Privacy Issues in Technology

Privacy

• Technology enables the compilation and use of various data, including personal information.
• Privacy concerns the collection and use of data about individuals.
• Three primary privacy issues:
  • Accuracy: Ensuring data is correct.
  • Property: Determining data ownership.
  • Access: Controlling and managing access to data.

Privacy: Large Databases

• Large organizations gather and store information about people in large databases.
• Data collection forms the base of 'big data'.
• Information resellers or brokers collect, analyze, and sell personal data.
• They create electronic profiles describing individuals.
• Concerns exist about:
  • Collecting public, personally identifying information.
  • Spreading information without consent.
  • Spreading inaccurate information.

Privacy: Private Networks

• Many organizations use employee monitoring software to track employee email and computer files.
• These programs record everything done on the computer.

Privacy: Internet & Web

• Browsing the internet presents privacy concerns.
• The illusion of anonymity is prevalent.
• Browsers store critical information on hard disks.
• This includes:
  • History files: Locations of recently visited websites.
  • Temporary internet files (cache): Web page content and display instructions.

Privacy: Internet & Web (Cookies)

• Cookies are small data files deposited from websites.
• Two types of cookies:
  • First-party: Generated and read only by the current website.
  • Third-party (tracking cookies): Usually generated by advertising companies affiliated with the website. Tracking your activity across various sites.

Privacy: Internet & Web (Other Threats)

• Web bugs: Invisible images or hidden HTML code to transmit information without knowledge.
• Spyware: Programs designed to secretly record and report online activities.
  • They operate in the background, invisible to users.
  • Computer monitoring software is the most invasive form.
  • Keystroke loggers: Record all activity and keystrokes, including sensitive information.

Privacy: Internet & Web (Defense)

• Best defenses against spyware:
  • Exercise caution while visiting new websites.
  • Be careful about downloading software from unknown sources.
  • Use antispyware programs to detect and remove various threats.

Privacy: Online Identity

• Online identity refers to information people voluntarily post about themselves online.
• This can involve posting about personal life, experiences, and opinions on social networking sites.
• This information can be used against individuals, leading to job losses or other consequences.

Security

• Security concerns protecting individuals and organizations from harm and theft.
• Computer security specifically focuses on protecting information, hardware, and software from unauthorized access.
• This includes preventing damage from intrusions, sabotage, and natural disasters.

Security: Cybercrimes

• Cybercrime involves computer and network-related criminal offenses.
• Malware: Malicious programs primarily designed to damage or disrupt computer systems.
• Crackers: Computer criminals who create and distribute malware.

Security: Cybercrimes (Malware Types)

• Three primary types of malware:
  • Viruses: Destructive programs that attach to programs and databases to alter or delete files.
  • Worms: Programs that replicate themselves to slow or stop computer and network operations. Worms can carry viruses.
  • Trojan horses: Programs disguised as harmless but contain malicious programs like viruses. They often appear as free programs downloaded from the internet.

Security: Cybercrimes (Malware Spread)

• Viruses and worms can enter computers via email attachments and programs downloaded from the internet.
• Zombie: A computer infected with malware allowing remote control for malicious purposes.
• Botnet: A collection of zombie computers controlled as a network.

Security: Cybercrimes (Protection)

• Antivirus programs (Symantec, McAfee) provide services to track and alert users about virus threats.

Ethics

• Ethics establish standards of moral conduct.
• Ethics play a crucial role in controlling computer use and ensuring responsible actions.
• Ethical considerations guide developers, users, and organizations in making decisions regarding technology.