CyberGhost Guest Post- “5 easy steps to increase privacy on Windows 10” August 6, 2015
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Cloud, CyberGhost, data breach, hack, Microsoft, OneDrive, privacy, security, VPN, WIFI, Windows 10
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Below is a guest post from CyberGhost on how to increase privacy on Windows 10. This is very timely and great advice!. I have upgraded to Windows 10 and really think it is a huge upgrade over Windows 8/8.1 but (there is always a but) there are some serious privacy concerns. (SERIOUS) Thanks to CyberGhost’s Silvana Demeter for providing this valuable info! BTW…I am very familiar with CyberGhost really like their products. Check them out!
“On July 29, Microsoft has released its new operating system, Windows 10, available globally in 190 countries. The new version offers new features and completes different gaps. Windows 10 is fluid and fast and its new browser Microsoft Edge might win back a lot of users being super-fast.
Some privacy related concerns appear though, one possible problem being that data such as contacts, calendar, mail, messages are transferred to Microsoft’s servers, creating a more detailed user’s profile. Another feature that is infringing one’s privacy is the advertising ID assigned to individuals that are later targeted with specifically tailored ads. Even encrypting the hard drive won’t make an improvement to the privacy since the keys are stored by default on OneDrive. These new settings and features are aimed at increasing productivity, as they make apps and operating system smarter.
In order to improve the future experience of its users, Microsoft uploads data on their servers. As stated in the Terms of Service, Microsoft has the right to share this data whenever it “has a good faith belief doing so is necessary to: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone; 3.operate and maintain the security of our services, including to prevent or stop an attack on our computer systems or networks; or 4.protect the rights or property of Microsoft, including enforcing the terms governing the use of the services.”
In addition, all these settings are ON by default and will remain enabled if not unchecked while installing or upgrading to Windows 10.
All the data used by the Microsoft account (@live.com, @outlook.com, @msn.com – necessary for most of the new features) is scanned by Microsoft’s services. The location or even the talks with Cortana (searches, reminders, notes, and actions) are also processed by Microsoft’s services: “We also share data with Microsoft-controlled affiliates and subsidiaries; with vendors working on our behalf; when required by law or to respond to legal process; to protect our customers; to protect lives; to maintain the security of our services; and to protect the rights or property of Microsoft.”
How to increase privacy on Windows 10
The Privacy settings can be managed by searching the term privacy in the start menu and most of the modules that send data to Microsoft can be disabled.
Below are some important features that can be changed to obtain more privacy:
- Disable advertiser ID: open the settings and search for “advertising;” open “Choose if apps can use your advertising ID” and disable the first option: “Let apps use my advertising ID for experiences across apps”
- Disable “…info about how I write” so that the text one types and writes with a stylus is not sent to Microsoft servers
- Disabling the Advertising ID in the “Privacy Settings.”
o “Let apps use my Advertising ID…” -> OFF
o “Send Microsoft info about how I write..” -> OFF
o “Location” -> OFF
- Speech, Inking, & typing: If all options are cleared, Cortana will also be disabled
Another new feature introduced by Windows 10 is “Wi-Fi Sense” – a feature that syncs all Wi-Fi passwords to the cloud and shares them with the contact list. Through this functionality, the PC will be able to exchange passwords and automatically connect to WIFI, even to unprotected hotspots. The “Wi-Fi Sense” feature can be disabled by accessing Settings, “Wi-Fi” and then “Change Wi-Fi Settings.” Lucian Crisan, Head of Support and QA at CyberGhost VPN and former Microsoft employee recommends this change in order to avoid man-in-the-middle attacks and phishing attempts.”
Ideas to Help Autistic Kids Who Wander- For Caregivers August 4, 2015
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: angelsense, ASD, autism, drowing, Elope, Loc8Tor, safety, special needs
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I read this morning about another beautiful little boy who had drowned after wandering (called Elopement in the Autism community) away from his grandparents house and drowning. As the parent of an awesome little Autistic boy I am heartbroken for the family and realize just how easily this can happen to families. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of little Sidney Heidrick.
Below are some quick stats on Autistic kids and elopement.
- Roughly half, or 48%, of children with an ASD attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings
- In 2009, 2010, and 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with an ASD ages 14 and younger subsequent to wandering/elopement.
- More than one third of ASD children who wander/elope are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number
- Two in three parents of elopers reported their missing children had a “close call” with a traffic injury
32% of parents reported a “close call” with a possible drowning - Wandering was ranked among the most stressful ASD behaviors by 58% of parents of elopers
62% of families of children who elope were prevented from attending/enjoying activities outside the home due to fear of wandering - 40% of parents had suffered sleep disruption due to fear of elopement
While not the answer to every situation, Heather and I have explored a number of technologies. If you are the care taker of an Autistic child, These may help..(We are not in any way associated with the products. I don’t want anyone to think I am promoting these for any other reason than to help save lives..)
- AngelSense GPS Tracker for kids. We own one. It is very valuable. It has a ton of functionality and will alert you via email when the child leaves a certain area (that you define). Absolutely worth looking at…
- PetLoc8Tor Not a GPS but works like the old school James Bond type locators. It beeps and shows lights as you get closer. Designed for pets but the actual ‘beacon’ is tiny and can be attached to a belt loop, pocket etc. $99 and very effective out to 400 yards and works indoors. I have tested in a large supermarket and it works well! Just another tool that we use.
