Encryption May Lower Fines Under New EU Privacy Regime
Companies can lower the risk of massive fines under the new European Union privacy regime by embracing encryption of personal data, privacy attorneys and data security professionals told Bloomberg BNA. The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which takes effect in May 2018, instructs privacy regulators to consider whether data are encrypted in setting fines for data breaches, which can reach maximums of 20 million euros ($21.9 million) or 4 percent of a company’s glo
Ending Whatsapp Encryption to Stop Terrorism Would Make People ‘Less Safe’
Privacy advocates have criticized U.K. Home Secretary Amber Rudd after she called for security services to be able to access encrypted messaging services like WhatsApp in order to fight terrorism. Rudd said there must be “no place for terrorists to hide” following Wednesday’s attack in London that killed four people. Police believe the perpetrator had accessed WhatsApp two minutes before carrying out the attack. “We need to make sure that organizations like WhatsApp, and ther
Third Time Charm for Email Privacy Act?
The Email Privacy Act, a persistent attempt to update the antiquated U.S. electronic privacy law, has returned to Capitol Hill for the third time since 2013. The bill aims to amend the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986, which created a legislative framework that impacts internet communications to this day. Amongst the provisions of the 1986 law is one which allows government agencies to obtain the electronic communications of U.S. citizens without a warrant
WhatsApp backdoor: "A huge threat to freedom of speech"
A reported 'backdoor' in WhatsApp could undermine the security of private messages. WhatsApp has a backdoor that could allow Facebook to intercept and read encrypted messages, it is claimed. According to a report in The Guardian, the way WhatsApp has implemented its end-to-end encryption protocol makes it possible for the company to access private messages, at least in theory. As the report explains, WhatsApp's encryption "relies on the generation of unique security keys", cr
A Welcome Reset for Citizen Privacy
Canada’s Public Consultation on National Security: The notion that we are being watched digitally has, seemingly overnight, become something many people now accept as a fact of life in the modern, post-Snowden world. Much of the news around citizen privacy, as always, has been focused on the US, but are we on the sidelines? Canada is an active participant in the five-eyes program, has rolled out the now politically toxic Bill C-51, and as members of NATO, NORAD, and enough ac
How Can We Convert More Customers to Paperless Billing?
Ask anyone on the street, and they’ll probably tell you that using electronic, or paperless, billing and statements is a good thing. When introduced more than a decade ago, paperless billing was touted as an environmental savior. More than an estimated 500 billion bills are sent annually and the rate is increasing by 2-3 percent a year, according to research group Billentis, so the problem is only going to get worse. Overall, companies need to provide more options across the
Expert advice for the one billion hacked in Yahoo mega data breach
A catastrophic case of déjà vu for Yahoo, as a second mega data breach is disclosed by the company. This one is even worse – with one billion user accounts reportedly compromised in what has become the biggest data breach of all time. ‘Unfathomable’ and ‘unprecedented’ are just some of the adjectives being used by security pros today, having woken up to the news this morning of asecond Yahoo mega data breach. This latest Yahoo mega data breach, combined with the already discl
Investigatory Powers Bill one step closer to becoming law
The Investigatory Powers Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Lords. The House of Lords did suggest some amendments to the bill, which means the bill will be thrown back to the House of Commons for a final 'look over', and is expected to become law by the end of 2016. The Investigatory Powers Bill (IP Bill) has passed its third reading in the House of Lords. The 300 page document has completed its Parliamentary process, and is expected to become law by the end of
Facebook Went Secret But Its Facebook
I share insights, talk fears, and discuss the risks with renown cybersecurity expert and certified ethical hacker Charles Tendell, on The Charles Tendell Show. You may not have noticed. But Facebook released it “Secret Conversation” for its messenger app. But its Facebook so really how private is it? Jacob Ginsberg of Echoworx joins the conversation. LISTEN TO PODCAST ... #informationsecurity #encryption #privacy
It's Good to Talk, UK Banks Told
Top techies at British banks are being encouraged to share information about cyberattacks following revelations that the financial sector is under-reporting breaches to regulators. According to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, only five attacks were reported in 2014, a figure that has soared to 75 so far this year. But the numbers fail to give the full picture. US regulations oblige banks to disclose breaches, and reporting is more consistent as a result. In the UK, only
