The Telegraph discusses how sites like Facebook, Google, MySpace, Twitter, Bebo, Habbo means people are making more information about themselves accessible to strangers than ever before.

As attitudes to privacy are starting to change, here is a short list of some ways you can protect your privacy online:

1) personalised search engine optimisation – strange as it may seem, people are willing to pay for experts to alter how far up Google’s listings their name appears when they type it in. The method allows you to keep the bad news private and highlight whatever – true of false – information you desire. As one firm put it: “If you’ve ever Googled yourself and been less than happy with the results, you’ve discovered a need for personal SEO.”

2) change your name – stranger yet, Google’s chief executive, Eric Schmidt, has said young people might have to change their names when starting adult life to escape the shadow of their dodgy past. Many adults already use aliases for sites like Facebook so only those who know that know where to find them.

3) change your security/privacy settings – a lot of Facebook users, to name just one social networking site, simply don’t bother taking enough interest in this but it offers you some genuine control over who sees what. Do you really want a prospective boss checking what you used to do at the weekends?

4) set strong passwords – this is something online registration has been encouraging for years now but too many people just put in their birthdate, pet’s name, or the name of the site. To add to the problem, there are thousands of hacking guides specifically designed to get into Facebook which are available via Google. The best advice remains: use a long, interspersed combination of lower-case letters, capital letters and numbers.

5) untag yourself – social networking sites allow other people to “tag” photos of you but you have the opportunity to remove it, which is sometimes wise. So pay attention when you are prompted to do such things.

6) don’t include dates of birth/address/mother’s maiden name – such things are almost invariably used as security questions for banks and credit card databases. Therefore giving them up compromises your security and makes it easier to forge your identity, “clone” your cards and steal your money.

7) don’t respond to dodgy emails – an obvious one and a bit of an old trick now but people still fall for it. If you get an unsolicited email from an African business (a stereotype but often true) wanting to give you an incredible amount of money for a simple task, delete it. It’s a scam. And you could be opening the door for electronic intruders.

log out – if you’re in a library or some other communal space, people can get onto the machine you’ve just vacated and dive into your profiles if you have not logged out properly. Clearly this is most important for financial matters.

9) wi-fi – if you’ve got wi-fi at home, give it a good password (see above). Otherwise it allows intruders in with few barriers to overcome.

10) don’t use Facebook – if you’re absolutely terrified that someone might learn your darkest secrets or that a German fancy dress evening might backfire later in life. The only certain way to avoid embarrassment is to avoid social networking sites altogether.

Access the original article online at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/7953515/Ten-ways-to-protect-your-privacy-online.html

After the news regarding Facebook’s new Places feature, CNN reports that many users appear apprehensive about Facebook Places, the social-networking site’s new location feature.

It’s not clear whether users’ unfavorable reactions stem from privacy concerns or just confusion about the site’s Places feature, which allows users to “check in” at restaurants, bars and other gathering spots. But it may be a good thing for Facebook that the site has no “dislike” button.

“People, use common sense. Foursquare and geolocation applications only increase the chance of violent crimes and theft,” wrote a commenter on CNN.com. “If I announce online that I am on vacation, I’m pretty sure that leaves my house vulnerable.”

A user on Facebook’s blog wrote, “I’m upset that this was enabled by default — especially for people who are victims of stalking and harassment, it could be potentially dangerous if their location was broadcast to the world. Please change it so that this feature (especially the ability of your friends to indicate your location) is turned off.”

Some comments indicate that users may not understand how the Places feature, which Facebook unveiled Wednesday night, actually works. The feature won’t reveal users’ locations without their prior approval, for example.

“Do some of you people know how to read? It’s not going to automatically tell people where you are UNLESS YOU ‘CHECK IN’,” wrote a CNN.com commenter.

Access the original article online at: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/08/19/facebook.places.privacy/index.html

The BBC reports that the average Briton spends almost half of their waking life using media and communications, data suggests.