It breaks my heart to see these little guys and girls wander and get hurt. Please pass this on if you think it could be of any value to a family with an Autistic child.
Thanks
Children with ASD are eight times more likely to elope between the ages of 7 and 10 than their typically-developing siblings
The Difference Between Compliance and Ethic (Dr. Heather Mark’s Blog) July 10, 2015
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: compliance, Dr. Heather Mark, ESPN, Ethics, HIPAA, Jason Pierre Paul
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“HIPAA does not apply to news organizations” – ESPN Statement
Last night, a news story broke that combined two of my favorite things; compliance and American football. This is a rare occurrence, indeed. It seems that Jason Pierre Paul was celebrating the 4th of July, when he had a fireworks mishap, resulting in a major injury to his hands. As a football player that had recently been franchise-tagged, this is major news. Understandably, the sports reporters were anxious to get the story, as JPP, as he’s called, hadn’t yet signed his $14.8M dollar contract. One reporter, though, went so far as to tweet a copy of the player’s medical record, as proof of the procedure.As you can imagine, compliance professionals immediately hopped on this broadcast of Protected Health Information (PHI). This is an unscrupulous invasion of privacy, but does the tweet constitute a HIPAA breach? READ MORE.
Chris Mark in the National Review (Smearing Snipers) July 2, 2015
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.add a comment
Someone called me out for ‘not finishing SEAL training’ (I was injured and discharged on a disability)..I am still proud to be able to say I was an Active duty Marine Corps Scout/Sniper and Recon Marine…BUDS didn’t work out as I was hurt but at least I got a Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) as a Marine…;)
I was asked to write a review of the movie American Sniper. The National Review asked for a ‘sniper’s’ perspective on the movie. I asked if I could write a larger piece on how snipers are maligned as ‘hate filled killers’ and ‘murderers’. I am excited that I was given the opportunity to tell a story that is not often told. I am grateful to the National Review for providing the opportunity to give insight into the dangerous job of being a sniper. The name o the article is “Smearing Snipers; What Many Americans Don’t Get About Our Warrior Elite” If you are so inclined, please consider donating to the R&S Foundation. We are a group of volunteer former Reconnaissance Marines and Scout Snipers who work to support our brothers in need. You can donate here. Thank you for anything you can give!…
Gun Control & Causality; A philosophical discussion -2015 June 19, 2015
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: 2nd amendment, bloomberg, causality, control, correlation, everytown, firearms, giffords, gun, south carolina, violence
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This is an update from a post in 2014.
It is now June 2015 and with yet another shooting in the news, the debate is again raging about gun control.
I personally believe these are healthy debates but I am often frustrated by the seemingly illogical positions taken on both sides of the debate. Last year I wrote a post titled “A Perspective on Killing from a Marine and His Rifle” in which I provide personal as well as third party information on what is required to create a ‘killer’. Adding to this I am including information that should help people better understand causality and point to the ‘actual’ cause of an event in which a firearm is used. This is taken from the research brief titled: “Failed State of Security II; Victim Blaming in CyberCrime”
With each shooting or killing the relevant question is certainly asked as to “what caused the action?” and “how could it have been prevented?” We all want to stop crime and violence but we must balance a number of issues. Irrespective of political leanings or other aspects, to get to the heart of the issue it is important to understand the “cause” of the event. Many gun control advocates posit that guns are the ’cause’ of the murder. With this in mind let’s take a look at the concept of causality.
Understanding Causality
The simple term “cause” can be deceptively complex to understand and apply. The application becomes much more difficult when applied to social issues and events where ambiguity, subjectivity, and moral and ethical aspects must be considered. While the concept of cause and causality has been studied and debated by philosophers for millennia a commonly accepted definition is still not found. It was Virgil who, in Georgics 2 in 490 said: “Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas” or “blessed accomplishment theirs, who can track the causes of things”.[i] The difficulty of defining the concept of “cause” is familiar to those with an interest in philosophy or science. Without becoming a primer on the intricacies of the debate, suffice it to say that cause, like security, is necessarily contextual in nature. Within the context of Victimology, it is important to understand the distinction between identifying what a person emotionally or philosophically believes is a ‘cause’ of an event that impacts a victim and the philosophical and legal concepts of ‘cause’ as they applies to a crime.
The Philosophical View of Causality
People often ascribe blame or identify a cause of an event based upon their internal logical calculus or emotional belief as to what ’caused’ the event. Within the context of firearm violence, this is particularly true. Firearm control advocates often state that “firearms cause” violence. While not always explicit even the argument that “if they did not have a gun, this would not have happened” is an implicit nod to the idea that the firearm was the causal agent of the event. For this reason, it is important to understand the philosophical underpinnings of reasoning and how they apply to determining ‘cause’. As important is the understanding of errors in logics. Within logic, errors in either reasoning or structure are known as fallacies. With an understanding of the common fallacies that pertain to identification of cause, it is easier to understand and identify the true, or actual cause of an event. (more…)
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 