Legal and Ethical Issues on the Net

Viruses on Macs

2006-05-04T19:21:00.000-04:00

"Viruses Catch up to the Mac"

Before reading this article, I was not aware that Mac computers are less prone to viruses compared to PCs. I think that Mac users are being naive to think that nothing can attack their computer just because it is a Mac. Hackers and cyberterrorists are very clever people always coming up with new ways to harm other people’s computers and files. With these seven new vulnerabilities that have been discovered for Mac computers, new security programs need to be developed fast before the viruses spread to more users. Viruses can spread from one computer to the next so rapidly. One of my friends has a virus on her computer and I get at least two instant messages from her a week with a link in it to check out some unknown website that will in turn infect my computer. Luckily, I recognized that the link was unfamiliar so I did not click on it, but others are not always so fortunate. The man in the article clicked on a link to view some photos and ended up with an infected computer. When surfing the web or even talking through instant messaging be careful what you click on and what files you download.

In a previous post, I mentioned how the hacker, Kevin Mitnick, now works in a security consulting firm, putting his knowledge about computers to good use. Apple should consider hiring Mitnick or another former hacker to test possible attacks on Macs. It is important to see a hacker’s point of view to see what holes they can find in the security in order to prevent future problems.

Cybersquatting

2006-04-27T17:45:00.000-04:00

"Tug of War Over Keywords"

In this week’s article fournd in The New York Times, there is a debate about whether realty listings website, MSLonline, should be allowed to be in procession of other companies’ names as search engine keywords. In other words, when a consumer is looking to make a listing or interested in buying a house types in “Edina Realty,” another realty business, the first company that will pop up on the search results page is MLSonline. Although buying domain names and keywords of other companies’ names is legal, is it ethical? When companies purchase domain names or keywords so similar to another company, I believe they are purposely trying to sabotage the other company. There is no way that MLSonline randomly choose that keyword. I am sure they own the rights to several other keywords of other companies in attempt to sway consumers to only look at their site. I realize that businesses are in constant competition and not everything one company does will be appreciated by another in the same industry, but to go as far buying a keyword of another company name is just plain mean and sneaky. Consumers are in essence not given the opportunity to see Edina Reality as a result, and will in turn only look at the website if they happened to have heard of it elsewhere.

Cybersquatting has become a big problem on the web. People purchase domain names before a company with that title has a chance to make the purchase. Now this individual has the right to do whatever they want with this site and practically holds it hostage. In the case of MSLonline, I wonder if they purchased keywords like “Edina Realty” so they could make a profit from Edina Realty buying it back. The U.S. Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act protects trademark holders from the people who purchase domain names in bad faith. From my knowledge, there is no act concerning the purchase of keywords yet, so we will have to wait and see what happens for Edina Realty after the court date.

EXTRA CREDIT GOOGLE ARTICLE

2006-04-25T11:25:00.000-04:00

The article entitled, "Imagining the Google Future" was an interesting reading depicting several ways the company's newly acquired geniuses could lead the company in the future. Out of the four scenarios presented in the article, I believe that scenario number three, "Google is Dead," is the most likely scenario to happen. This scenario takes place in 2020, which gives Google a significant amount of time to change from what it is today. I agree with the possibility of too many commercial and pornographic websites clogging up the search engines. Presently, many keywords one would type in to find a common resource, such as the White House, brings the user to a porn site.

Another reason for failure given by the article is that the demand for online advertisements was decreasing. I can see this being a possibility due to the fact that click fraud is an increasing problem. Some companies may be weary about advertising online if they are going to be overcharged for fraudulent clicks. The scenario says that Google would be involved in a click fraud court battle in the future. I think this could definitely happen because even though they have technology and staff who work to prevent it, there are still ways it can be done. So, when a company advertising on Google becomes victim to click fraud despite Google's security, the company would probably be quick to blame Google for the extra clicks to make a profit.

With a snowball effect of allegations and court hearings, a company can be viewed in a negative light by the public. I can see that a company such as Microsoft would become more trustworthy to customers due to the fact that Google is involved in so many legal battles in this scenario. Customer spending will be directed more towards the trusted company, taking away profits from Google. In conclusion, I think scenario three is a possibility for Google if they are not careful of the decisions they make. Uncontrollable factors can cause problems for the company, but in order to stay in business they must react to the changes and be proactive before uncontrollable forces affect the company in the future.

