Although Google’s Android smartphone operating system has been associated with Carrier IQ, Eric Schmidt (Google’s Executive Chairman) told an Internet freedom conference in the Dutch city of The Hague about Carrier IQ that "It’s a key-logger, and it actually does keep your keystrokes, and we certainly don’t work with

Continue Reading Google Disclaims Any Relation with Carrier IQ

A researcher recently found that Carrier IQ software is secretly installed on most modern Android, BlackBerry, and Nokia phones. Android developer’s Trevor Eckert’s 17 minute video demonstrates how that Carrier IQ software is loaded on his phone, cannot be disabled, tracks every keystroke, and sends the data to Carrier IQ.  After receiving

Continue Reading Carrier IQ Captures Cell and Internet Usage from Millions without Approval


After the US government filed charges that Facebook violated US privacy law, Facebook finally confessed that it failed to protect the privacy of its 800 million active users. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) welcomes the public to submit comments on the settlement through December 30, 2011.

Under the proposed

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Since the Wikimedia Foundation (home of Wikipedia) is a not-for-profit, it survives by annual fundraisers. Google co-founder Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki (23andMe co-founder) used their Brin Wojcicki Foundation to grant $500,000 to the Wikimedia Foundation. The Wikimedia Foundation kicked off its 8th annual fundraiser on November

Continue Reading Google Co-Founder Gives $500,000 to Wikimedia Foundation



Many readers agreed with my recent blog that the Cloud is a new label for old technology – “think connecting to a mainframe over telephone lines,” and I encourage you to read my November eCommerce Times column about some important Cloud computing legal issues.

More Cloud History

Wikipedia’s historical description of

Continue Reading Cloud – New Buzzword, Old Legal Issues


US intelligence agencies just reported to Congress that China and Russia have national policies to steal technology from US companies over the Internet. The Congressional report was compiled by the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive which included this alarming information:

Many companies are unaware when their sensitive data is

Continue Reading China and Russia Accused of Internet Spying on US Companies


US citizens expect the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to protect the country from potential threats, but the recent announcement that DHS will monitor Twitter & Facebook will surely cause privacy advocates great concern. Social Media has been used extensively in the government uprisings world-wide and DHS is now drawing

Continue Reading Privacy at Risk? – Feds to Monitor Twitter & Facebook


GUEST BLOG FROM JIM BRASHEAR

I welcome Jim Brashear as a Guest Blogger with his blog concerning cyber security risks. Jim is Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Nasdaq-traded Zix Corporation, the market leader in email encryption services. He frequently appears as a public speaker on corporate governance, data

Continue Reading GUEST BLOG: New SEC disclosure guidance about cyber security risks