The statistics from regulator Ofcom suggest people in the UK spend seven hours a day watching TV, surfing the net and using their mobile phones. However, the average person actually squeezes in the equivalent of nearly nine hours of media and communications by multi-tasking on several devices.

The statistics come from industry sources and a survey of 1,138 adults. The report also suggests that traditional media is holding its own.

Television still dominates people’s media habits, with the average person spending around 3.8 hours watching television every day, it says.

“For the first time we have mapped the totality of communications use over one day,” said Peter Philips of Ofcom.

The annual Communications Market Report says that the average person spends around 15 hours 45 minutes every day awake. Of this time, it says, the average person spends seven hours and five minutes “engaging in media and communications activities”.

However, it found that most people are able to cram in even more by multi-tasking. For example, the report found that adults aged between 16 and 24 appeared to consume the least, spending just six hours and 35 minutes a day on the phone, laptop, radio or television.

But by multitasking – effectively using two or more devices at once – the survey found that young adults were able to squeeze the equivalent of nine hours 32 minutes worth of consumption into that time.

“They are taking up more and more communications activities but fitting them into the same amount of time,” said James Thickett, director of market research and market intelligence at Ofcom. He said this was largely due to the rise in the mobile internet and the use of smartphones.

“It has untethered people from being in one particular place.”

The report says that the number of people using their phone to surf the web currently stands at 13.5m people. This has almost tripled since 2008, when the figure stood at 5.7m.

Concurrently, the use of mobile data has exploded, the report said, increasing by 240% between 2007 and 2009. It suggested that, in part, much of this increase had been driven by one site – Facebook – which accounts for 45% of all mobile web use in the UK, followed by Google at 8%.

“All of the others have less than 4% market share,” said Mr Philips.

Facebook also dominates fixed line broadband use. The report says that social networking now accounts for nearly one-quarter of all time spent online, with Facebook accounting for the majority of traffic.

The majority of users of the site – and other networks – are between 16 and 34, although Ofcom said that there was a growing trend for older people to also sign up to the services. The report also mapped the current state of broadband in the UK. It suggests that internet take-up has now reached 73% in the UK, the majority of which is fixed broadband.

But despite the rise in new ways of accessing content, the report says that traditional media, such as TV and radio still dominate people’s media habits,.

“TV still plays a central role in people’s lives,” said Mr Thickett. “We are watching more than at any time in the last five years.”

Yet, despite the growth in online TV services and devices that allow people to record television, most shows were watched via traditional live broadcasts. Radio also held its own, the survey said. Although listening has gone down slightly, the number of people able to access radio services was at an all time high, at 91%.

“It is still a very important medium for people,” said Mr Thickett.

Access the original article online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11012356

The Daily Mail describes how a coroner has issued a warning to parents about a dangerous internet craze called the ‘choking game’ after a young boy died by accidentally hanging himself.

Harry Robinson, 13, had been enjoying an unexpected day off school due to snow earlier this year when his younger brother discovered his body in the bathroom. Charlie Robinson, 11, managed to cut him down but Harry was later pronounced dead in hospital.

An investigation later revealed children at the teenager’s school had been playing risk-taking games and an urgent letter was sent to parents.

The fad involves children filming themselves with a variety of props to achieve a ‘high’ and posting the results online. Sometimes they are with friends but often they are alone.

Essex and Thurrock coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of accidental death yesterday, saying: ‘There’s sufficient evidence before me to believe it was highly likely Harry was experimenting with the choking game and it’s gone terribly wrong.

‘There’s clearly national concern about this practice. It’s an extremely dangerous practice that children are engaging in – to say they are dicing with death is an understatement. None of these children intend to kill themselves – there is no evidence Harry wanted to kill himself. We need to educate them about the risk they are taking. We need to educate parents in what to look out for – the tell-tale signs. The family wish to publicise these dangers so no other family has to go through what they have been through.’

Air Training Corps cadet Harry was a pupil at Notley High School in Braintree, Essex, where X-Factor star Olly Murs was a pupil, but it was closed on January 7 due to the weather.