Fraudulent Jobs Online

2006-04-19T16:02:00.000-04:00

"Keep Your Online Job Search In-Line"

With the occurrence of frequent online frauds, it is imperative to protect oneself whenever giving out private information. Most people would assume that career sites would be a secure place to apply for jobs, but one must still use caution. The article found at CNN.com mentions an example of a fraudulent job when the victim is told they will make money by cashing checks. I remember reading about a woman in my hometown that answered a job advertisement ad and ended up loosing thousands of dollars. She was told if she forwarded money to a family in Iran that she would receive a hefty bonus for cashing checks that could not be cashed in the family’s hometown. She ended up loosing a large amount of money because she was sending real money abroad and receiving fake checks. I think that older people are more susceptible to these types of scams because younger generations are being educated on the types of online crimes and how to protect oneself. In addition to the safety tips given in the article, check out some more tips for applying to jobs online.

Presently, most of us are on the search for jobs for after graduation. After reading this article, I hope everyone sees that it is important to be cautious in applying to jobs online and urge everyone to apply to jobs found on credible sites such as CareerBuilder.com that have staff dedicated to fraud detection. As mentioned in the class textbook, online fraud is often hyped up by media and is not as prevalent as it seems. However, if you are ever in doubt if a company is credible, contact the Better Business Bureau to check into it before applying for the job. Image found at CareerBuilder.com

MySpace Warnings

2006-04-12T17:27:00.000-04:00

"MySpace Posts Safety Ads"

In class, we have discussed how people can become addicted to the Web and look for any new information they can find on the Internet to feed their habit. Another negative consequence of the creation of the Internet has been child pornography. Some young girls are not realizing the danger they are putting themselves in when they create a MySpace profile. Some girls post sexual pictures of themselves on their profiles to attract attention. The girls are definitely attracting attention, but from the wrong people. Some older men are using this website to search for younger children to target for sexual assault. Putting up pornographic pictures is just adding to the problem of child pornography on the Internet.

The new ad campaign that MySpace has proposed will warn the children and their parents about the dangers of putting too much information on the Web and being a member of MySpace. In placing these warnings on the website, my hope is that parents will actually see and read them. I am afraid that children will ignore the warnings and try to hide them from their parents so they can continue to use the site.

Even through the company is sorting through profiles and flagging those they believe to be under the age of 14, children can still lie to get around the restriction. Something must be done to prevent children from accessing restricted sites by lying. For example, one way to solve this problem would be that parents have to register a MySpace profile for their children by putting in driver’s license information. This way, the parent will be aware that their child is using the site and will be able to monitor the child’s profile.

Phishing Scams

2006-04-05T23:43:00.000-04:00

"Phishing in IRS Waters"

Besides hackers intruding into peoples private lives by poking through computer files and watching what is entered on the Internet, hackers are getting private information handed right to them. This recent idea of phishing has been an increasing problem that is continuing to rise on the internet. Phishing is when mass emails are sent to consumers posing as actual companies to collect private data about consumers. For example, I receive about two emails from Chase Bank every week asking to update my account information. I know better than to respond to this email with any private information because I do not have an account with Chase Bank. However, those who do have an account with Chase may have a tricky time deciding whether to respond to the email.

In this week’s article found at BusinessWeek.com, the IRS is a new target of the scam. Phisishing emails are disguised as IRS statements trying to get innocent tax payers to enter in private account information. Even though the IRS does not have anything to do with these scamming emails, phishing can present negative light on the company. For example, I would be weary about dealing with Chase Bank considering all the problems I have with the emails when I am not even a customer yet. Also, I get PayPal account emails asking me to update my account when I do not have an account set up.

The safe way to handle the threat of phishing emails is to never respond to any of these emails. Instead, call up the company using the phone number on your statement to talk to a real person to see if they really need your account updated.

