Privacy Quick Scan
The Dutch organisation for small / medium sized businesses (MKB Nederland) has set up a quick scan for companies dealing with private data, to have a look at the risks of using this kind of data. Privacy Quick Scan.
Category: Global Domination
New Instant Messenger Plans to Leave No Metadata Worth Harvesting
invisible.im is backed by some pretty big names in IT security. It’s not foolproof and it’s in the first stages, but it’s a start with great potential. New Instant Messenger Plans to Leave No Metadata Worth Harvesting.
Millions of dynamic DNS users suffer after Microsoft seizes No-IP domains
Millions of legitimate servers that rely on dynamic domain name services from No-IP.com suffered outages on Monday after Microsoft seized 22 domain names it said were being abused in malware-related crimes against Windows users. Microsoft enforced a federal court order making the company the domain IP resolver for the No-IP domains. Microsoft said the objective Read more about Millions of dynamic DNS users suffer after Microsoft seizes No-IP domains[…]
Google gives apps full control of your gmail box
Yup, read, write, compose, delete all messages! This isn’t going to be abused at all! Not! Google geeft derden toegang tot je Gmail-account – Webwereld.
UK Gov reveals legal framework for intercepting all citizens’ social media communications
Basically the interpretation is that since the servers on which these services are hosted are in foreign countries, they are classed as “external communications”, which allows them to intercept them indiscriminately as opposed to needing a warrant. This also applies to webmail services and Google searches. UK intelligence forced to reveal secret policy for mass Read more about UK Gov reveals legal framework for intercepting all citizens’ social media communications[…]
Tesla Motors helps humanity, opens their patents
Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good Read more about Tesla Motors helps humanity, opens their patents[…]
Major terrorism trial could be held in secret for first time in UK legal history
“the evidence on which the crown relied to argue for the secret trial could not be presented in open court” “This appeal raises important issues relating to the constitutional principle of open justice but also the equally important principle of fairness and natural justice,” Hudson told the court.” Major terrorism trial could be held in Read more about Major terrorism trial could be held in secret for first time in UK legal history[…]
Patent royalties in Smart Phones < 1/3rd of the end price. Shows again stupidity of patent system
for such a phone [$400 RRP], the potential patent royalties could exceed US$120 per device. This brings the licensing fees per device close to the cost of components, which on the US$400 phone would be somewhere between US$120 and US$150. "… those costs may be undermining industry profitability—and, in turn, diminishing incentives to invest and Read more about Patent royalties in Smart Phones < 1/3rd of the end price. Shows again stupidity of patent system[…]
Marktplaats (Dutch E-Bay) shares IP-adresses, phone numbers, etc
When you ask them for your own details, you also get all the personal details of the people who have interacted with your account! This data should be anonymised. Mag niet: Marktplaats deelt IP-adressen en NAW-gegevens – Webwereld.
Google starts to implement right to be forgotten
A recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union found that certain users can ask search engines to remove results for queries that include their name where those results are inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant, or excessive in relation to the purposes for which they were processed. In implementing this decision, Read more about Google starts to implement right to be forgotten[…]
NVidia optimised games are being crippled for AMD by NVidia
Because NVidia has a program called Gameworks, which developers can sign up for to optimise their game for NVidia cards – 60% of the market. The closed and proprietary Gameworks makes it almost impossible to optimse for AMD, which means that $500,- AMD cards perform worse than $300,- NVidia cards, unless the developer has spent Read more about NVidia optimised games are being crippled for AMD by NVidia[…]
Google Begins Rolling Out Panda 4.0 Now
This looks like a major new release of the search algorythm Google Begins Rolling Out Panda 4.0 Now.
Amazon granted patent for taking photos against a white background
Amazon granted patent for taking photos against a white background – seriously • The Register.
