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Shijaz Abdulla on 24.05.2010 at 14:34
So you have state-of-the-art security software and hardware rolled out in your environment, a great security and privacy policy adhered to in your organization and you have taken every step to protect your organization’s data and the privacy of your employees and customers? Think again.
What about copier machines? Did you know that almost all copier machines have a hard drive built into it? Yes? No? Watch this interesting video to learn more.
Key go-do’s:
- Find out how many copier machines in your organization have a built-in hardware or other data storage.
- Figure out how to clear the images saved on that hard drive
- Document a process for discarding/repurposing used copier machines – just as you would discard computers. Make sure wiping the hard drive is on the list.
- Make sure data on the hard drives is wiped before these machines leave your premises for repairs and maintenance.
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Shijaz Abdulla on 16.05.2010 at 16:12
Google has said sorry again to the public after inadvertently collecting 600 GB of personal wireless data on people’s unencrypted wireless networks, which may even include personal emails.
Last Friday, Google revealed that its Street View cars were collecting sensitive personal information from wireless networks in addition to taking pictures of the world’s roadways. Today Google announced that they are going to stop collecting Wi-Fi information altogether.
Interesting to note that this adds to the long string of privacy issues surrounding Google:
- Google has already been collecting publicly broadcast SSID information (Wi-Fi network names) and MAC addresses
- Google Chrome allows Google to know to each and every URL or even partial URL as you type it in the location bar, by the keystroke. It keeps sending this information back to Google without asking you, this means they know what you’re looking at with their browser!
- In its 2007 Consultation Report, Privacy International ranked Google as “Hostile to Privacy”, its lowest rating on their report, making Google the only company in the list to receive that ranking. Read the report.
- Google’s Gmail is the only email provider that reviews the contents of users’ mail and uses it to improve relevance of advertisements.
- The launch of Google Buzz, Google’s social networking service resulted in anyone with a Gmail account being automatically added as a contact to pre-existing Gmail contacts. Google Buzz immediately drew criticism for violating user privacy because it automatically allowed Gmail users’ contacts to view their other contacts.
- Google’s online map service, Street View, has been accused of taking pictures of people’s private homes and taking pictures of people who walk down the street without their permission, not knowing they are being watched on Google’s online service.
- Google saves your internet searches for 2 years on their systems.