Instead, he remained at home in Terling, near Chelmsford, with Charlie. Their mother Amanda Keable, who also has a daughter, Rhianna, 15, was out at the time. A coroner’s officer told Chelmsford Coroners Court: ‘Harry went to the toilet and a short time later his brother found the door was locked. He phoned his mother and told her that.’

He added that his brother managed to open the door and cut Harry down. He then went to a neighbour to get help. An ambulance was called at about 7pm and the teenager was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford but it was too late to save him.

Mrs Beasley-Murray said Harry’s death must have been a ‘tragic accident’, explaining: ‘Clearly it had been a very happy day. He had been playing in the snow.’

Miss Keable was too upset to talk after the hearing and her estranged husband Simon Robinson, 44, was not present. But Susan Moss, the assistant head teacher at Harry’s school, said staff had become aware of children taking risks with their lives.

She added: ‘Harry was a very happy boy. In looking for explanations why he did this, and the way in which he was found, it suggests it may be what was involved. It came up after talking with his friends. Also, there’s a series of games of high risk-taking, that start with silly things like eating a tablespoon of chilli, and goes through a range of things they can do, each time increasing the risk.’

She added: ‘Children are very secretive when they are in early adolescence. They keep things to themselves. Parents should look to see what children have filmed on their phones and what websites they are looking at. Also, they should check their Facebook pages and social websites they are looking at. Another thing to look for is bruising or scuff marks around their necks.’

Access the original article online at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1304204/Boy-13-accidentally-dies-attempting-new-internet-craze-choking-game.html#ixzz0×3lRO71b

The BBC reports that Facebook has added a feature that allows members to share where they are while on the move.

Places, as it is known, marks the company’s first foray into the “location-based services” space, which has become popular with users who want to share where they shop, eat or play.

Sites such as Foursquare and Gowalla already offer similar features. Places will initially only be available in the US through Facebook’s iPhone app or by logging onto its smartphone site. The company plans to extend the feature to all its 500 million members as soon as it can.

“This is meaningful because you can stay connected with your friends around you,” said company founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The product, which uses the GPS on smartphones, works by getting users to tap a “check-in” button to see a list of places near where they are. From there they can choose the place that matches their location and “create a story” in their friends’ News Feeds on the site.

Users can also let people know who they are with by “tagging” any Facebook friends, but only as long as they check-in to the location as well.

The company’s vice president of product Chris Cox said that while home and work are two of the most important places in people’s lives, Places tries to tap into the third most important.

“This third place is the one we end up talking about a lot. I went to a movie, I saw a band, I went to a bar. So much of the interesting stuff in our lives happens in this small amount of time and we want to make that come alive,” Mr Cox told BBC News.

“The worst portrait of Facebook is people at home just looking at pictures of other people having fun. This is exactly the opposite. This is a very participatory, real-world kind of thing.”

Location based services have been growing in popularity among users with smartphones.

One of the most talked about is Foursquare, which now has more than three million users. It plays up the game aspect of checking in with friends by awarding points and virtual badges.

Access the rest of the article online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11020795

The Guardian reports that Friendster, which was purchased by Asian payment company MOL Global late last year, is moving away from its roots as a general social networking site.

MOL Global chief executive Ganesh Bangah told Philippine reporters this week that his company is planning to transform the site into a “social gaming portal,” which will feature hundreds of games, according to a report in the Philippine English language daily Philippine Star.

A spokesman tells us that the site’s new platform – which it is calling Project Neutron and which will be ready next year – “will provide users with a simple, easy-to-get virtual currency that can be used to purchase virtual goods, online games and applications, and other products and services over the web.” That fits with MOL Global’s position as a major provider of payment services in Asia, where Friendster now has its biggest presence.

It also likely explains some of Friendster’s strategic moves since being bought up by MOL Global, including its increased ties to Facebook, which will no longer be as much of a direct competitor after the site’s overhaul. MOL Global recently sold Friendster’s entire patent portfolio to Facebook and also announced a deal with Facebook earlier this summer to distribute gift cards in several Asian countries that people will be able to redeem for Facebook Credits.

