Money is as money does? (Sorry to hear about your Identity Theft, but you'll be pleased to know I got half a penny for your data!)

http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20080714062206123

UK: Councils sell voters' addresses for half a penny

Monday, July 14 2008 @ 06:22 AM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews

The names and addresses of individual voters are being sold by councils to marketing companies for as little as half a penny, it emerged today.

Local councils are selling information from the electoral roll for £5 per 1,000 names under a little-scrutinised piece of legislation which allows the sale of such details for commercial purposes.

Source - Times Online

...because...

http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20080714062259733

Data “Dysprotection:” breaches reported last week

Monday, July 14 2008 @ 06:22 AM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews

A recap of incidents or privacy breaches reported last week for those who enjoy shaking their head and muttering to themselves with their morning coffee.

Source - Chronicles of Dissent

Need to run this one down, no details (or useful links) in the article

http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20080713135754728

There seems to be doubt that ID theft is a crime

Sunday, July 13 2008 @ 01:57 PM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews

Is using someone else's Social Security number illegal or not? We think we know, but do we?

A federal judge has suggested that when two men used fake Social Security cards to gain employment at the a Pilgrim's Pride plant, they might not, perhaps, maybe not technically, have broken the law.

Source - NewsChief.com

[Better link? http://www.newschief.com/article/20080713/NEWS/807130399

Interesting that there seems to be ignorance both in how to control data sharing and what the benefits might be...

http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20080714061454745

UK: Data Sharing Review

Monday, July 14 2008 @ 06:14 AM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews

The report of the Data Sharing Review which Richard Thomas and Mark Walport have undertaken at the request of the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary, has been published.

Source - Data Sharing Review Summary and links to report and annexes.

[From the article:

The review's final report concludes that:

• there is a lack of transparency and accountability in the way organisations deal with personal information

• there is confusion surrounding the Data Protection Act, particularly the way it interacts with other strands of law

• greater use could be made of the ability to share personal data safely, particularly in the field of research and statistical analysis

• the Information Commissioner needs more effective powers, and the resources to allow him to use them properly.

[Links:

Data Sharing Review report [PDF 0.48mb, 80 pages]

Data Sharing Review report - annexes [PDF 0.59mb, 112 pages]

Submissions

The title is impressive, the speech not so much...

http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20080714060855557

AU: Everything you need to know about privacy

Monday, July 14 2008 @ 06:08 AM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews

Speech by Karen Curtis, Privacy Commissioner, to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Canberra,8 July 2008

Source - Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Australia [pdf]

Tools & Techniques Perhaps the White Hat club could collect tools like this into a “How to” e-booklet

http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20080714071829896

New service tracks missing laptops for free

Monday, July 14 2008 @ 07:18 AM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews

Lose your laptop these days and you lose part of your life: You say good-bye to photos, music and personal documents that cannot be replaced, and if it's a work computer, you may be the source of a very public data breach.

But now, researchers at the University of Washington and the University of California, San Diego, have found a way to give you a shot at getting your life back. On Monday, they plan to launch a new laptop tracking service, called Adeona that is free and private.

Source - Network World

[From the article:

Here's how it works: A user downloads the free client software onto a laptop. That software then starts anonymously sending encrypted notes about the computer's whereabouts to servers on the Internet. If the laptop ever goes missing, the user downloads another program, enters a username and password, and then picks up this information from the servers, specifically a free storage service that has been around for several years, called OpenDHT.

The Mac version of Adeona even uses a freeware program called isightcapture to take a snapshot of whomever is using the computer. [We need one for Linux and Windows Bob]