Computer Privacy Annoyances

Computer Privacy Annoyances

by Dan Tynan
Released July 2005
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9780596007751

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Book description

From the moment you're born, you enter the data stream-from birth certificates to medical records to what you bought on Amazon last week. As your dossier grows, so do the threats, from identity thieves to government snoops to companies who want to sell you something. Computer Privacy Annoyances shows you how to regain control of your life. You'll learn how to keep private information private, stop nosy bosses, get off that incredibly annoying mailing list, and more. Unless you know what data is available about you and how to protect it, you're a sitting duck. Computer Privacy Annoyances is your guide to a safer, saner, and more private life. Written by privacy pro Dan Tynan, and based on interviews with privacy experts from all over the globe, Computer Privacy Annoyances serves up real-world advice in bite-sized portions that will help you stop the snoops in their tracks. The book even addresses non-computing threats, from telemarketer-cum-stalkers, thieves at your mailbox, nosy folks in your HR department, cell phone eavesdroppers, and more. The key areas covered include:

  • Privacy at Home

  • Privacy on the Net

  • Privacy at Work

  • Privacy in Public

  • Privacy and Uncle Sam

  • Privacy in the Future

    • Daniel Tynan has written about Internet privacy and security for nearly a decade. His work has appeared in more than 40 national publications. As executive editor at PC World, Tynan edited a special issue on Internet Privacy that won a Grand Neal Award and was a finalist for a National Magazine Award. He has won more than a dozen other honors, including nine Neals, four Maggies, and two Computer Press Association Awards.

