Google pulls a very vital App off their store and says we didn't mean to release it! (Apps Ops)

Google removes a Hidden Privacy feature!

If you haven’t heard, the last week Google removes a hidden privacy feature in the new upcoming Kitkat build to help keep apps such such as this flashlight app that sold users data without your permission!  I am quite concerned with what happenes when another app does this or something else and you have no way to deny it or not use it.   Some of the things that I am sure your wondering like I am are the very things that come to mind.  Then Google tells it users that this was an accidental release of the feature and that it isn’t ready for public consumption.

Keep in mind the privacy feature wasn’t well known or even that easy to get to.   You had install another app such as App Ops to even get to use this little known menu in Android 4.3+.

App Dev

The people behind the apps are probably up in arms because they worry that they won’t be able to make money on their apps that are using advertising to help pay them for each time someone sees an advertisement or when a users clicks on an advertisement they get some kind of revenue.   This isn’t the only reason but I am sure it is one of the top reasons why the development gurus would be up in arms over this new way to control what permissions an app can have and who ultimately has control over what they can and do with your app.   It was and probably soon will be the customer who decides what the app will have permissions for and that worries them.

Google apps will become paid!

The one thing that will happen for sure is that we will either have to pay a monthly service or a one time fee for an app because once this starts to be released or if it is released then the app developers will have no choice but to go to a pay wall model to get the money they probably think they deserve and/or want for their work.   I am sure we haven’t seen the last of this and or other apps that do something similar.   I would just like to have Google be more upfront to their customers about why.

Is internet Privacy a Right or Privilege? Your help is needed!

Privacy and You!

When I was talking to someone on twitter saying they think this is a right.   I did not know if it was supposed to be a Right or if it was just to be a privilege and this is why I created a poll.   To help figure out which one is right.   I know we have the right to free speech and to have some civil liberties but my question for this is how much of this is actually a right and how much is this a privilege.   Does owning a gun say we have a right?  Some people can not legally own a gun because of what they have done.

Take this poll!

I am asking people on my blog this question because I am really curious as to what people think and what they consider about Privacy and what you think about it.   it is a simple question that can be a difficult thing to answer.   I am sure i am not the only one who asked this question but I intend to keep asking to find out the answer!

I’ll share the results of this poll later on next month but I am quite curious to see what people say!

If you want to keep your Privacy, look no further!

Privacy and the NSA!

When I first said something about NSA wiretaps the Internet, you probably thought I was joking.   Well, it looks to be a real issue now a days and that is a problem!  So we have heard about the NSA will consider any encryption being at risk, so they will be keeping those encrypted data for later inspections. Privacy is everything in my book and this is a continuing series for those who want to know how to protect their privacy from thief and criminals.   

Programs to protect your Privacy!

There are programs out there to help keep people from snooping on you.   Although it has gotten a lot easier because of Firesheep and most web sites now offer secure connections but not all.  This is where I suggest you use something like VPN4ALL and I’m not saying that because they paid me to say it.   I am saying this because they have become a sponsor for me for the whole year.  I get paid every time someone uses buys a subscription and they are affiliate links!   They’ve given me a free 1 year account and I really am impressed at how well they get around the library restrictions and that they are a OPENVPN provider.  There are others such as SecureVPN and CyberGhost VPN and even ProXPN VPN.  Each one has their merits and I have nothing against any of them.   I just have had a better experience with VPN4ALL and I think you will to.

Streaming Music and Videos

I’m no advocate for people getting around international borders to watch BBC and other such videos but you could if you wanted to and be able to watch Netflix and Hulu from outside the USA.  This is one of the many reasons I like this service because you don’t have to pay for watching a show that is being played over seas.   

Online Activity

Keep your online activity safe from prying eyes and people who are looking to cause trouble.  It isn’t going to be bulletproof but it will at least help with coffee shops and if you use it all the time at home also.   You don’t have to look over your shoulder as much, figuratively, and wonder who is see the insecure connection.

Mobile Devices!

Another reason, I love this service is that you can take your Tablet, like my Acer 200 to a free wifi hotspot and not worry because they even have a very good PPTP(Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) that allows you to use your device anywhere you may go and keep people from spying on you while you on an un-encrypted free wifi hotspot.   So you can sit back and watch or do what you want and no one will know or see your actions.  You can use this for Mobile Phones also but that is totally your call.   I use it strictly for my Acer 200!

