The SCC: Safe Consumer Computing

Microsoft Caught with Hand in Cookie Jar

Datababe — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:33:42 +0000

Film at eleven! Well, okay, maybe not, but an amusing read is available now:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/22/microsoft_zombie_cookie_disclosure/

Microsoft’s side of the story (complete with amusing comments from people who aren’t completely buying it):

https://blogs.technet.com/b/privacyimperative/archive/2011/08/19/update-on-the-issue-of-supercookies-used-on-msn.aspx

Trail of crumbs, anyone?

Linkedbook? Or InYourFace?

Datababe — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:11:11 +0000

Many people, including myself, use Linkedin for professional networking. Unfortunately, Linkedins own recent behavior is less than professional.

Linkedin will network for you now – by default.

Hopefully word is spreading quickly enough that not too many unsuspecting users will find their photos and profile information being used in advertising schemes to which they did NOT consent.

I don’t much appreciate the irony that only recently did I decide to go ahead and share my one and only photo on Linkedin. Being somewhat camera-shy, I was careful to make sure it was shared only with those already in my network. Granted, anything posted on the intarwebs is out there for all to see if they really know how to find it. That doesn’t mean I want my social networking venue furtively taping my image to the cyber-walls as they see fit for fun and profit.

It doesn’t mean I’m automatically agreeing to be affiliate advertising fodder, either.

Credit cards – do you know where yours went today?

Datababe — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:49:42 +0000

Thought for the day: How many credit cards do you have?

Now – how many of those do you use online…?

The correct answer should be exactly one. And not the one with the biggest credit line, either.

If you must use a major credit card for online purchases (and these days it’s hard to avoid), set aside one for online use only. I touched on this and a few other related points last year, and they still hold true. So buckle your seatbelts and surf safely.