Microsoft Privacy & Safety

Privacy in the Cloud Computing Era: A Microsoft Perspective

2009-11-05T13:46:00Z

Brendon Lynch here. Today we released a new position paper, Privacy in the Cloud Computing Era: A Microsoft Perspective . This new paper discusses how Microsoft is approaching privacy as it relates to cloud computing. We wrote this paper based on our experience over the past decade examining and addressing privacy challenges in the evolving online services realm. We are also releasing guidance to enterprises and consumers to help them navigate the privacy issues to consider when thinking about cloud-based...(read more)

Peter Cullen on Privacy Accountability

2009-11-04T22:23:00Z

Peter Cullen here. The concept of “accountability” has certainly become a recent catch-cry in the wake of the global economic crisis but it has long been an established principle of privacy and data protection. In fact, the concept was first established in data protection by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) back in the early 1980s and the principle of accountability is a core principle of the Canadian Data Protection Act (PIPEDA), the APEC Privacy Framework and is...(read more)

Statement by Peter Cullen on the Spanish Data Protection International Standards Proposal

2009-10-29T16:11:00Z

In the first week of November, hundreds of representatives from government, industry and civil society will be descending upon Madrid for the 31 st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners to discuss a range of issues related to privacy, security, emerging technologies and the changing nature of global data flows. Microsoft looks forward to engaging in this multi-stakeholder dialogue and will directly be involved in discussions around children’s privacy as well as safeguarding...(read more)

Bing Bringing Twitter Search to You – With Privacy Protected

2009-10-26T19:07:00Z

Last week, Microsoft announced on the Bing blog that Bing would be incorporating Twitter search results : Today at Web 2.0 we announced that working with those clever birds over at Twitter, we now have access to the entire public Twitter feed and have a beta of Bing Twitter search for you to play with (in the US, for now). Try it out . The Bing and Twitter teams want to know what you think. Bing also announced that bringing tweets to Bing will respect the existing privacy settings of Twitter users...(read more)

Let’s Get Behind Online Citizenship Education to Tackle Cyberbullying and Harrassment

2009-10-26T18:54:00Z

Chuck Cosson, Microsoft Senior Policy Counsel writes on the Microsoft on the Issues Blog : Cyberbullying was in the news again last week as local authorities try to crack down on the problem. At Microsoft, we believe the best way to prevent cyberbullying is through education. We’d like to see it included in Internet safety curricula in schools. Cyberbullying methods may be virtual, but the pain is real, especially for young people whose social lives depend heavily on their online connections. Communities...(read more)

Empowering Families in the Digital Age

2009-10-21T16:13:00Z

Steve Crown, Deputy General Counsel and Vice President, Entertainment & Devices blogs on the Microsoft on the Issues Blog : I recently spent time in Washington, D.C., meeting with leading child safety experts who focus on addressing technology’s impact on kids. I was eager to gain new insights as we build out our Get Game Smart public education initiative, which we launched in January. I also wanted to hear these experts’ thoughts on ways we can improve Microsoft products and platforms to better...(read more)

The Week in Privacy, October 9, 2009

2009-10-10T18:11:00Z

Thousands of Usernames and Passwords Posted Online. Dark Reading reports that “Lists containing tens of thousands of stolen email account usernames and passwords have shown up online during the past few days in what researchers say likely came out of multiple phishing attacks.” The account were from Hotmail, Google's Gmail, Yahoo, Comcast, and Earthlink. S urvey on Behavioral Advertising Draws Attention The New York Times repor ts , “About two-thirds of Americans object to online tracking by advertisers...(read more)

Microsoft vs. Malvertising: tackling the threat of malicious online advertising

2009-10-08T19:20:00Z

From the Microsoft Security Tips & Talk Blog : Malvertising might sound like a fancy kind of dry cleaning, but it’s really fake online advertising designed to trick you into downloading malicious software onto your computer. The most common kind of fake ad is for security software that you don’t need and that could harm your computer. This is often called “rogue security software” or “ scareware .” This month Microsoft continued its efforts to combat malvertising by filing five civil lawsuits...(read more)

Phishing scheme affecting some Hotmail customers

2009-10-07T18:51:00Z

The Windows Live Team Blog writes : Over the weekend Microsoft learned that several thousand Windows Live Hotmail customers’ credentials were exposed on a third-party site due to a likely phishing scheme. Upon learning of the issue, we immediately requested that the credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the impact to customers. As part of that investigation, we determined that this was not a breach of internal Microsoft data and initiated our standard process of working...(read more)

Everyone has a Role to Play in Securing the ‘Net

2009-10-02T02:58:00Z

Eric Wenger, Microsoft Policy Counsel for Cyber Security, Standards and Interoperability writes on the Microsoft on the Issues Blog : This morning, I had the privilege of attending the 2009 launch event for National Cyber Security Awareness Month , which featured Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano as well as senior leaders from the White House, Department of Defense, U.S. Secret Service and FBI. The event was hosted by the National Cyber Security Alliance , of which Microsoft was an original...(read more)

Hats off to Congressman Boucher

2009-09-28T20:38:00Z

Frank Torres, Director, Consumer Affairs writes on the Microsoft on the Issues blog : After years of vigorous debate, it looks like we are close to seeing the introduction of comprehensive federal legislation establishing privacy protections for Internet users. The framework set out by Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher in an editorial today in The Hill shows leadership in an area that is vitally important to consumers. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and General Counsel Brad Smith voiced Microsoft’s...(read more)

The Week in Privacy – September 25, 2009

2009-09-26T03:01:00Z

Targeted Ads Targeted by Congress The long-running battle over behavioral ads is heating up again on Capitol Hill. Forbes reports that , “Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, says he is working on a bill that would outline broad restrictions on certain types of data collection and ad targeting. Speaking in front of Congress this month, Boucher said he hopes to draft a bill of rights, of sorts, regarding...(read more)

“Smarter Online = Safer Online” brochure series is now available.

2009-09-26T02:37:00Z

As part of our redesigned Microsoft.com/Protect site we’ve produced 13 new topical online safety brochures, that provide Microsoft’s guidance on many computing and Internet issues today. Visit http://www.microsoft.com/protect/ · Microsoft Family Safety Settings · Protecting Kids From Cyberbullying · Protecting Youth on the Internet · Protecting “Tweens” & Teens on the Internet · Safer Online Gaming · How to E-mail / IM Safely · Protecting Your Information On the Go · Protecting Yourself from...(read more)

Government Requirements for a Secure Cloud

2009-09-21T18:59:00Z

Ron Markezich, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Online Services, writes on the Microsoft Online Services Blog : This week, U.S. Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra unveiled the federal government’s vision for cloud computing, beginning with Apps.gov , an online marketplace that will enable federal agencies to find and purchase cloud-based IT services. This is a smart move by the government to streamline procurement for new cloud-based solutions and lower costs. In response, industry vendors...(read more)

The Week in Privacy – September 18, 2009

2009-09-19T02:25:00Z

Privacy Groups Concerned Over Proposed HIPPA Data Breech Implementation ComputerWorld reports : “Privacy and civil rights advocates accused the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of trying to neuter a landmark data breach notification law for health care organizations that is scheduled to go into effect next week. The law would require any organization covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to notify patients of a data breach involving their personal...(read more)