May, 2011

Posted by Andy Lees
President, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft

Many consumers and policymakers are asking important questions about how today’s phones are collecting and using information about a phone user’s location. The discussion has intensified over the past few weeks when the practices of two other companies in the mobile market were called into question. As a result, several members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to a number of companies that provide mobile phone services seeking clarity on this issue.

We at Microsoft believe this is an important discussion to have. To that end, below, I’ve included what we’ve shared with Congress about the ways Microsoft has taken privacy into account proactively with Windows Phone 7. (You can also find a copy of our response here.)

Posted by Jacqueline Beauchere
Director, Trustworthy Computing Communications, Microsoft

A new study released by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and sponsored by Microsoft, shows that U.S. schools are ill-equipped to teach children the fundamentals of 21st Century “Digital Citizenship.” The 2011 version of the State of Cyberethics, Cybersafety and Cybersecurity Curriculum in the U.S. found that more than one-third (36 percent) of teachers received no relevant professional development training in the last year from their school districts. Meanwhile, 86 percent received fewer than six hours of training in online safety, computer security and cyber ethics.

Not surprisingly, teachers do not feel adequately prepared to instruct on these topics. Less than one-quarter of respondents (24 percent) said they feel "very well-prepared" to teach about protecting personal information online.