    Table of contents

    1. Computer Privacy Annoyances
      1. Introduction
        1. Privacy Is Personal
        2. Who Should Read This Book?
        3. How This Book Is Organized
        4. Tips...and a Whole Lot More
        5. Accuracy and Timeliness
        6. Conventions Used in This Book
        7. O’Reilly Would Like to Hear From You
        8. About the Author
        9. Acknowledgments
      2. 1. PRIVACY AT RISK
        1. The Spy on Your Desk
        2. Dawn of the Undead PC
        3. Working for the Man
        4. The Information Explosion
        5. The Data Industrial Complex
        6. Location, Location, Location
      3. 2. PRIVACY AT HOME
        1. MY DATA, MYSELF
          1. One Computer, Many Eyeballs
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Foil Hard Disk Snoops
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. No Vault Insurance
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Hide in Plain Sight
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Complete Delete
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. Watch Your Backups
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          7. Microsoft Confidential
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          8. Cleaning up for Charity
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        2. HOME SWEET NETWORKS
          1. Stop WiFi Drive Bys
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Share and Unshare Alike
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        3. CELL PHONES
          1. Spam to Go
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Cell Phone Candid Camera
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Moblog Rules
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Wireless Wiretaps?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        4. TELEMARKETING, JUNK MAIL, AND FAXES
          1. Don’t Ask, Don’t Telemarket
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Do Not Call Does Not Work
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Block that Scam
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Just the Fax, Ma’am
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Junking Junk Mail
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. Flag Mag Nags
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          7. Pick Your Mail
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        5. IDENTITY THEFT
          1. Foil Mailbox Miscreants
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Check Your Reports
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Stop, ID Thief!
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
      4. 3. PRIVACY ON THE NET
        1. BROWSING AROUND
          1. Erase Your Browser’s Footprints, Part 1
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
            3. Step 1:
            4. Step 2:
            5. Step 3:
            6. Step 4:
          2. Erase Your Browser’s Footprints, Part Deux
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Make Web Forms Shoot Blanks
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Rewrite Netscape’s History
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Maximum Privacy, Maximum Headaches
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. Tell People Finders to Get Lost
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          7. Fend off Cyber Stalkers
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          8. Make Ad Weasels Go Pop
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          9. Spies You Should Despise
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          10. Die Spy Die!
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          11. Change Browsers and Dance
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          12. Shoot the Messenger
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        2. EMAIL
          1. Spam Bam, No Thank You Ma’am
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Whose Address Is It, Anyway?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Nix Those Nasty Pix
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Declare War on Spam, Part I
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Declare War on Spam, Part Deux
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. There Oughta Be a Law. Wait, There Is a Law!
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          7. Fight Fire with Water
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          8. Don’t Bank on It
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          9. Watching the (Digital) Detectives
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          10. Swat Web Bugs
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          11. Enquiring Minds Don’t Really Want to Know
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          12. Free Web Mail, Free Spam
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        3. HACKERS, VIRUSES, AND WORMS—OH MY!
          1. Attack of the Data-Eating Zombies
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Don’t Get Too Attached
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Friends Don’t Let Friends Open Attachments
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Antivirus Software Is Not Enough
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Stop Spreading the News
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. Make Updates Automatic
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        4. ONLINE SHOPPING
          1. Give Credit Where Credit is Due...
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. ...But Don’t Take Undue Credit
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. They Know When You’ve Been Shopping
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. You Are What You Buy
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Would You Like Spam with That?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. 99.44% Hacker Safe
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        5. ONLINE FILE SWAPPING
          1. I Share the Songs That Make the Whole World Sing...
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. The Sue Me, Sue You Blues
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Avoid P2P Vermin
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        6. KIDS AND THE NET
          1. Let Internet Explorer Play Web Cop
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Hire a Nanny
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Thanks for Not Sharing
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. I H8 IM
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        7. PRIVACY @ LARGE
          1. Whois Stalking Me?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Antidotes for Domain Poisoning
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Bloggers are from Mars, Lawyers are from Venus
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Usenet or Lose It
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
      5. 4. PRIVACY AT WORK
        1. THE INTERNET AT WORK
          1. Surfing on Company Time
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Visit , Get Fired?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Out of the Office, But Not Out of Sight
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Whose Email Is It, Anyway?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Beware of IT Spies
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. Chewing the Fat on Chat
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          7. Do Your Hunting From Home
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        2. APPLYING FOR WORK
          1. This is Your Job on Drugs
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. The Background on Background Checks
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Bury the Dirt
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Avoid Questionable Questions
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        3. HR/PERSONNEL RECORDS
          1. When Personnel Gets Personal
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Avoid Bad PR from HR
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Beware Employee ID Theft
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        4. MISCELLANEOUS WORK ISSUES
          1. Dish the Dirt, Lose Your Job?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Medical Records May Be Hazardous to Your Job
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Cameras, Cameras, Everywhere
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. The Searchers
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
      6. 5. PRIVACY IN PUBLIC
        1. AT THE STORE
          1. Don’t Get Cashiered
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Your Loyalty Is Not Rewarded
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. My Soft Drink Is Spying on Me!
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. My Identity Has Been Swiped!
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Be Anti-Social
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. Improving Your Rental Health
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        2. LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS
          1. Beware Public Net Terminals
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Your Reading Habits Are Private ...
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. ...Except When the Feds Step In
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. So What’s Your Major?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Apply With Care
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. High School Confidential
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        3. ON THE ROAD
          1. Grounded By No-Fly Lists
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. My Bag Has Been Flagged
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Your Life Is an Open Bag
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. High-Risk Frisks
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. The EZ Way to Track Your Movements
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          6. We Know Where You Drove Last Summer
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        4. AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
          1. Testing Can Be Hazardous to Your Health Insurance
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Keep Your Hospital Stay Private
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Medical Marketing Migraines
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Report Privacy Gaffes
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. Be Careful What You Tell Your Doctor
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        5. AT THE BANK
          1. All Offshore That’s Going Offshore?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Tell Insurers to Drop Your SSN
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Safety in Boxes?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        6. MISCELLANEOUS
          1. Keep Those Cards at Home
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Get Debt Collectors Off Your Back
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Hello, My Name Is Brad, and I’ll Be Your Thief This Evening
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Get Ready for Your Close-Up
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
      7. 6. PRIVACY AND UNCLE SAM
        1. PUBLIC AGENCIES AND YOU
          1. Private Lives, Public Information
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Keep the USPS From Selling Your Address
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Take Leave of Your Census
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Taking License with Your License
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          5. The Taxman Cometh
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        2. POLITICAL PRIVACY
          1. Vote Yes on Privacy
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Voters for Sale
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Retail Politics
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        3. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
          1. Your Papers, Please
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. You’re Under Arrest—Forever
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. Escaping the Long Arm of the Law
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          4. Pull Over and Show Me Your DNA
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
        4. SPOOKS AND SNOOPS
          1. G-Man Spam
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          2. Are the Feds Tapping Your Phone?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
          3. What’s in Your Files?
            1. The Annoyance:
            2. The Fix:
      8. 7. Privacy in the Future
        1. SLAMMING SPAM
        2. ASSURING AUTHENTICATION
        3. REGARDING REPUTATION
        4. FOILING PHISHERS
        5. RATING RISKS
        6. INSULATING IDENTITY
        7. WHITHER WASHINGTON?
        8. PRIVACY POWER
      9. Index
      10. Colophon

    Product information

    • Title: Computer Privacy Annoyances
    • Author(s): Dan Tynan
    • Release date: July 2005
    • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
    • ISBN: 9780596007751