Web Surveillance

 Cybercrime, Cyberspace, Data Collection, Hackers, Internet Freedoms, Open Internet, Privacy, Surveillance, Web surveillance  No Responses »
May 212012
 

It is becoming increasingly possible that individuals will have their web history logged under the disguise of law enforcement purposes.  A couple of weeks ago the Attorney-General Nicola Roxon announced “new plans to review national security legislation to ensure our national security capability can evolve to meet emerging threats, while also delivering the right checks and balances for a civil society.”

Potential reforms are to be considered by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security considering the potential reforms through public consultation and hearings. Read more here “Web Snooping Plan A Step Closer to Reality”.

Is this an issue that concerns individuals?  Web monitoring differs from Internet filtering as rather than blocking access to sites; it retains a record of web sites visited by the user.  Although we are in reality a fair way from web surveillance, potentially this could mean that any device connected to the Internet could soon have its web history logged and retained by telecommunications companies.

Web surveillance is something more and more governments around the world are increasingly trying to implement in some way.  In the UK, the Coalition Government is looking at proposals to monitor email and social media raising a number of concerns – “Internet Companies Warn over Government Email Surveillance Plans”. Further with the Olympic Games approaching in London, a vast security presence will be in force.

Governments may have legitimate law enforcement reasons in terms of solving crimes, terrorists, organised criminals who threaten national security and protecting the public, however, it is increasingly becoming an accepted part of society. It raises a number of issues in respect to privacy, data access and protection. It also gives the impression that citizens are all potential criminal suspects who need to monitored.  National security now seems to be used regularly to convince society that governments needs to extend the State’s powers to protect them.  However, does this actually create a safer society, or one that is completely paranoid that it has to keep tabs on its citizens?

Thanks for reading!

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 Posted by on 21 May, 2012 at 11:33 am

Search Engine Scamming

 Hackers, Internet, Malware, Scammers, Search Engines  No Responses »
Oct 142011
 

A recent article “Web Users Warned of Search Engine Poison” suggests that Internet users need to be wary of search engines and not blindly trust them.  This trust is allowing scammers to take advantage of a technique called ‘search engine poisoning’.

It is widely used to spread malware and if you are a victim you may not even know it. Malware is short for malicious software and includes things such as worms, computer viruses, Trojan horses and spyware.  The malware can be delivered through different ways and is targeted at browser vulnerability. It can take advantage of third party websites and intermediaries between search engines and the malicious site that has been attacked.

Read more about search engine poisoning here and here.

So next time you search via search engines be aware before you click a link.  Be responsive to pop ups that appear on screen saying that your computer has been infected.  It is probably best not to click on the link offering to clean it up. Seek professional technical support instead.

 Posted by on 14 October, 2011 at 10:09 am