Photo found at dayioglu.net

RFID viruses

2006-03-23T00:21:00.000-05:00

"Scientists: RFID Chips Carry a Virus"

In the article found at CNN, readers learn that RFID chips can be infected with viruses. RFID are chips that are placed on pallets and products that track where the items are through the distribution channels. If viruses are passed through these distribution channels, a great deal of damage can occur. I am surprised to read that the business people who use these RFID’s on a daily basis assume that they can not be penetrated with viruses. I think this is very naïve and careless to assume that a piece of hardware that passes through and connects to many networks isn’t susceptible to viruses and misuse. Supermarkets and airlines are main users of this technology and it is scary to think how they can be affected by a viral RFID. After gaining this knowledge, I would hope that these companies will look into getting their technology checked for viruses to prevent a future disaster. It is disappointing that companies need to worry about hackers messing with even this kind of technology, but it is a growing problem. Several industries already use this technology to track their products. For example, pharmacies such as CVS are using RFID’s on their more expensive drugs to prevent theft. Once this security issue is resolved, I think more companies should take advantage of this high tech device. It seems very beneficial to know where your inventory is at all times and study the effectiveness of distribution channels.
Image found at the Electronic Frontier Foundation's website.

When Nerds Attack

2006-03-15T16:16:00.000-05:00

"Cyber Crime on the Rise, Survey Finds"

It’s too bad that people with such vast knowledge in computers are using it for evil instead of for good. Why get a real job, if you could sit at your computer all day and steal other people’s information and get paid for it? This illegal act is on the rise, and the scariest part is that Internet users do not even know when they are being attacked. Cyber crime has become so advanced, that only a third party companies such as Symantec will be able to detect that anything is wrong with a user’s system. Symantec is a sophisticated security company who is able to detect when cyber crime is occurring. When reading this article on CNN, it seems obvious that people should keep their security systems and firewalls up to date. However, as a user myself, when I get the pop-ups that my McAfee Security System needs to be updated, I click away because I do not want to be bothered. Identity theft is one of those things that you see on the news, but think it will not happen to you.

I was very surprised to hear that the use of “crimeware” is also on the rise. According to the article, “crimeware” is the software used to commit cyber crime. I wasn’t aware that such a thing even existed. This makes me believe that there is a whole other world out there selling and trading private information. I picture a big convention of sly nerds sitting around a big table swapping financial information and illegal software. As these criminals are becoming sneakier and cautious about being caught, the public needs to be more aware of the problem. So, even though we are not seeing viruses such as the “I Love You" virus destroying computers, cyber crime is still a major threat. Keep your firewalls updated and be careful what you download!

Photograph found at U.S.Courts.gov

"Computer Terrorist" Teaches Anti-Hacking

2006-03-08T17:09:00.000-05:00

"Computer Terrorist" Teaches Anti-Hacking

Paying someone who once stole something from me doesn’t sounds too appealing. This is exactly what a lot of companies are doing when they hire Kevin Mitnick’s security consulting firm. Kevin Mitnick was on America’s Most Wanted List for some time and finally went to jail for almost five years regarding computer hacking and other pranks. Although he never was in it to steal money, Mitnick did a lot of damage to companies, such as Pacific Bell, by messing with their top secret information by hacking into their systems. While reading the article found at CNN, I was very surprised that he got most of his information by befriending an employee. Once Mitnick would gain their trust, he would get them to spill top secret information. Employees at any firm need to be trained how to deal with a customer and when to stop talking. They should know what information can be shared with outsiders and what information can only be given to employees. I feel that if these employees had better knowledge about what could happen if private information gets into the wrong hands, hackers like Mitnick would not be as successful. Mitnick obviously has a lot of computer talent, but it was not until now that he was using that talent for good instead of evil. Kevin Mitnick’s security firm will probably be very successful due to his background knowledge and experience he has. He knows first hand how to break into systems therefore will be very valuable to have as a member of a company’s team rather than an opponent. Photo is found at Keppler Speakers.

