The Private WiFi Blog Blog

cloud

Facebook and Other Online Privacy Shockers: Should You Be Afraid of ‘the Cloud?’

Did you know that Facebook claims legal ownership of whatever we upload to them? Turns out you have no right to retrieve your information or any ability to permanently delete it. As CEO Kent Lawson reports in this article, that is just one example of a “downside” to sharing data, photos, or other sensitive personal information via “the cloud,” which is simply a metaphor for the Internet. Not ready to lose control of your personal information? Then keep reading to learn more about “the cloud” — where it’s been and, more importantly, where it’s going.

geotagging

The Dangers of Geotagging and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

So you take pictures with your smartphone and post them online. What’s the worst thing that could happen? What personal information could possibly be exposed? Where’s the threat? Unfortunately, even as careful as some people may be about sharing personal information online, they may be unwittingly exposing information through a process called “geotagging.” Geotagging is the embedding of geospatial information into media files.

Something New to Worry About — Your Camera and Online Privacy!

You may want to turn off the GPS in your camera, according to CEO Kent Lawson. His new post explores the security risks in sharing photos via email, Facebook, Flickr, or any other photo-sharing site, since the date, the time, and even the location, are easily accessible and could fall into the wrong hands.

Hotel Wifi Hacking is on the Rise

Hacking unsecured wireless networks at hotels is easier and safer than robbing guests’ rooms or cracking their safes. For cybercriminals in search of an easy target, the payoff is much bigger.

Study Finds Wireless Networks Are Wide Open to Hackers

If you think home wireless networks are safe from hackers, a new British study might change your mind. It found that half of home WiFi networks can be hacked in less than five seconds. Is U.S. wireless security any better?

Location Based Check-Ins and the Loss of Your Privacy and Security: The Social Media Privacy Report

Location Based Services are becoming more popular than ever. On smartphones, users are making the technology mainstream as they locate nearby services and check-in to businesses and establishments. But sharing this much information via social media can hinder your internet security and online privacy.

dislike

Is That Really Your Face…book?

Many people spend a lot of time on Facebook, often “chatting” with friends. But are you really chatting with your friends? Facebook hacking is becoming more prevalent. Here are some warning signs that friends’ accounts have been hacked, and tips to help you avoid becoming a victim too.

national ID

Online Privacy: How Do You Feel About a National Internet ID?

The Commerce Department is now tasked with developing an identity management system for individuals on the Internet, and one of the objectives clearly is to facilitate Internet commerce. This week, CEO Kent Lawson writes about the inherent privacy implications of having one master login identity. How do you feel about a national Internet ID?

Are you a Wifi Moocher?

f you’re someone who thinks an unsecured WiFi connection is an open invitation to come on in, you’re not alone. A new poll found that nearly one in three WiFi users who responded have tried connecting to someone else’s WiFi without asking. Are WiFi moochers WiFi thieves? What do you think?