Access the original article online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/aug/18/socialnetworking-facebook

The Daily Mail reports that young people are exposing so much private information on social networking sites that they might have to change their identities in the future.

The chief executive of Google has warned users on sites such as Facebook may be forced to change their names in order to escape their frivolous cyber past.

Eric Schmidt said the enormous quantity of detail left online by young users could come back to haunt them when they apply for jobs in future. ‘I don’t believe society understands what happens when everything is available, knowable and recorded by everyone all the time,’ he told the Wall Street Journal.

‘I mean we really have to think about these things as a society.’

His warning echoed that of American President Barack Obama who last year told young people not to post ‘stupid stuff’ on the internet. Mr Obama – himself a keen social network user – warned young people ‘to be careful about what you post on Facebook’ – in case future employers got hold of it.

‘In the YouTube age whatever you do, it will be pulled up again later somewhere in your life,’ he warned.

Mr Schmidt’s comments will fuel concerns about the amount of personal information made available online, most of which is virtually un-erasable. Such information invariably includes immature boasts and high jinks of young people who would normally regret their mistakes as the grow older.

An estimated 600 million people have personal online profiles, many of which are accessible to total strangers.

Prospective employers are able to access photographs, videos and blogs that users may have long forgotten with a few simple clicks of a mouse. Mr Schmidt’s comments were welcomed by internet experts.

‘Mr Schmidt is completely right on how much information we are giving away online,’ Dylan Sharpe from the privacy website Big Brother Watch told the Independent. ‘Right now there are millions of young kids and teenagers who, when they apply for jobs in 10 years time, will find that there is so much embarrassing stuff about them online that they cannot take down.’

But Mr Sharpe added that it was ‘a little ironic’ for Mr Schmidt to claim he is concerned about privacy given that his company has made billions storing data on its customers’ internet use so that it can target them with personalised adverts.

Mr Schmidt’s company also runs the controversial Google Street View tool, which has photographed the vast majority of houses in Britain and is currently being investigated by the information comissioner over privacy concerns.

‘Google is a company that specialises in knowing where you are, what you are doing and who you are talking to,’ said Mr Sharpe, whose organisation has campaigned against Google Street View. ‘That’s a scary prospect.’

Chris Williams, of the online tech news website The Register, also accused Mr Schmidt of hypocrisy over the comments. ‘Recording everything and making it knowable by everyone all the time is Google’s stated mission,’ he said. ‘It is profiting handsomely from the fact that society doesn’t understand the consequences.’

Access the original article online at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1304004/Google-CEO-Eric-Schmidt-says-Facebook-users-forced-change-names-escape-cyber-past.html#ixzz0wwnABq8V

TimesDaily.com outlines how easy it is to get someone’s personal information online these days – but teens are making it even simpler.

Will the loss of Becta give schools a fresh chance to make technology click?

The Guardian questions if since the demise of Becta, is there an opportunity to be more creative about how we use computers in schools?

The parents’ evening at our local secondary was going well until we came to the art department. I pointed out that our 12-year-old greatly enjoys making videos — cutting together films taken with a Flip video camera, choosing songs for the soundtrack, and synchronising them with frame-quality accuracy using free software that came on her hand-me-down computer. Could she, I asked, do a film-making course? The school had some computers apparently dedicated to film-making. And it is art. Sort of.

No, we were told sternly. Those were for the A-level course. As we drove home, our daughter complained about the school’s clunky computers, and the apparently pointless tasks to be done on them, such as spreadsheets, presented as a task to be learned rather than as a means to find things out (or create interesting graphs).

Her views are by no means unique. Children are often taught “computer skills” that are really “Microsoft Windows skills” – how to use Microsoft’s operating system and its Office suite (its two monopolies) – rather than the possibilities of making computers do what you want. As such, children are being equipped to be uncreative office workers, just as those at the end of the 19th century were equipped for the routine of adding up huge lists of numbers in the accounts departments of big companies.