Government Eavesdropping

2006-03-02T17:24:00.000-05:00

"White House Steps up Defense of Domestic Eavesdropping"

The government’s ability to wiretap for security purposes sounds like a good idea, until the capabilities get into the wrong hands. Some people would argue that they do not want the government to look at files or hear conversations going on because we are innocent people just trying to live our lives. Several groups plan to sue the government so that they will not be able to use the technology to listen in on conversations. These groups feel that their civil rights are being violated by the wiretapping. I, on the other hand, have no problem with the government looking through my stuff because I know I am not doing anything wrong. If I were a cyber terrorist or some kind of criminal, I would worry that my secrets would get out, but I have nothing to hide. I think that anything the government can do in order to prevent another terrorist attack should be welcomed. I am under the impression that by chance if a conversationis selected and is skimmed but nothing suspicious is being said, the government will look past it. They will not focus in and record everything communicated if nothing unlawful is occurring. If this technology gets in the wrong hands, the innocent people just trying to communicate with others then may have a problem. I do not feel safe if some pervert was listening in on my conversations or reading my emails. To sum up, I feel comfortable knowing that the government is looking out for the well-being of U.S. citizens, but I am uneasy about the technology being misused.

Teens at Risk on MySpace

2006-02-22T16:46:00.000-05:00

"Teens at Risk on Social Websites"

MySpace is the latest internet fad to hit among college students to keep in touch with their friends and meet new people. Now even younger kids are picking up on the trend, creating a dangerous connection between them and the older crowd. After reading this article, I learned security is being breached by the posting of private information on sites such as MySpace. Young children do not realize the consequences on posting compromising pictures or personal information online. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to worry about predators trying to lure children in, but in reality parents should have major concern and control over this issue. The fact that 7 girls have recently been sexually assaulted by men over the age of 20 in Connecticut due to MySpace should raise a red flag for parents. I feel that parents need to have serious and often talks with their children about what information is appropriate for the Web and what private information should be left out of their profiles. When I was younger, my mom didn’t even want me to post anything in my AOL profile, let alone create an entire homepage about myself, with my picture, class schedule, phone number, etc.

When I came to college, I joined Facebook which is another website similar to MySpace which allows students to post information, photos, quotes, and other information on a page about themselves. Other students in your school or even at other schools can search for your information and look through your photos. I think it is important for students to leave private information such as a class schedule, phone number, home address, and screen name off of their Facebook accounts. For example, with a class schedule posted, a predator can tell where you are at all times during the day. Most college students feel safe knowing that only other college students can see the site, but I urge students to still be careful on what info they give to the public because you never know who is looking through your information. Logo is found at MySpace.com.

Child SSN Theft

2006-02-16T16:52:00.000-05:00

Hi! My name is Camie, and I'd like to welcome you to my blog! This is my first time blogging, but I hope to figure out the tricks of the trade and hopefully be able to use in a future marketing career. A little about myself...I am a senior at the University of Delaware and a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. I love to dance, snowboard, and hang out with my friends. My blog is about the security issues found on the Internet, so I hope you enjoy and learn some new interesting facts!

“Do You Know Where Your Child’s Social Security Number Is?”

After reading this article found on CNN, I was very perturbed that adults looking for a job would stoop so low as to steal a child’s identity. Considering the amount of children on welfare in Utah only represents 1% of the state’s population, there are thousand’s more children being affected by identity theft in Utah alone. It is happening so often in Utah that I am sure the numbers for the entire country could be in the hundreds of thousands! In addition, the fact that adults do not have access to the resources they need to check to see if their children’s identities are safe makes children even more vulnerable to the theft. I think that when government officials do studies such as the one in this article, they should notify parents of their child’s SSN dilemma. This way, the children will not be shocked and up the creek when they are old enough to start making big payments and credit purchases, and parents will be able to help the problem instead of reacting to it years later.

Because the Utah study shows that most of the perpetrators are illegal immigrants looking for proper documentation for a job, I think that employers should do a more thorough background check of their applicant’s identities. In doing this, applicants who are misusing someone else’s Social Security Number will be caught and identity theft can therefore be prevented. I worry about my identity being stolen because as a university student, I use my social security number as an ID number almost everyday. Only a year ago, to take attendance at Greek community events on campus, our social security numbers and birthdays were recorded for each person. If any of these documents were misplaced, hundreds of people’s private information could be up for grabs for theft. These policies have begum to change, and new forms of identity are being recorded instead of using SSN. I feel that this is an important policy every university and organization should look into changing in order to protect its members.