Privacy Blog

"Friends don’t let friends get spied on.' – Richard Stallman, President of the Free Software Foundation and longtime advocate of privacy in technology.

Cell Phones

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Lawmakers Call for Investigation Into Verizon’s Use of Mobile “Supercookies”

I wrote about Verizon’s “Supercookies” or “Perma-Cookies” earlier at http://goo.gl/M3gNaU. When a Verizon customer visits from a mobile device, these supercookies allow third-party advertisers and websites to assemble a deep, permanent profile of visitors’ web browsing habits without their consent. I don’t like the idea of supercookies and apparently a lot of other people also do not. Those who question the practice of online tracking include several U.S. senators. The […]

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Your Computer and Smartphone could be Held Hostage

If you unwittingly download malicious software, your computer and even your smartphone could be locked, unable to do anything. It’s called ransomware, a type of malicious code that leaves its victims feeling personally violated. Some versions destroy your data if you don’t pay, while others merely threaten. Some will encrypt your device, scrambling everything it contains until you pay a ransom. Some versions of ransomware display a fake FBI alert […]

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Silent Circle Provides Encrypted Voice Calls from your Cell Phone

When a Silent Circle subscriber makes a phone call, sends a text or video chats with another Silent Circle member, that transmission is secured and encrypted end-to-end from their iOS, Android or Windows PC device and is transmitted via Silent Circle’s crystal-clear, secure network. Silent Circle provides an encrypted communications service with easy-to-use tools available to all who appreciate a little control over who has access to their conversations. The […]

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Mobile Phone Network Privacy Flaw Uncovered

German researchers have uncovered a network privacy flaw in the mobile phone network used by almost every carrier on the planet that will let hackers intercept calls and text messages even on an encrypted line. The flaw was found on “SS7″ the global network the world’s networks use to route calls to one another. SS7 was designed in the 80’s and is being proven to have holes and flaws that […]

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FREE: Wiper Offers Encrypted Cell Phone Calls and Text Messages You Can Erase Later

Wiper is not the only cell phone app that sends secure texts, photos, and and then deletes them from the recipient’s phone later. However, it is unusual that it also creates encrypted voice calls over wi-fi connections. Wiper is available free of charge for both Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) devices. Most apps delete the messages a set time after they’re read, but Wiper lets you remove […]

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Your Cell Phone is Tracking You

You probably have a tracking device in your pocket. You are helping government spies, hackers, burglars, and cell phone companies track your every move. Every time you place your cell phone in your pocket or purse, you are on the radar and your movements, position, orientation, and conversations are all open to someone. In fact, that happens whether you place a call or not. The “smart phones,” such as an […]

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The Best Reason Yet to Buy an iPhone

Apple has updated its privacy policy as part of the latest version of its operating system: iOS 8. Newly-updated iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch mobile devices can no longer be accessed by anyone, not even by Apple itself. Previously, if law enforcement came to Apple with a seized device and a valid warrant, that agency was able to access a substantial portion of the data already on an iPad or iPhone. […]

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Verizon is Injecting Perma-Cookies to Track Cell Phone Customers, Bypassing Privacy Controls

Verizon users might want to start looking for another provider. In an effort to better serve advertisers, Verizon Wireless has been silently modifying its users’ web traffic on its network to inject a cookie-like tracker. This tracker, included in an HTTP header called X-UIDH, is sent to every unencrypted website a Verizon customer visits from a mobile device. It allows third-party advertisers and websites to assemble a deep, permanent profile […]

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