30-day money-back guarantee

Although this has some conditions, and I will be honest with you it is really always a full refund.  You have to have use under 100 megabytes of data or have some other issue that has been document with a support ticket and usually they will refund your money but it is still a better way to go then not to have any privacy or risk your identity from being taken.   You owe it to yourself and others to protect your privacy and identity and give yourself and others peace of mind.  Give VPN4ALL a try and Save 15% with Coupon Code “savenow15”, and I am sure you will be as happy as I am when I’m at a insecure location.  

How to protect your privacy online and from the NSA!

Who watches the watcher?

That phrase has always made people think and I think it is high time we think really hard to ask those tough questions.   A few weeks ago we had Edward Snowden release statements on the NSA, and it got me asking questions that I am sure you are asking to.  Some of the questions I have are:

• What can I do to protect myself?
• What does the NSA actually know about me?
• What programs, and ways can I keep my privacy private?
• Why Do I need to keep my privacy private?

As you can see this is going to be a pretty big multiple posts.   To start it off with we need to lay a few building blocks and hopefully it will help you to understand the problem at hand.

The Internet and You!

When your on Facebook, or any other social network.   You have to understand that what you put out on the network.   More than you can see.  Although it shouldn’t be a surprise to my readers, you may want to at least consider that what you put out on the networks, might come back and bite you on the behind later.  

So obviously when you visit a site and maybe you are using an Android Device.   You probably don’t see the long outlandish URL and that can be problematic at best and at worst it can be used against you.  If you know anything about URL’s you know that nothing is sacred on the browsers and every link you click someone is tracking you.   Whether it be your ISP to an Affiliated Link, or it could be a bad guy just waiting for you to give out your personal information to him!

Privacy and you!

So now we come to the question of why protect it if we have no privacy?  Just because we have no privacy doesn’t mean we can’t keep what we have a secret.   I know all to well that people say or do stuff that they doesn’t want others to see.   It can be a make or break a person depending on who and what they see from a post on Facebook and other social media sites.  

If you were to walk into an interview unprepared then you will not get the job.   You can bet that most hiring managers will do a quick name search on your name on Google and other social media outlets.   Just to get ready for that interview.   Now we all know that if it is a really important position you can bet they may want to know all your profiles.   I don’t know if it is legal or not so that is up to you, it may help and it may harm.   You see the point in this, and why it should be kept private until you think it should be public.

In the coming weeks I will talk about rest of this but for right now.   You can sit back and reread this and absorb what you can from my post.   It might be a good idea to subscribe by email for the updates!  You never know when I will post more about my favorite topic…Security!!

Facebook Security and You -- Why you Should update your privacy Settings!

Facebook Privacy and You!

Privacy for Facebook!

Who needs them? Your probably asking.  I know I am not one to preach about privacy but that doesn't mean you need to worry less about your privacy on Facebook.   It just means you have to be more vigilant 

Every so often Facebook likes to update their privacy settings and not tell you.   Either to add a privacy setting or take one way, more likely than not it is to try to keep you from being private but that is where you need to constantly be checking to see if you need to do something or check something in your privacy settings!

Check List for Facebook Privacy!

• How you Connect [See Above] -- This little one is good for people who don't want to have people constantly requesting them.  So if you are over sensitive to your privacy and security you should limit who can be friend you, look you up, or Send you a Facebook Message!
• Timeline Tagging [See Above] -- Figure out what you want to allow.  I know of friend who has made the choice to approve all tags of her from going public without her intervention.  I did the same thing because of my Ex-wife, she seems to be angry with me right now so I will not approve a tag unless it's true.  
• Ads, Apps, and website [See Above] -- occasionally, you will have a lot of apps wanting to control what you do on Facebook.   I usually try to do a little Spring cleaning of Facebook apps every so often and this area is where you do it.  It also lets you personalize what gets thrown your way.
• Block People and Apps [See Above] -- You know you have those annoying people who just won't stop harassing you.  So this is where you go to block them or unblock them.  You can also block certain apps or you can choice to unblock certain app requests.  Great little tool to keep your privacy safe from stalkers and other people!

The last part of this Privacy kick is who sees your posts, is it just friends or everyone.   You can change that here also whenever you decide you want more or less people to see your posts.   It however only go into effect when you start posting again.   All old posts are either only friends or public, so make you choice wisely.   You can however change that later on by going back and editing all your posts to what you want them to be either public or Private although you do that with each and every post so it will take some time.

I wanted to share some way to keep your privacy safe, I've not shown you everything but some beginner steps you will have to do become more privacy conscience.  You however should check it out every so often to see if Facebook decided to give you more options or to make sure nothing has change.  I try to do it every month but it is just me!  I hope this post helped you get back some of your privacy and keep your profile from prying eyes.

Paul Sylvester

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