Hotels...making private information not so private.

Hotels could possibly be breaking data protection laws and illegally storing information about guests. A recent article by TimesOnline (UK) discussed the privacy risks that hotels are subjecting guests to. The hotels claim that by keeping the information they are able to improve service, even though collecting the information without the guests' knowledge or consent is against the Data Protection Act.

Information being stored includes credit card numbers, family-life information, occupation, nationalities, and even some other activities including consumption of alcohol and names of overnight visitors with the guest. Don't order an adult film or be rude to someone at the front desk, because that goes into your "permanent record." It's like middle school all over again.

Other information, which is not as sensitive, is also recorded. Employees use Internet searches to find information about the guests, ranging from the books or movies they like to a favorite sport. The file is then given out to the hotel employees, because this "systematic approach" to invasion of privacy seems to be the best method of customer service.

I can see the logic behind this method...but I also remember someone telling me "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." How does this massive invasion of privacy help out that much? I understand keeping a profile of hotel-related activities such as if a smoking room is preferred. But knowing my favorite channels and the type of alcohol I drink at the hotel bar seem to be details that do not help the hotel...and make me feel uncomfortable. The hotel employees do not need to know that much personal information. I especially do not need a manager Googling me or looking at a MySpace page to get personal information.

The creepiness factor and your Internet privacy...

Everyday millions Internet users make purchases online. Most people do not realize the dangers lurking behind recommendations that websites make based on your purchases. In theory it seems like a great idea...I purchased the latest Stephen King book and here is a list of other books I may like based on my previous purchase. What's not to like about that? That is great customer service...or is it? A recent article published by the Wharton School of Business shows the underlying dangers of behavioral targeting.

The article starts off by turning the tables...what if you buy your favorite movie and then see recommendations for other movies you may like? That is something we all appreciate. But what if the next time you visit the site you see an ad that has nothing to do with your movie choices? Instead the advertisement is for debt consolidation or treatment for a medical problem...this is what the article describes as the "creepiness factor," the private part of your life that is somehow not private anymore.

The way the creepiness factor comes from marketing companies tracking your surfing habits and building up a profile about you based on the sites you visit, e-mails you write, etc.... The companies argue that focusing advertisements based on your needs is beneficial to you as a consumer, and that the trade-off between better advertisements and your personal privacy and Internet anonymity is worth it. I disagree...and so do most people. A recent research study, presented in the article, showed that 91% of adult Internet users would use some sort of tool to surf anonymously and avoid having their information tracked and stored.

The article continues to discuss how technology has evolved over the years, but the policy for protecting us while using the Internet has not. There is no barrier. Any law that is intended to help us has a loophole. For example, the government can't collect certain information from us without a warrant, so they buy it from a company's marketing department that collects the information legally without us knowing it.

I would like to know when my information is being stored in some database and how it will be used by the company. Protecting your privacy needs to be proactive. The use of proxy servers and other privacy tools can help hide your IP address and keep you from having your identity stolen.

Throw those credit cards out...unless you like not having any privacy,

A recent report by Freedom Works discussed one of the newest privacy threats we should know about. Congress has sketched a new proposal that would require all merchants' payment systems to be tracked, recorded, and reported to the federal government.

This legislation will affect any credit card transaction made. Businesses will be required to give up that information once they swipe a card. The hopes of Internet privacy or being able to surf anonymously may be nonexistent if you use Amazon, PayPal, or any other online merchant. The online vendors are also required to divulge the information and report transactions to the government.

Many questions are raised throughout this article such as:

• What is the federal government's purpose with this kind of detailed data?
  
• How will this database be secured, and who will have access?
  
• Many small proprietors use their Social Security number as their tax ID. How will their privacy be protected?
  
• What compliance costs will this impose on businesses?
  

These important questions need to be answered before the legislation continues. With the rise of ID Theft and American citizens' worries about government spying, this legislation seems to completely forgo privacy protection.

Airport security adds another invasion of privacy to the list.

Remember when you were younger and wanted x-ray glasses? Well now all you have to do is get a job with the Transportation Security Administration. This recent article from The Dallas Morning News (dallasnews.com) reports on the newest invasion of privacy when traveling.

The TSA is using a new scanning method which has many people baffled and shocked. The new millimeter wave whole body image device shows what's going on under a traveler's clothes. The TSA argues that this will speed up the screening process...at the expense of someone seeing a 3-D image of what is under your clothes. This will increase security measures since only metal objects are detected via a magnetometer.

Privacy advocates are saying that these images are too revealing. This is the equivalent of being strip searched. The TSA and privacy advocates do not agree on the potential uses for this. Ultimately privacy advocates are saying, "American passengers should not have to parade naked in front of security screeners in order to board the plane."

