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The Digital Tattoo Project Podcast raises questions, shares stories, speaks with experts and encourages us to consider our digital lives.
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In the News: ‘WaitList.dat” file is harvesting text from touch-based Windows PCs
Do you have a touch-based Windows PC? If you have used the ‘Handwriting Recognition’[1] feature, text you entered through any method (keyboard or handwriting) may have been harvested and sent to Microsoft, according to ZDNet [2]. According to digital forensics and incident response expert Barnaby Skeggs, when this ‘Handwriting Recognition’ feature is turned on, a […]
In the News: Google Automatically Logs Users Into Chrome Browser on Google Sites
Google launched version 69.0 of its Chrome web browser on September 5, 2018 [1]. After the last version update of the browser [2], we talked Google’s decision to mark all HTTP-only websites as ‘Not Secure’. In their update for Chrome 69, Google decided to log users who had turned the ‘Sync’ feature into their […]
In the News: Google Tracks Smartphones that Disabled Location Services
You probably already know that there are tradeoffs involved with certain services offered through the internet. One such tradeoff is providing a service with your geographic location to find out where you are, or how to get to a destination from your current location. Google also receives your current geographic location via GPS data sent […]
In the News: France Implements Smartphone Ban in Schools
As of September of this year, elementary and middle school children in France are no longer allowed to carry their smartphones while in school. As a part of Emmanuel Macron’s presidential campaign, the controversial ban details that children up to the age of 15 must either leave their phones at home or give them to […]
In the News: Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance: “Privacy is not Absolute”
Five Eyes (FVEY) Intelligence Alliance is a multi-national agreement for signals intelligence between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom [1]. This group emerged as a result of the 1943 Britain-United States of America Agreement (1943 BRUSA Agreement)[2]. Although the treaty was signed and enacted in 1943, the public was only […]
In the News: Researchers develop sonar technology to steal smartphone passcodes
Last month, researchers from Lancaster University in England released work detailing a new technique where a smartphone’s built-in speaker and microphone can act as a sonar system to steal the phone’s unlock pattern. Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) uses sound propagation to detect the surrounding objects and their movements [1]. In this case, the development […]
In the News: Smart Meters are Internet Connected Devices Too!
Thinking of upgrading your thermostat or doorbell to a smart, internet-enabled device? You may want to consider the consequences of creating a connection to certain parts or systems of your home through the internet. Smart electricity meters are one example of internet-enabled elements of a person’s home. These meters can read and send the monthly […]
In The News: US Prosecutor Obliges Suspect to Surrender Passcode
A recent development in a 2017 case in Louisiana has resulted in a suspect being compelled to surrender the passcode to his smartphone. In the case of State of Louisiana v. Sean-Paul Gott [1], one of the four defendants was ordered under a ‘Motion to Compel’ to reveal the password to his smartphone, which was […]
In the News: Banks Using Biometric Data to Increase Online Security
While voice recognition software and fingerprint authentication have become familiar features of many personal devices, they will soon be seen as precursors for more advanced forms of biometric technology commonly used and accepted. Currently, advanced techniques in tracking the way a user swipes, taps, types, or clicks can provide valuable data in authenticating a user, […]
In the News: Many Instagram Users Report Unauthorized Entry into Account
In August 2018, Instagram users reported that their accounts had been compromised by hackers that changed their account password, disabled two-factor authentication, and edited personal information. Karissa Bell [1] reported that Instagram users were reaching out on other social media platforms [2] to report unauthorized entry into their accounts. Several commonalities were reported among the accounts affected: a […]
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