Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Podcast 1

Click here to listen to my podcast on Net Neutrality.

Podcast 2

Click here to listen to my podcast about Copyright.

COM 340 Post 3


China has been hacking into other major corporations and businesses and using the stolen information to help them benefit. The U.S has done the same thing, but in contrast they are not using the information to their benefit. This assault was known during both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. Edward Snowden’s part in all this was also spoken about as well. When the Chinese hacking case intensified he pushed to disclose a number of classified documents about the NSA’s surveillance.

Based on what I read, the US is trying to say that the hacking that they are doing is justified. The Chinese are also hacking but into large systems and business and then using that data against others. Whether they are hacking for what they feel are good or bad reasons it is still being done. How do they expect to gain the trust of their people especially in the U.S if we know we are constantly being watched? On our end though the citizens are criticized by the government for wanting more transparency that has yet to happen. The government is invading our privacy, but the public is still closed off to what really is going on in the inside.

In reaction to this I do not think we should trust the government to the fullest extent. Yes, they are taking what information they can get for  “security reasons ” they so call it. I understand we have had terrorist attacks, but now they are using our fear against in some cases. 9-11 was very serious, but others not so much and they are abusing this right to privacy at times. We the people should work on filtering what personal information we give to just anyone. This is especially true online because you never know who is on the other end of that receiver.  Self-filtrations have to start with us if we continue to blame the government.

From the conclusions that I have made I think what needs to be done is that these classified documents shouldn’t be stored online. If you don’t want to leave a trail then don’t use any digital device. People hack into simple computers daily and what makes these government agencies or businesses think that they wouldn’t either. Yes, I know that we are part of a digital age than years before, but still there is paper. Everything does not have to be an electronic document because clearly this way of storing things is not working. 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

COM 340 Post 4


Australians give fake information online to protect their real information from being misused. Young users are especially guilty of doing this as well as not reading the sites terms and conditions. This is listed on websites and you must verify that you read them before moving on. Customer confidence is lacking for these businesses which are damaging their trust as well as image to consumers.

If this is already happening in Australia I don’t doubt that people in the US are already doing this as well. Privacy online is a thing of the past and will continue to diminish as times go on. If people feel that they will not be punished or no one will find out they are providing false info they will continue to do so. Marketing questions have become more personal and giving information has become more instant than years before depending on the way they are asked. In reaction to this news, I think people should filter what they release online. It’s alright to fib if you feel your number will be given to marketers, but some of the time that data is useful to companies. That data could be used for their internal marketing department and possible hookups or promotions can be sent through email or phone number. It a personal decision to what information you choose to release though.

I think the web will never have the full trust of the public. On the flipside of that, they can start with small steps to gain some ground on that. This can possibly be done by ensuring that somewhere on the site their info won’t be sold to outside marketers. This must be visible so the site browser will read it instead of hiding it in the terms and agreements wordy text.

Sites that are https can give a sense of security, but how often are we checking for that in the web browser? This generation has grown up in an era where our business has now become everyone’s business online. Crying to the government about privacy is something we can self-govern. We have broken down those privacy walls ourselves when dealing with social media. If a change needs to be made for privacy we must take a set back and evaluate how we present ourselves online. If you don’t want your business out there then don’t post it for the world to see. Once your life is online it can never be erased.