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Design for new UK ID cards to be unveiled
The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, is set to announce the design for the controversial new identity cards set to be introduced in the coming months.
Containing a picture and a data-chip which holds name, DOB, fingerprints and other biometric data, the cards will be given to foreign nationals from this November, followed by airport staff and other high security jobs early next year.
There's been a lot of controversy over the cards with minister claiming they will improve national security, tackle identity fraud, prevent illegal working and improve border controls.
Whereas those in opposition have branded the cards are unnecessary, costly and a breach of personal liberty.
I'm hoping for a nice light blue colour so it brings out my eyes in the picture... The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, is set to announce the design for the controversial new identity cards set to be introduced in the c... more -
Transparency or Invasion of Privacy?
legistorm.com lived up to their name when they publicly disclosed information about Congressional salaries, trips...as well as personal data like home addresses and bank account info. The government makes the documents available, but did legistorm step over the line when they published them? Some angry House aides think so. legistorm.com lived up to their name when they publicly disclosed information about Congressional salaries, trips...as well as persona... more
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Attention: Phishing attack on Facebook!
“Hey, I got a new Facebook account. I’m going to delete this one, so add my new profile,” take a second, third, and maybe a fourth look at the page that follows such a message on Facebook else you run the risk of getting scammed!
If some hapless user already got fooled by this one, they would’ve been led to a URL on view-facebookprofiles.com, a domain registered (and whois-protected) on Namecheap and hosted at Softlayer that looks identical to the Facebook login. And if they’ve also entered their user details, all their contacts would have ended up getting similar messages — the scam spreading like a virus. This isn’t the first attack on Facebook; but it’s the most coordinated one yet. Another attack earlier this year (which was reported as the first attack on Facebook) had users receiving a message: “lol I can’t believe these pics got posted… its going to be BADDDD when her boyfriend sees these- http://www.facebook.com.profile.php.id.371233.cn”. Obviously, users got so carried away with the message that they didn’t stop to see the fake-looking last part of the URL.
Facebook has been a soft target for many ‘Phishing’ attacks (cases where identical-looking fake pages got loaded to extract user names and passwords). The perpetrators of such scams have often used user information to spread the scam to accounts linked to the hacked accounts or simply spread nauseous content. Recently, some hackers used Phishing attacks to spread pictures of children being tortured on the Funwall of users’ Facebook profiles. “Hey, I got a new Facebook account. I’m going to delete this one, so add my new profile,” take a second, third, and maybe a fourth loo... more -
UK Government's saving grace?
I doubt it, but anything's worth trying after the recent 'trend' in losing the personal data of a large chunk of the British public.
USB pen drives have gone all 'Space Age' on us, I bring to you the fingerprint recognising USB stick. It looks cool, seems cool, and, could've saved the UK Government a fair bit of negative press coverage for repeatedly being stupid enough to lose a variety of UK resident's personal data.
Hopefully we'll be seeing:
"Thank you for your bulk buy of fingerprint recognising USB sticks, we do have a problem though, we haven't got any details on file for a Mr. Gordon Brown...."
Oh, the irony of it. I doubt it, but anything's worth trying after the recent 'trend' in losing the personal data of a large chunk of the Br... more -
Google knows everything there is to know about you
I've just noticed this handy little feature. If you ever want to sell yourself to the devil and don't know where to find your most personal data, just head over to Google.com/history where you'll find everything precious to you stored neatly and efficiently.
Google know every single search query you've ever pumped into their magical little box, and the information they have is identifiable to you personally. I for example have been "on record" since January 2006 when I signed away my life for a gmail account. During that time Google have learned more about me than I have.
They know when I surf the most, what time of day is peak surfing time, what day of the week is peak surf time, they know what my favorite sites are, they know what my favorite search queries are, they know it all! More over its even posted on a nice neat little graph, including "Top Sites" "Top Clicks" and "Top Queries".
http://www.google.com/history/trends
I have to admit that upon my discovery of this "feature" I immediately felt a little naked, as if I'd just been mugged in the street for the clothes I stand up in and even my soul (in a digital .xls format).
Anyone else a little concerned by this? I've just noticed this handy little feature. If you ever want to sell yourself to the devil and don't know where to find you... more -
Apology as data on millions lost
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Britain's prime minister apologized Wednesday for the government's loss of two computer discs containing the personal data of 25 million people, saying there was no excuse and promising a review of data procedures.
The two discs contained the department's entire database relating to the payment of child benefits -- a tax-free monthly payment available to everyone with children -- Treasury chief Alistair Darling said.
The data on 25 million individuals and 7.25 million families, includes names, addresses, dates of birth, national insurance numbers, and, in some cases, bank account details. LONDON, England (CNN) -- Britain's prime minister apologized Wednesday for the government's loss of two computer discs conta... more
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Personal Data
