The Week in Privacy and Online Safety, September 3, 2012
A weekly global roundup of online safety news, policy developments, research, and influence

General Online Privacy
News (U.S.) -  Amazon Hires Chief Privacy Counsel, The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 31, 2012

News (U.K.) -  Chris Soghoian, delights in exposing security flaws and privacy violations, The Economist, Sep. 1, 2012

News (Australia) -  Digital Will: How to share your data after death, CNET, Aug. 30, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Hacker Group GhostShell says it published one million stolen records, CNET, Aug. 28, 2012

News (U.S.) - Priveazy offers a dashboard to manage  privacy across a dozen popular sites, IT World, Aug. 28, 2012

General Online Safety
News (U.K.) -  Xbox Live security: how to avoid getting hacked, OXM, Aug. 28, 2012

News (Germany) -  Internet addiction fueled by gene mutation, scientists say, CNET, Aug. 29, 2012

News (Australia) -  Charlotte Dawson Attempts Suicide, LeAnn Rimes Seeks Treatment As Cyberbullying Reaches Fever Pitch, International Business Times, Aug. 31, 2012

Advocates (U.S.) - School Climate 2.0:Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting, Cyberbullying Research Center, Aug. 31, 2012

Advertising & Search
News (U.S.) -  Judge Allows Challenge to Google Privacy Penalty, National Journal, Aug. 29, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Privacy Issues Will Weigh Heavily On Google's Recent Gains, Seeking Alpha, Aug. 29, 2012 

Mobile
News (U.S) -  Stakeholders Continue Slog on Mobile App Privacy, National Journal, Aug. 29, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Smartphone apps track users even when shut down,  Boston Globe, Sep. 3, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Kid’s Corner brings parental controls to Windows Phone 8, Geek.com, Aug. 31, 2012

Social Networks
News (U.S.) -  5 Design Tricks Facebook Uses To Affect Your Privacy Decisions, Tech Crunch, Aug. 25, 2012

News (Germany) -  German consumer group sets Facebook privacy ultimatum, Reuters, Aug. 29, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Your Old Tweets Resurface with Twitter’s Data Reseller Partners, Bostino, Aug. 30, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Browser plug-in and website warn about data harvesting by Facebook apps, IDG, Aug. 30, 2012

Legislation & Regulation
News (U.S.) -  SEC Guidance on Cyber-Disclosure Becomes Rule for Online Companies, Bloomberg, Aug. 28, 2012

News (U.K.) -  Advocate: Ministers 'have been sabotaging' the battle to block porn on internet, Daily Mail, Sep. 2, 2012 

-- Compiled by David Burt, CISSP, CIPP

 Jacqueline Beauchere, Director, Trustworthy Computing Communications, Microsoft writes on the Microsoft on the Issues blog:

Unlike their parents who went back to school with new notebooks, pens, pencils, and binders, today’s young people are likely readying for the coming academic year with laptops, tablets and mobile phones. But, before parents arm kids with the latest Internet-enabled devices, it’s a good idea to share some do’s and don’ts about online safety.

Whether it’s a new laptop for research and writing, a tablet for reading, or a mobile phone to get in touch with mom or dad in the event of an emergency, kids are using mobile technology more than ever. Data show that 52 percent of kids ages eight to 12, and 77 percent between 12 and 17, own mobile phones, with teenagers 14 to 17 sending an average of 100 text messages a day.

When it comes to Internet safety, some practical advice can go a long way toward helping kids stay safer and more secure when they’re online on the go. The first step is to set clear use limits for kids on their mobile phones. According to one survey, 90 percent of eight to 17 year-olds say it’s OK for parents to set rules about mobile phone use. Based on the age and maturity level of each child, parents and kids should together agree on: (1) the specific features that will be enabled on the child’s phone; (2) clear rules for responsible and appropriate use of the device, and (3) the consequences for any violation of those rules. Parents should make it clear that bullying, sexting and, for older kids, using the phone while driving, are never acceptable.

In addition, kids need to know to share their phone numbers (and other personal identifiable information) with family and close friends only. Further, they should:

· Lock their phones with a PIN, or personal identification number, and keep it secret – even from “best” friends, who, among the younger generations, can change quite often.

· Avoid clicking links in advertisements, contests, text messages and the like. Doing so can invite malware that could damage the phone, lead to the sale of their information or even identity theft.

· And, if parents use a family location service to monitor their children’s whereabouts, make sure those outside the immediate family can’t locate them. Otherwise, consider disabling the location feature on the child’s phone or, at the very least, turn off the feature in the phone’s camera.

For other tips and guidance on becoming a good “digital citizen” at home, on the go and at school, consult Microsoft’s Digital Citizenship in Action Toolkit, and regularly visit our Safety & Security Center. “Like” our page on Facebook and, if you’re an educator, be on the lookout for the launch of our upcoming Internet safety challenge. We’re committed to ushering in the new school year by helping students, teachers, parents and caregivers create a safer and more trusted online experience for themselves and each other.

