German schools ban Microsoft Office 365 because of privacy concerns
The German state of Hesse has banned schools from using Microsoft Office 365 because it fears the software opens up student and teachers' private information to the risk of "potential access by US authorities".
The Hesse Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (HBDI) believes that Office 365 is in contravention of GDPR legislation, and also expressed concerns about the collection of telemetry data by Windows 10.
FTC to fine Facebook $5 billion for Cambridge Analytica privacy violations
The Federal Trade Commission has voted to hit Facebook with a $5 billion fine for privacy violations relating to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. While this is the largest fine ever handed out by the FTC, the impact on Facebook's coffers is going to be minimal; this is how much revenue the company generates in a month.
Although the fine has not been officially confirmed -- and neither the FTC nor Facebook are commenting on the matter -- a Friday vote on the fine is said to have gone 3-2 in favor of approving it. The size of the penalty has been described variously as a "parking ticket" and "barely a tap on the wrist". Democrat Senator Ron Wyden reacted by saying: "No level of corporate fine can replace the necessity to hold Mark Zuckerberg personally responsible for the flagrant, repeated violations of Americans' privacy".
Yes, Google really is listening in on what you say to Google Assistant
You may well have suspected it, but now Google has confirmed it -- contractors for the company are able to listen to what you say to Google Assistant.
The revelation came after recordings of people using the AI-powered digital assistant were leaked. Belgian broadcaster VRT News obtained a large number of Dutch language recordings and was able to hear highly personal information about users -- even if they had not used the "OK Google" trigger words.
Apple Watch eavesdropping vulnerability forces Apple to disable Walkie-Talkie app
Apple has disabled the Walkie-Talkie app for Apple Watch after a vulnerability that potentially allows for eavesdropping on iPhone conversations emerged.
The company says that it is not aware of any incidents of the vulnerability being exploited, and it has not shared any details of the security issue. Apple's short-term solution is to simply disable the app while it works on a fix.
It's 2029, you're paying more to read this page at peak time (and we're paying your ISP to stop you visiting other tech sites)
What would a world be like where ISPs and businesses are in control of everything you see and do online? A world, in other words, without net neutrality.
VPN comparison site TheBestVPN.com has been considering this and has created an interactive simulator looking at what the web without net neutrality could look like in 2029.
Seven out of 10 Brits want tougher penalties for breaching privacy rules
According to a new survey carried out by YouGov for data privacy company myGaru 71 percent of of UK adults want to see tougher action in penalizing companies that abuse data privacy by misusing third party data.
Around a third of the public (34 percent) have already made changes to the privacy settings of one or more of their social media accounts since the Cambridge Analytica Facebook scandal and 19 percent say they would make more or new changes in the future.
Major vulnerability found in EA's Origin gaming client
Researchers at Check Point working with CyberInt have uncovered a chain of vulnerabilities in the Origin gaming client developed by Electronic Arts (EA). If exploited, the vulnerabilities could have led to player account takeover and identity theft.
Researchers have responsibly disclosed the vulnerabilities to EA, in accordance with coordinated vulnerability disclosure practices, to fix the vulnerabilities and roll out an update before threat actors could exploit the flaw.
Consumers less willing to share information following privacy scandals
In the wake of privacy scandals like that involving Cambridge Analytica consumers are changing their online behavior and sharing less information.
This is among the findings of new research from privacy app FigLeaf which shows 82 percent of online users in the US and 75 percent in the UK are choosing to change the way they behave online. Of these respondents, 74 percent say they are sharing less information.
ProtonMail criticizes Gmail's confidential mode for being neither secure nor private
Privacy-focused ProtonMail has lashed out at Google, saying the "confidential mode" available in Gmail is "misleading" and "little more than a marketing strategy". It says that people "don't need to settle for fake privacy"
Pointing out that Gmail's confidential mode lack end-to-end encryption, ProtonMail says that the email service is "not secure or private". The company says that Gmail can still read your emails, and that expiring emails are not as secure as Google would have users believe.
Epic privacy fail: WeTransfer shared its users' files with the wrong people
Sharing files using the cloud is very convenient, but understandably, some people are hesitant to do so with sensitive or private information. These privacy-conscious folks may be looked at as "paranoid" by some, but you know what? As more and more breaches occur, it is becoming harder to trust the cloud with files. And so, the "tinfoil hat" wearers start to look quite sensible.
As an example, popular cloud-based file-sharing service WeTransfer has failed in epic fashion. You see, the company not only shared files with the intended recipients, but with random strangers too! Yes, that private information you didn't want seen by anyone other than your intended audience may have been viewed by the wrong person. Good lord.
Google confirms that second-hand Nest Cams could have been used to spy on people
There been many concerns voiced about the privacy and security implications of many smart products. Some are well-founded, as a new admission from Google that its Nest Cams could be used to spy on people goes to show.
The problem does not center around hackers, but people who have sold or given away their Nest Cams. Even after the new owner performed a factory reset of the camera -- following Google's own instructions -- it was still possible for the original owner to access the camera feed.
The impact of data privacy on the healthcare industry
Healthcare companies are constantly consuming and sharing information to build better patient profiles and improve outcomes. Yet a new report reveals that only 70 percent are very or extremely confident in knowing exactly where their sensitive data is.
The study from data privacy specialist Integris shows that of these 50 percent update their inventory of personal data once a year or less, and a mere 17 percent of respondents are able to access sensitive data across five common data source types.
Facebook will pay you to gather information from you
That Facebook gathers personal information from its users should come as no surprise -- it could be argued that it is the social network's raison d' être. Following numerous privacy scandals, and the controversial (and since-closed) Research and Onavo programs, Facebook is now ready to be open about its data collection, and is even willing to pay people for this.
The new "Study from Facebook" app gives Facebook users the chance to volunteer to share information about their app usage -- and get paid for divulging this information. Sound good to you?
Microsoft takes down huge MS-Celeb-1M facial recognition database
Microsoft has deleted a database containing around 10 million photographs that was being used to train facial recognition systems.
Known as MS-Celeb-1M, the database was created in 2016, and originally contained photos of celebrities. Over time, however, images of writers, journalists and others crept in, and ultimately 100,000 individuals were to be found in it. Microsoft has not made much noise about the deleted content, but has said that the database was wiped as the person maintaining it was no longer a company employee.
Want someone's personal data? Give them a free donut
While you might expect Homer Simpson to hand over personal details in exchange for a donut, you wouldn't expect cybersecurity professionals to do the same.
However, technology services provider Probrand has carried out a study at a cyber expo attended by UK security professionals, where attendees voluntarily shared sensitive data including their name, date of birth and favourite football team -- all to get their hands on a free donut.
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