Privacy & Cybersecurity

The comic book industry is no stranger to displays of heroic anger and berserker rage, but over the weekend New York Comic Con (NYCC) was on the receiving end of considerable fan fury after it began ghostwriting effusive tweets about NYCC and posting on the Twitter pages of NYCC attendees in a way that made it appear as though the attendee was the author of the tweet.

Adobe Systems Inc.,(ADBE -1.24%) announced earlier today that has been the victim of a cyber attack that has compromised information of 2.9 million of its customers. 

Companies that engage in telemarketing – either on their own or by contracting with a third-party telemarketing provider – should remember that new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) telemarketing rules go into effect October 16, 2013, requiring companies to obtain prior express written consent from consumers before calling them with prerecorded telemarketing “robocalls” or before using an autodialer to call their wireless numbers with telemarketing messages.

Cybersecurity begins with a simple message everyone using the Internet can adopt: STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Take security and safety precautions, understand the consequences of your actions and behaviors online and enjoy the benefits of the Internet.

As we all ponder the potential for the first U.S. government shut down in 18 years, here are some Monday privacy tidbits to change the subject a bit.

If you were on Google’s home page yesterday at the office, you probably spent more time than you care to admit playing the “help the letter ‘g’ hit the piñata” game that Google created for its 15th birthday.

One of the most common forms of elder abuse is financial exploitation. Older adults often have valuable assets and vulnerabilities, such as mental or physical disabilities, that make them prime targets by both strangers and family members.

In a Federal Register notice to be published shortly, the FTC is seeking public comment on the kidSAFE Seal Program proposed by Samet Privacy, LLC under the “safe harbor” provision of the COPPA Rule.

As we previously reported here, Facebook has proposed a number of revisions to its Data Use Policy and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. 

The FTC has announced (press release) that it is seeking public comment on a second verifiable consent method proposed under the Voluntary Commission Approval Process provision of the COPPA Rule. The proponent is Imperium, LLC (“Imperium”), a Connecticut-based technology services company.

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently entered into a settlement agreement with TRENDnet, Inc., a company that sells Internet Protocol (“IP”) cameras that allow customers to monitor their homes remotely over the Internet. 

As we learned this summer, online account usernames can be, well . . . somewhat embarrassing when made public. Here in California, however, that type of username or an email address, in combination with a password or security question and answer, could soon be considered personal information.

Two data privacy bills, Assembly Bill 370 and Senate Bill 568 have been sent to California Governor Jerry Brown for signature. As we previously reported, A.B. 370 would require commercial websites or online services that collect personally identifiable information to disclose how that site or service responds to “do not track” signals or similar mechanisms. 

If you use Facebook (and you likely do, if only to play some game that apparently involves crushing large amounts of candy), then you received an email last week informing you that Facebook is proposing changes to its Data Use Policy and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. 

As we predicted, the California Senate has approved A.B. 370, a bill that would require commercial websites or online services that collect personally identifiable information to disclose how that site or service responds to “do not track” signals or similar mechanisms. 

As the summer winds down, we find that privacy and security issues remain at the top of mind for companies, hackers, and regulators alike.

Yesterday, the FTC published a Federal Register notice requesting public comment on the first new method for obtaining verifiable parental consent submitted for FTC approval by AssertID, Inc under the Voluntary Commission Approval Process provision of the COPPA Rule.

After a brief August hiatus, Privacy Monday is back with privacy goofs, gaffes and tidbits to start your week.

We've sounded warnings about the lowly copy machine before. The proliferation of digital devices in the workplace means that data security must extend beyond computer networks and laptops. Seemingly old fashioned equipment, such as copiers, can hide sensitive legally-protected data.

What did you do over your summer vacation? Yes, the sad truth is that summer is almost over. You can tell because there wasn’t a single superhero movie that opened at the box office last weekend (no, Smurfs2 does not count) and because the California Senate is preparing to reconvene from its summer recess.