Russia Quietly Tightens Reins on Web With ‘Bloggers Law’ – NYTimes.com
If you have over 3000 daily visits, you have to register. You remove anonymity and you have to keep all your data in Russia for at least 6 months. This after a few laws that ban 4 words from being used in the arts and allow the state to shut down websites – promptly used Read more about Russia Quietly Tightens Reins on Web With ‘Bloggers Law’ – NYTimes.com[…]
Dutch courts kill ease of use: Gaspedaal illegal. Google next?
The Dutch courts have decided that re-using publically available data is illegal in accordance with the database laws. This means that Gaspedaal, a website that aggregates second hand car data from a number of other websites (and is therefore the most used car searching site!) is no longer allowed to aggregate the data from sites Read more about Dutch courts kill ease of use: Gaspedaal illegal. Google next?[…]
Afterburner inc proves copyright is broken after dissallowing figher pilots to speak like fighter pilots, wear their flight suits
Afterburner Inc sued the Corps Group – ex military pilots – for using pictures of fighter aircraft and cockpits, wearing flight suits and using fighter pilot parlance. Not only does this show that the CEO of Afterburner Inc, Jim Murphy, is a dick, but it also shows how broken these laws are in the USA. Read more about Afterburner inc proves copyright is broken after dissallowing figher pilots to speak like fighter pilots, wear their flight suits[…]
Disconnect – Private Browsing
We crawl the web to find the companies that track people, then Disconnect blocks those companies’ tracking requests in your browser. Click the items below to learn more about Disconnect’s features. via Private Browsing.
NL gov gives away source code for person registration system
From a man who has done plenty wrong in privacy recently, this is a very very good idea. People who want the source code do have to sign a NDA. I don’t know what’s in the NDA, but this seems reasonable. Plasterk geeft broncode Basisregistratie Personen vrij – Webwereld.
NL Police get office info from 1551 accounts in 2nd half 2013
In the first half it was 714 accounts. In 2012 it was 1438 accounts. This is information from Office 365, Hotmail and Skype. Nederlandse politie vordert meer klantdata bij Microsoft – Webwereld.
NL Gov decides Police can break into houses with (almost) no cause
All that is needed to break into and search a Dutch residence is a “suspicion” that there “may be” an illegal immigrant in there. Once inside, the (military) police is allowed to search through absolutely everything in a violent manner, stopping short of breaking down walls. You can stop them by showing your identity papers Read more about NL Gov decides Police can break into houses with (almost) no cause[…]
US carmakers collect and keep driven locations
The Detroit News reports, ‘A government report finds that major automakers are keeping information about where drivers have been — collected from onboard navigation systems — for varying lengths of time. Owners of those cars can’t demand that the information be destroyed. http://m.slashdot.org/story/196543
NL Court rules Pirate Bay blockade is illegal
After many court cases, it looks like BREIN (the Dutch RIAA) and Tim Kuyk have finally suffered a humiliating defeat. In a victory for common sense and freedom, they were made to pay EUR 326000,- in legal fees to the providers, who showed that not only was a blockade completely unenforcable, there were plenty of Read more about NL Court rules Pirate Bay blockade is illegal[…]
Candy Crush dev stuffs EU ‘candy’ trademark down gob • The Register
Unbelievably, the word ‘candy’ is registered as a trademark in the EU and is now about to be registered in the US as well… Can I copyright the word “the” please?! Candy Crush dev stuffs EU 'candy' trademark down gob • The Register.
NSA Phone Spying Is Useless In Preventing Terrorist Attacks, Study Says
In the study, the New America Foundation reviewed 225 terrorism cases and found that traditional investigation and law enforcement methods actually did the most to prevent attacks. About a third of the leads in terrorism cases came from tips or an informant, while old school surveillance warrants were used in 48 cases. All things told, Read more about NSA Phone Spying Is Useless In Preventing Terrorist Attacks, Study Says[…]
‘Pinterest’ – another shining example of how bullshit copyright and trademark law is
A UK company who has never done anything with the word manages to claim it in the EU. http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/uk-company-successfully-claims-ownership-pinterest-trademark-134992