facial recognition technology, enhancing security while igniting privacy debates over its role in monitoring and health tracking.. Facial Recognition, Biometric Systems, COVID-19 Security, Privacy Implications, Access Control. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Civil libertarians saw their hopes for curtailing the National Security Agency's massive digital surveillance program dimmed in the wake of a report from a US government privacy board vindicating much of the international communications dragnet. . The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) voted Wednesday to adopt a 200-page report on the NSA's so-called "702" powers, which include the widespread collection of foreign email, voice and text messages and Americans' international calls. The link for this article located at The Guardian UK is no longer available. . The recent decision by the PCLOB regarding NSA surveillance brings to light significant issues related to civil rights and the ongoing push for privacy reforms.. NSA Reform, Digital Surveillance, Civil Liberties, Privacy Oversight, Government Policy. . Dave Wreski
An infiltration of a German federal security system last year has been traced back to a botched attempt by an unnamed security official to use a Trojan to monitor his daughter's internet usage, Der Spiegel reports. . According to the report, a hacker friend of the young woman found the spyware on her machine before hacking into her father's machine, supposedly as payback for the privacy intrusion. The girl's friend discovered a cache of security-related emails on the father's machine; according to the report, the policeman had diverted official emails to his private computer. This allowed his daughter's pal to infiltrate a German police system The link for this article located at The Register UK is no longer available. . Incursion event underscores a parent's failed monitoring effort and its grave consequences.. privacy concerns, cybersecurity incident, digital security, family conflict, botnet intrusion. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
OK. This column may make me sound like I'm about to make a hat out of tinfoil but bear with me because my paranoia is completely justified. I know the truth and it's not "out there" as in "The X-Files," it's right here and it's a harsh reality that people really don't want to admit to: The reality is that there is no real privacy any more.. The fact is that today, should you become "of interest" to any person or group with serious power, whether that power is economic, political or criminal, you can kiss your privacy goodbye. And even without the Masters of the Universe on your case, there aren't really any organizations you can trust with your privacy. For example, remember in 2009 when I wrote about how Sprint had allowed various three-letter government agencies to track the location of cellphone users some 8 million times without a warrant being requested? Sprint actually made it easy for the agencies by creating a self-service portal! What happened when this was revealed? Nothing! No one in power cared that due process was being ignored! The link for this article located at Network World is no longer available. . The fact is that today, should you become 'of interest' to any person or group with serious power, w. column, sound, about, tinfoil, becau. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Think your innermost thoughts and secret actions are hidden? Think again. . The court The link for this article located at newsreview is no longer available. . The courtThe link for this article located at newsreview is no longer available.. think, innermost, thoughts, secret, actions, hidden, again, courtthe. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Privacy has long been seen as a basic, sacred right. But in the Web 2.0 world, where the average user is addicted to Google apps, GPS devices, their BlackBerry or iPhone, and such social networking sites as Facebook and Twitter, that right is slowly and willingly being chipped away. In fact, some security experts believe it's gone already.. Adding to this sobering reality is that public and private entities have a growing array of tools to track our movements, habits and choices. RFID tags are on more of the items we take for granted. Those discount cards you use at the grocery store offer companies an excellent snapshot of the choices you make. And in the post 9-11 world, the government has greatly expanded its power to spy on you with such laws as The Patriot Act. "Your credit card company and your loyalty card program memberships track your purchases, travels, expenditure levels, and blend that into offers that meet your lifestyle profile," said John Zurawski, vice president of Authentify Inc. "Firms sell GPS devices specifically to be hidden in vehicles permitting anyone to track your movements. The RFID Tollway passes states offer to speed you through their toll roads know where you've been and how fast you drove." The link for this article located at CSO Online is no longer available. . Adding to this sobering reality is that public and private entities have a growing array of tools to. privacy, basic, sacred, right, world, where, average. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
I blog a lot about privacy, anonymity and censorship, mainly because I feel not just concerned, but obliged to build awareness on the big picture the way I see it. Moreover, I find these interrelated and excluding any of these would result in missing the big picture, at least from my point of view. . Yesterday, I read a very nice essay by Bruce Schneier "The Future of Privacy" and while I feel it has been written for the general public to understand, you can still update yourself on some of the current trends he's highlighting, mostly the digital storage of our life activities, and how possible it really is. The link for this article located at Dancho Danchev is no longer available. . Explore the complex relationship between privacy maintenance and the advantages of surveillance tech. Examine the latest advancements influencing our digital interactions and experiences. Data Privacy, Anonymity Issues, Censorship Trends, Digital Surveillance. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
With controversy swirling around ID theft and electronic surveillance by the government, what should corporations do to protect customer data? Jim Dempsey, policy director at The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), spells out controversial advice such as "gather less data" and seemingly dire warnings such as "if you gather the data, the government will come calling." Whether you view CDT as an advocate or an adversary, its voice is being heard on Capitol Hill, so it's important to be aware of its stance on important corporate data policies and related issues. . We were founded on the principal that the Internet and other new digital communications technologies have a unique potential to promote democracy because they're decentralized, they're user controlled and they're global. Yet we felt that in order to achieve their democratic potential, these technologies needed a certain policy environment that the government could either promote, by enforcing competition, for example, or that it could interfere with, through censorship, limiting the free flow of information or by failing to protect privacy, thereby undermining trust in the technologies. The link for this article located at Security Pipeline is no longer available. . The rise of data collection prompts crucial ethical dilemmas about privacy and consent as entities utilize vast personal information, impacting civil liberties.. Data Privacy, Corporate Responsibility, Digital Surveillance, Privacy Risks. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Get the latest Linux and open source security news straight to your inbox.