US urges 'cyber hygiene' effort

Summary:
This year for National Cyber Security Awareness month the Homeland Security Department urges people to be more careful with phishing emails. These emails are sent to people with the intent to obtain people's personal information such as social security numbers and bank details. Attacks are not just targeted at individuals, but corporations and with the use of social networking sites it has become very easy for these people to forge "legitimate" emails.

Response:
The concerns addressed by the Homeland Security Department are not anything new, but they are still relevant and important. The tips provided by the Homeland Security Department are, in my opinion, obvious. The idea of a "shared responsibility" is interesting and implies that individuals are not just putting themselves at risk when they are careles with their emails, but to their coworkers and/or family.

CEO: Google Knows A Lot About You, Then Forgets

CEO: Google Knows A Lot About You, Then Forgets

Summary:
This article first poses the question, "Is Google a neutral conduit, an editor or a business?," and Eric Schmidt, a Google CEO answers this question. According to Schmidt, Google does keep information about your searches, but only for 18 months. After this period the information is destroyed. It is kept this long in order to enhance search algorithms and retrieve useful results. Schmidt also explained that the information gathered about people through searches can only be obtained externally with a court order.

Response:
We've discussed this issue in class and I personally don't have an issue with Google retaining my search inquiries, especially since it is disposed of in 18 months. The information isn't made public and if Schmidt is being truthful, isn't being sold to companies for marketing purposes. Google seems very respectful towards its users and I appreciate and value that.

FCC To Propose 'Net Neutrality' Rules

Summary:
The Federal Communications Commission has announced plans to end the limiting of bandwith, as restricted by Internet service providers. The slackening of net neutrality rules has "consumer watchdogs" worried that this will negatively affect the cable television business because people will choose to watch programs on their computers. These new rules will be officially released on Monday.

Response:
I don't think that the FCC's proposal will have that great of an effect on the television business. Personally, I don't watch much television simpy because I would rather read/look up/watch things on the internet that I am interested in, not because of the speed at which I can do these things.