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Written by: 6/24/2011 8:21 AM
Sometimes material just presents itself and I just can't choose what to chat about.
Today's hodgepodge theme: Trust No One. Or an alternative theme might be: If You Want Something Done Right...
Article #1: Staples Slip-Up
Apparently, some Canadian Staples stores have been selling used computers without fully wiping the hard drives. In fact, a government audit discovered that 17 out of 20 laptops that were resold still contained residual personal information from the former owner. The audit turned up leftover bank and tax information, academic transcripts, and more.
Now, in most cases, this sort of breach wouldn't result in anything criminal. The average American buying a used computer will not likely even know how to defraud a stranger with leftover facts from his or her old computer. However, it is still concerning that you can't trust a big box store like Staples. Not suprising, maybe, but concerning.
Moral of the story: Wipe your own hard-drive before reselling it to a super store.
Read more here: http://news.hitb.org/content/staples-selling-computers-containing-old-user-data
Article #2: Would you hand over control of your Facebook account to prevent burglary?
A British company is offering to update client Facebook accounts for them while they are on vacation, to promote the illusion that they are home. The rationale: if burglars don't know you are out, they won't target your home.
I have mixed feelings about this one, because I can see their point. And yes, for the most part, the average Facebook user is not fully tuned in to the potential dangers associated with posting info about your location, possession, and family on the World Wide Web. After all, why have a Facebook account, if you can't brag about swimming with whales on your recent Alaskan cruise?
On the other hand, I don't really want someone else to have control over yet another location of my personal information. It's enough that I must trust banks, hospitals, colleges, and stores (see article #1) with sensitive info.
Moral of the story: Personal responsibility is, yet again, the best option. Think twice before shouting to the world that you'll be away from your home...on the other side of the world...not to return for some time.
Read more here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8594707/Security-firm-will-update-your-Facebook-status-while-youre-on-holiday.html
Article #3: Oops. 4800 websites erased.
I recognize that I'm adding this one more for the gasp factor than to provide practical advice. 4800 websites. That's a lot of angry customers asking for answers. And while you hope that at least some of the companies backed up their own website info elsewhere, it may still require a lot of work and a lot of money to get everything back together, up, and running (with another host company, no doubt).
And we understand and empathize with these companies, because they didn't do anything wrong—and this rings true personally as well as for large corporations. Sometimes you do all you can and still be a victim.
Moral of the story: Sometimes there's not much you can do—but do whatever you can to protect yourself.
Read more here: http://gizmodo.com/5814333/over-4800-web-sites-erased-when-australian-web-host-is-hacked