The Week in Privacy and Online Safety, August 27, 2012
A weekly global roundup of online safety news, policy developments, research, and influence

General Online Privacy
News (U.S.) – Windows 8 SmartScreen unfairly tarred as violation of user privacy, Ars Technica, Aug. 25, 2012

News (U.S.) - Secret E-Scores Chart Consumers’ Buying Power, The New York Times, Aug. 18, 2012

News (U.S.) – Privacy Advocate Jules Polonetsky on Browser Controls, Slate, Aug. 23, 2012

News (U.S.) - Why passwords have never been weaker—and crackers  never stronger, Ars Technica, Aug. 20, 2012

Opinion (U.S.) - Why Do We Love To Call New Technologies "Creepy"?, Slate, Aug. 22, 2012

General Online Safety
News (U.S.) - Online ‘burn books’ sparking controversy, eSchool News, Aug. 20, 2012

News (U.S.) - S. Korea court rejects law banning false IDs on Internet, Agence France-Presse, Aug. 23, 2012

News (U.S.) -  11-year-old South Carolina  girl took her life due to cyberbullying, AP, Aug. 23, 2012

News (U.S.) -  As school year starts, states tackle cyber bullying, eSchool News, Aug. 24, 2012

Advertising & Search
News (U.S.) - Google seeks recruits for privacy 'red team', CNet, Aug. 23, 2012

Mobile
News (U.S.) - Process Dominates at NTIA App Privacy Meeting, National Journal, Aug. 22, 2012

Social Networks
News (U.S.) -  Microsoft Personal Data Dashboard lets you manage your data, CNET, Aug. 24, 2012

News (U.S.) - California Social Media Privacy Bill Would Put New Restrictions On Employers, Huffington Post, Aug. 22, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Facebook ‘Ex Trashing’ is New Phenomenon, Reuters, Aug. 22, 2012

News (U.S.) - Facebook’s ‘Data Use Policy’ explained, Digital Trends, Aug. 25, 2012

Legislation & Regulation
News (U.S) - Advocacy Groups Target Children’s Web Sites in FTC Complaints, MultiChannel News, Aug. 22, 2012

News (U.S.) - 7 reasons the FTC could audit your privacy program, ComputerWorld, Aug. 21, 2012

-- Compiled by David Burt, CISSP, CIPP

The Week in Privacy and Online Safety, August 20, 2012
A weekly global roundup of online safety news, policy developments, research, and influence

General Online Privacy
News (U.S.) -  Blizzard Prompting User Data Changes After Hack, Kotaku, Aug. 15. 2012

News (U.S.) - Federal judge rules Video Privacy Protection Act applies Hulu’s web streaming, Media Post, Aug. 13, 2012 

General Online Safety
News (U.S.) -  Teens and video games: How much is too much?, Fox News, Aug. 13, 2012

News (U.K.) -  Windows 8′s New Parental Controls, Laptop, Aug. 10, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Cyber Bullying: Are Teens Really in Danger?, Mobiledia, Aug. 14, 2012

Advertising & Search
News (U.K.) - ICO "not ready" to probe cookie complaints, PC Pro, Aug. 20, 2012 

Mobile
News (U.S.) - Detect Apps Leaking Your Data, Mashable, Aug. 10, 2012

Advocates (U.S.) -  Generation Smartphone: A Guide for Parents of Tweens & Teens, Online Mom, Aug. 10, 2012

News (U.S.) - Verizon ESRB rates all its mobile apps for age-appropriate content, GigaOm, Aug. 14, 2012

Social Networks
News (U.S.) -  Judge rejects Facebook settlement of 'Sponsored Stories' lawsuit, Los Angeles Times, Aug. 17, 2012

News (U.S.) -  Deleting your photos on Facebook works, Ars Technica, Aug. 16, 2012

Legislation & Regulation
News (U.S.) - Mobile Apps Could Be Affected by New COPPA Privacy Rules for Kids, Read/Write, Aug. 14. 2012

News (Australia) – Gov. puts web surveillance plans on ice, Sydney Morning Herald, Aug. 10, 2012 

-- Compiled by David Burt, CISSP, CIPP

The Week in Privacy and Online Safety, August 13, 2012
A weekly global roundup of online safety news, policy developments, research, and influence

General Online Privacy
Advocates (U.K.) - Surveillance companies: responsibility goes beyond the law, Privacy International, Aug. 8, 2012

News (U.S.) - E-mail lists, encrypted passwords stolen in Battle.net hack, CNet, Aug. 9, 2012

News (U.K.) - Breach Penalties: Comparing U.S., U.K., Data Today, Aug. 7, 2012 

General Online Safety
News (U.S.) - Amazon quietly adds device-specific parental controls to Instant Video, The Verge, Aug. 10, 2012

News (U.S.) - Mom sues over breast-feeding video-turned-porn, Associated Press, Aug. 10, 2012

News (France) - French illegal downloads agency Hadopi may be abolished, CNet, Aug. 6, 2012

Opinion (U.S.) - Unintended Consequences of FTC's New COPPA Rules, Larry Magid, Aug. 4, 2012

News (U.S.) - Is 'gaming addiction' a real disorder?, CNN, Aug. 6, 2012

Advertising & Search
News (U.S.) - Google’s search engine to pull info from users’ Gmail accounts, Associated Press, Aug. 9, 2012

Mobile
News (U.S.) - CTIA Launches ‘Growing Wireless’ Online Safety Campaign, Multichannel News, Aug. 9, 2012

News (U.S.) - Obama campaign app concerns some privacy advocates, The Washington Post, Aug. 8, 2012

News (U.S.) - Johnny’s First Phone: A Guide for Parents, The New York Times, Aug. 8, 2012

Social Networks
News (U.S.) -  New Privacy Risk: 'Fusking' Photobucket For Nude Photos, Huffington Post, Aug. 9, 2012

News (U.S.) - Facebook to court: Likes are protected by First Amendment, CNet, Aug. 7, 2012

News (U.S.) - Social networks confront challenges in rush to attract youngest users, The Washington Post, Aug. 8, 2012

News (U.S.) - Court Prompts Twitter to Give Data to Police in Threat Case, The New York Times, Aug. 7, 2012

Legislation & Regulation
News (E.U.) - EU Econ. & Social Comm.: Privacy Law Should Cover Search Engines, Social Networks, Out-Law, Aug. 6, 2012

-- Compiled by David Burt, CISSP, CIPP