The TSA has a modesty filter on the machines so that images are not too revealing...how does this help either way? So if I am hiding something it can potentially be blurred...but if I'm not then, I still have a machine basically taking naked photos of me. The screening is completely optional...but the TSA doesn't promote that fact. A passenger can skip the screening and be patted down by security. People are being put through this screening process without even being made aware that it is happening. Is it their fault for not questioning airport security? I would say no...it is the TSA's fault for not letting passengers know what they are being subjected to.

Traveling to the Olympics? Don't bother bringing your privacy...

A recent USA Today tech article focused on the invasion of privacy many will face when traveling to the Olympics in China this summer. The warnings, aimed mostly at federal officials and business people, are telling travellers that the Chinese government will most likely attempt to penetrate the electronic devices (cell phones, PDAs, and laptops) being brought into the country. The Chinese government intends to steal information and plant bugs to gain access to U.S. networks. Just about anyone that has political influence, a government position, or works for a large company is at risk to have their privacy completely compromised.

The Overseas Security Advisory Council states that Chinese government frequently uses these tactics to gain access to personal and official computers. China's Internet and wireless networks are run by the government, which has access to any bit of data being transferred. A laptop being searched by airport security or left in the hotel while attending the day's games are vulnerable to attack. The control that the government has over the Internet allows them to invade any one's privacy since they have to surf the web through their network.

This is a major privacy threat for anyone travelling abroad for the Olympics. Any information you have on you is subject to Chinese inspection. Further, travelers coming home. should have their systems checked before connecting their network.

So now where does it go from here? Consider travelling without any of these electronics. If you have to bring them with you, make sure no personal or official information (of a sensitive nature) is stored on them. And if none of those precautions can be taken, then make sure a good proxy server is used while in China, and have everything on the computer's drive encrypted.

PogoWasRight.org

PogoWasRight.org is here to bring us, "Privacy news, data breaches, and privacy-related events and resources from around the world." This is a great site to visit for news and important information regarding your privacy. PogoWasRight contributor, PrivacyNews, updates frequently with headlines that are important to all of us. You can see the most recent, updated headlines and additions right on the front page.

If you want to search for articles and postings on a specific subject you have many to choose from. The sections include: Federal Government, REAL ID, Internet & Computers, Surveillance, and Business & Privacy. Clicking one of these topics brings you to the most recent updates for that section.

The "Other Privacy Sections," area offers resources for proposed legislation. The site also offers a blog, Chronicles of Dissent, which has some great articles and links to a blog dedicated to information about medical privacy. The site also shows upcoming Privacy Events and Conventions, with links to each for more details. PrivacyNews also takes leads by e-mail, in case something slipped by, that you feel should be a headline. You can also become a member of PogoWasRight.com and post comments and submit items.

This is definitely a place to go for news and information regarding privacy. The site offers relevant and recent headlines to keep us all informed on the next big threat to privacy.

Taking Back Control of Your Privacy

InsideCRM.com recently published an article that outlines 50 tips to maintain your privacy and avoid ID theft or other cyber crimes. This list is comprehensive and includes great advice on how to keep yourself protected. Everything you do online is susceptible to scams and other privacy risks; these tips could end up being the difference between security and theft. The article does not focus primarily on Internet privacy, it also discusses the ways to stay protected when offline. The full list can be found in the article, but the following are some of the major points.

• Internet Privacy
• Don't save e-mail address or password settings (log-in information) for frequently used sites such as online banking.
• Use anti-virus protection.
• If using wireless, set up a password and secure the connection.

• Credit and Financial
• Check you credit report about 2-3 times per year.
• Use a credit card for online purchases instead of a debit card.
• Never use your Social Security Number as a pin or password.

• General Privacy
• Don't use your Social Security Number as an identification number (such as an employee number) or write your SS# on checks. This number needs to be secured and given to as few people as possible.
• Understand pretexting and the danger it poses to your privacy.

• Cell Phones and Online Phones
• Check and understand your providers Privacy Policy and frequently stay informed on updates to the policy.

• Other Rules to Follow
• Keep your Social Security card in a safe and secure place. That place is not your wallet or purse either!
• Shred documents that contain personal information such as birth dates and credit card numbers.
• Look for "https" when making an online transaction. This is different from "http" because the "s" indicates a secured and encrypted connection so only you and the site have access to the information.

The tips and tools on the site are very helpful. As stated before, these can be the difference between having your identity stolen or maintaining your security. Many of these tips are common sense for some people, but the fact is identity theft and cyber crime are a problem. If you already know to keep your Social Security Number secured, that's great! Now take the next step and do something else on the list to protect yourself.