Schools, it would seem, don’t always have the right attitude to computers, especially given that IT underpins so much of what we do.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/aug/17/becta-schools-computers-technology-creative

Facebook ‘dislike’ scam warning

The BBC reports that Facebook users are being targeted in a scam that offers them a chance to install a “dislike” button.

The scam tricks users into allowing a rogue application to access their profile page, which then posts spam messages. It also attempts to lure people into completing an online survey, for which the scammers are paid money.

The social network already offers a “like” button that allows people to rate other user’s comments and posts.

When users click on the link it prompts them to install a rogue application, which does not function as a dislike button.

Once a user has given it permission to access their profile, it updates the user’s page with a link and a message: “I just got the dislike button, so now I can dislike all of your dumb posts lol!!!”

Ron Sharpp, CEO of FaceMod, the maker of the add-on, told BBC News that his company was “in no way affiliated with the online scams”.

He said the firm had been sent “several support e-mails” asking about the surveys. “In response, we’ve taken efforts to remind our users that those are not official posts and warning users not to download any version of our add-on from an alternate source,” he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10987725

Police forces and social media: a marriage made in hell

The Telegraph discusses an experiment in New Jersey that shows what can happen when the authorities fall in love with social media…

Imagine a world in which the local police force sticks up a photo of a suspected paedophile – who happens to look a bit like your dad – on Facebook, asking for leads. A mischievous friend, or someone nursing a grudge, tags it, linking the photo to your dad’s Facebook profile. Cue a lengthy, painful and perhaps career-ending police investigation, as the full might of the law enforcement apparatus lurches into action against your family. It’s a terrifying scenario, but more realistic than you might think.

We learned a few days ago that a US Police Department has been sticking arrest photographs up on its Facebook page. On 4 August, police in Evesham, New Jersey uploaded pictures of a man suspected of stealing a car. Now they’re adding pictures of suspected drunk drivers. As the site that broke the story suggested in its headline, is this an invitation to local residents to “tag away”?

The story hasn’t had a lot of attention, which surprises me, because it says something deeply disturbing about the distribution of power in our society. How can we have arrived so rapidly at a point where any lunatic with a Facebook account has the power to devastate lives?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/7949606/Police-forces-and-social-media-a-marriage-made-in-hell.html

The Telegraph discloses that more than half of Britons admit making their online passwords easily available on the internet and never change their details unless prompted to do so, research indicates.

Experian, the credit reference agency, warns that millions of people leave themselves open to identity fraud by being too relaxed about the information they publish on online dating profiles and social networking sites.

Three of the most regularly used passwords – town of birth, date of birth and name of past schools – also feature in the top 10 personal details which people publish on their online profiles, the poll found.

The survey of more than 2,000 adults online found 18 per cent would publish their town of birth on internet profiles, but only 3 per cent would give this same information to a stranger over the phone.

Almost one in four people (24 per cent) would publish the names of their past schools online, while just 1 per cent of people would provide this information over the phone.

Twenty-seven per cent would publish their date of birth online, with 23 per cent of those surveyed willing to tell it to someone over the phone.

More than half of those surveyed said they used the same password for some or most of their online accounts and 57 per cent admitted using data easily available on social networking and dating sites as their password.

The poll also showed half of Britons (52 per cent) never change their passwords unless they believe their account may have been compromised or have been prompted to do so.

Pete Turner, of Experian which runs ProtectMyID to help prevent identity fraud, said: ”The message of ID fraud is still not being heard.

”The internet is accessible to almost everyone and as the number of users grow, so do those using it for criminal purposes. ‘Users need to be aware of what information they are giving out online and who might be accessing it. ‘People are clearly aware of giving away personal details to strangers calling them up on the phone, so why are they presenting it to a wider audience online?”

Access the original article online at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/7946481/Britons-at-risk-of-identity-fraud-through-careless-use-of-passwords-on-internet.html