Posts Tagged ‘big data’

Data Collection Must be Limited for Internet of Things Privacy

Friday, January 30th, 2015

The recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas was overflowing with new types of gadgets and devices that will become part of the Internet of Things (IoT). A business friend of mine attended the show and when he filled me in on all that he saw, he expressed amazement at what he estimated to be hundreds of wearable gadgets that he found there; they literally “dominated” the show. I had asked him prior to his attendance if he could check with some of the vendors on an important privacy topic while he was there, and so he had a lot to tell me about what he found, as well as what the vendors he spoke with wouldn’t tell him, that are directly related to privacy. (more…)

4 Privacy Predictions for 2015

Saturday, November 29th, 2014

It is that time of the year again…time for prognostications about the year ahead!

I was asked to provide a few predictions for 2015. Based upon not only what I’ve seen in 2014, but also foreshadowing from the past two-three decades, here are some realistic possibilities.  (more…)

10 Big Data Analytics Privacy Problems

Thursday, June 26th, 2014

Big data analytics are being used more widely every day for an even wider number of reasons. These new methods of applying analytics certainly can bring innovative improvements for business. For example, retail businesses are successfully using big data analytics to predict the hot items each season, and to predict geographic areas where demand will be greatest, just to name a couple of uses.

The power of big data analytics is so great that in addition to all the positive business possibilities, there are just as many new privacy concerns being created.  Here are ten of the most significant privacy risks. (more…)

Ever Feel like Somebody is Watching You? They Are!

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

“Sometimes I feel like…somebody’s watching me! And I have no privacy!”

(The Rockwell hit from…quite appropriately…1984.)

Each day, we are tracked by the ‘smart’ systems, mobile apps, personal communication devices and other surveillance platforms that have become commonplace in our daily lives. In an effort to educate more people, and businesses, about the data trails they are leaving behind (and the companies, data bureaus and marketers who are sniffing out that trail), I created this new infographic (more…)

Disposal Dummies Cause Privacy Problems

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

A couple of weeks ago I was doing a consulting call with a small startup business (that in a short span of time is already performing outsourced cloud processing for a number of really huge clients) about information security and privacy.  They had implemented just the basic firewall and passwords, but otherwise had no policies, procedures, or documented program in place.  I provided an overview of the need for information security and privacy controls to be in place throughout the entire information lifecycle; from creation and collection, to deletion and disposal.  They were on board with everything I was describing until we got to (more…)

Is Frictionless Sharing Like Digital Privacy Cancer?

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

I was recently speaking with a friend on the phone, and she said, “I just had the most embarrassing thing happen!  I had one of my Facebook friends send me a text teasing me about reading a rather sleazy article on TMZ. I did not know what she was talking about! So, I went to my Facebook page, and sure enough, down the timeline there was an article I had only briefly gone to the previous day after clicking a headline about moms on Google news and landed on a page; I quickly got off of when I saw it. I was so embarrassed to see that my brief visit to the page had been posted on my Facebook page! I don’t even go to TMZ on purpose, why is Facebook suddenly tattling on me when it accidentally went there?” (more…)

Big Brother Likes Big Data – Balancing Privacy with Innovation

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

My 12-year-old son said to me yesterday after getting home from school, “Hey, Mommy, did you know that Wal-Mart can tell when you’re pregnant? And so can Target!  Even before anyone else knows! They got a girl in trouble when they sent her dad coupons for baby stuff and congratulated her!”

Me, “That’s pretty incredible, isn’t it?  Companies are able to discover things like that about people more than ever before through analyzing what is called ‘Big Data’.”

Son, “That’s really creepy. I think you should (more…)