Thursday, August 24, 2006

Refuse to be Terrorized. Refuse to be Terrorized. Arresting would-be attackers becomes a pyrrhic victory if politicians and the media spread fear on the terrorists' behalf. Commentary by Bruce Schneier. [Wired News: Security Blanket] 4:06:37 PM

iTWire - Google prosecuted in Brazil to hand over user data Google is in danger of being shut-down in Brazil and faces a possible US$61 million fine for refusing to hand over user information associated with one of its social networking sites. The problem is that the Sao Paulo based federal prosecutor's office alleges that pages on Google's Orkut social networking site are used to promote child porn and other criminal activity. So the prosector wants a federal judge to order Google Brazil to hand over the data on users associated with those pages. Google maintains that as the data is housed on a server in the US, the request should be made to Google headquarters in the US. Meanwhile Google in Brazil is using the defence that it has already handed over all the information that is able to and does not have the data about Orkut users that is being requested. The Brazilian case highlights an issue that has been brewing for sometime over the information that search engine and other internet companies keep on their databases about their users. 3:55:47 PM

Google Brazil Pressured to Give Up Names. Google Brazil Pressured to Give Up Names. Kordau writes "Google Brazil is under pressure to release user info from Orkut, relating to a child porn investigation by the Brazilian government. Google Brazil maintains that the info officials want is held on US servers and if they want the info, they should talk to Google USA." [Slashdot: Your Rights Online] 3:52:16 PM

Yes, Virginia, You Do Need A Tinfoil Hat. Yes, Virginia, You Do Need A Tinfoil Hat. Though the State Department has only just begun to issue new e-passports with RFID chips in them, one company is already offering a nice accessory for it -- an anti-snooping pouch. Paraben Forensic Tools, which sells hardware and software for pulling data out of computers and cell phones, is selling the "Passport StrongHold" for $15. Made from layers of silver, copper and nickel, this portable faraday cage is intended to keep rogue RFID readers from snooping on your passport. Sadly, this passport equivalent of a tin-foil hat is actually a good idea. Via Digg [27B Stroke 6] 3:40:01 PM

AT&T Sues to Protect Your Privacy. No, Really. AT&T Sues to Protect Your Privacy. No, Really. AT&T filed suit today against 25 data brokers for allegedly getting a hold of calling records on 2,500 of its subscribers by pretending to be a customer or an AT&T employee. A recent Congressional investigation found that data brokers have sold such information to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. AT&T's complaint alleges, in sealed documents filed in the court, that the data brokers are stealing their business, since it's their job to hand over your phone calling records to the government. "This affects only a tiny fraction of our customers," AT&T Chief Privacy Officer Priscilla Hill-Ardoin said in a statement. "But we will pursue this on behalf of our customers to the end." She then added that AT&T customers expect that all their communication records be data-mined and warehoused in strictest openness with the government, and that willy-nilly intrusions such these erode their confidence that only the government is above the law. A spokesman for DIYNSA, a private investigative firm, refused to answer questions from this reporter but after an intense 10-minute phone interrogation about why they did this and how they learned to get at these records, the spokesman broke down and yelped, "I learned it from watching you, Ma Bell." Photo: Mr. Bill [27B Stroke 6] 3:23:18 PM

© Copyright 2006 Paul Hardwick. Last update: 9/2/06; 4:27:20 AM.