Since 2018, when the renowned cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier tried (and failed) to buy a new car in the US that would come without internet connection, I have worried about the personal data automakers will be collecting from our vehicles. Turns out that the situation already in 2023 is … Read >
Tag: research
Many videoconferencing apps are listening and recording even when audio is muted
If someone didn’t have an opportunity to attend a videoconference earlier, during the pandemic most people joined a lecture, meeting, or family reunion online. An essential feature of a videoconferencing application is the ability for participants to mute their microphones to avoid unnecessary background noise. Now, a research group at … Read >
Here is why cyber criminals favor phishing: it can catch up to 30% of people
When a clever phishing message or phone call happens to be delivered to a person at the right moment, it is possible that the target follows the instructions given by cyber criminals. A recent research discovered that up to 30 percent of people may fall for phishing attempts if they … Read >
Android phone comparison: the best and worst products for privacy
When the first smartphones were introduced about 20 years ago by a number of telecommunication equipment vendors, the mobile device was expected to become the primary communication tool for the majority of human kind. It did. But there was something else that no one could envision 20 years ago: product … Read >
Home routers are a security nightmare, German researchers discover
As long as that small router box on the corner of a desk blinks its lights and keeps the internet connection alive, most people probably don’t pay attention to the vital piece of hardware at home. You may think of the router as your home Wi-Fi hotspot, cable modem, or … Read >
Which web design patterns keep eyeballs on page
Designing a web page is not rocket science, but it is not easy either under constant pressure of commercial interests and attracting readers. Nielsen Norman Group, online user experience research and consultancy firm, has been a strong advocate of simple and highly usable design for many years. The company’s new … Read >
User profiling businesses operate in plain sight, but don’t obey the law
Today, everyone is aware that Facebook, Google and Twitter, among many other free digital services sell their users’ personal data to advertisers. Many savvy users are protecting their privacy with additional software plugins to prevent this automatic data collection. Behind the scenes, however, is the real action where data brokers, … Read >
Popular travel booking apps tell Facebook where, when and how you travel
A few friends have asked me is it possible that Facebook is listening to their phone calls or intercepting their online communications because it mysteriously seems to know all their travel plans. Well, I didn’t take it seriously until now. A research organization has published a study that shows how … Read >