Tagged: social media privacy

The EFF Has Your Back

The tide is changing online, and companies need to make a commitment to users that their information is just that, theirs. Helping with this promise is the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).  They have released an annual report titled, “Who Has Your Back?” taking a closer look at the privacy policies of major Internet companies. Read on to learn which companies are protecting your privacy.

TED Talks, Part 1: The Dark Side of Data and Why Online Privacy Is Important

TED Talks are a very large collection of 15-minute presentations from various experts around the world on just about any topic you can think of — and many that you could not. TED is a non-profit which organizes and hosts a variety of speakers from all walks of life.Recently, TED hosted a series of talks called “The Dark Side of Data” in which different speakers explained how Big Data can be a force for good, and how it can be abused.

Alessandro Acquisti, who studies the economics of privacy and information security in social networks, gave a talk called “Why Privacy Matters.” You can watch his talk here.

You Are What You Type: Facebook Tracks What You Decide Not to Post

We all do it: start typing into the status update bar on Facebook and then use our (better) judgment to delete those thoughts and not share them with the world. Facebook calls it “self-censorship,” and according to a report by Slate’ s Jennifer Golbeck, the social network has been tracking and studying our unpublished thoughts.

Put simply: the posts that you have consciously decided to not share, are being analyzed by Facebook. Read on to discover how Facebook did this as well as what it means for your privacy now and in the future.

Facebook’s ‘Free’ WiFi Could Cost You More Than a Check-in

Earlier this month Facebook announced its partnership with Cisco; the two tech companies have teamed up to provide free WiFi access at local businesses. On the surface the price-tag will be a measly Facebook check-in. In actuality, this “free” WiFi might end up costing users more than they know. Read on to learn more about how this program will work and what you can do to keep your data safe.

Military and Social Media Scams

Often a vulnerable population from a consumer protection standpoint, the military has a unique set of challenges when engaged in social media as well. In fact, the Army has a division (the Online and Social Media Division in the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs) that recognizes the need for educating its soldiers on the effective and safe use of social media. Additionally, just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, commonly known as CID, warned the Army community to be “vigilant of internet scams and impersonation fraud, especially within popular social networking and dating websites.”

The Identity Theft Resource Center offers up some tips on how military personnel can keep themselves protected against social media scams.

terms and conditions

A Movie about the Death of Privacy in the Internet Age

In order to use many online services like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others, we usually have to agree to the terms and conditions of that service. But how many times have you actually read these terms and conditions?

More to the point, do you really know what you are agreeing to?

#Facebook Embraces the #Hashtag: 3 Tips to Protect Your #Privacy

A staple of social networks like Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram (to name just a few of the slew), the hashtag, denoted by the # symbol, is making waves on Facebook this week.
Turning topics and themes into clickable links on your News Feed or Timeline, hashtags allow for something that Facebook has never done before: making posts searchable. 

 So what does this mean for your privacy? Keep reading and follow our three tips that will ensure that hashtags don’t put you in the spotlight.

Beware of the Vacation Overshare

So you are headed to the Bahamas next week and you want to make sure everyone knows how much fun you are having. However, you may want to think twice before posting that picture of you relaxing in the sun on a white sand beach.  There are a few reasons you may want to refrain from immediately posting every wondrous moment of your hard-earned vacation.

Sensitive Information: Facebook is Using Data Brokers to Find Out More About You

While Facebook may be increasing its revenue dollars by allowing companies to target ads at you, is it the right thing for them to use companies that freely sell your personal information?

Data brokers compile information about you, such as your age, race, sex, weight, height, marital status, education level, political beliefs, buying habits, household health, vacation dreams, and more. It’s a very lucrative business. Read more to find out how your personal, sensitive, and private information is being shared.

 

25,000 Facebook Likes: Why Our Fans Like Us!

Last week, we celebrated a big milestone: the PRIVATE WiFi Facebook community grew beyond 25,000 Likes. Our fans have been extraordinary over the past few years; engaged, they care about WiFi privacy and security, as well as our VPN solution. We wanted to thank them and we did!

Asking the simple question, “What do you like about the PRIVATE WiFi page?” we encouraged our fans to share their responses with us. Then we selected 25 fans to win a free year of PRIVATE WiFi!

We got some incredible comments; so amazing that we just had to share them with all of you. 

Below are our 25 winners and their reasons for “liking” us. We hope that you will “Like” us, too!

Paying for “Free” Wireless With Your Data: Social WiFi

What happens when WiFi becomes socialized and companies start harnessing the power of social media to drive business? That is where, Purple WiFi enters the arena, and if the concept of “Social WiFi” makes you weary, you are on the right path. You end up paying for that “free” WiFi, with your most valuable asset: your data!