The privacy of data in ICT systems

The privacy of data in ICT systems © Folens 2008

Definition Privacy – being able to keep certain aspects of your life private and deciding what information you allow others to know about you. © Folens 2008

Personal data held about you Criminal records Phone call details Bank details Earnings Credit history Vehicle details Medical details Exams and qualifications Purchases made Insurance details Medical details © Folens 2008

Who collects this information? • • • Banks and credit card companies Marketing organisations Doctors’ surgeries and hospitals HM Revenue & Customs Employers The list is almost endless. © Folens 2008

Who collects the information? © Folens 2008

Systems that erode privacy • • • ISP records (websites visited, e-mails sent) Phone call records (where, when, who to) Purchases made – store loyalty cards Marketing companies – results of surveys Surveillance cameras – recognise you or your car Spyware – watching your Internet use © Folens 2008

Did you know? • Britain has one of the worst records in the developed world for protecting the privacy of its citizens. • We are the most watched country in the world with more CCTV cameras than any other country. • Law enforcement and other public bodies can access: • telephone records • Internet records © Folens 2008

You are being watched at home Internet use is monitored: • searches are recorded • downloads are recorded • e-mails can be read • phone call details are kept © Folens 2008

Spyware is • software that collects information about the user of a computer connected to the Internet • usually installed without your knowledge or consent © Folens 2008

What spyware does • Records web browsing history • Can record keystrokes © Folens 2008

Problems caused by spyware • It can search for bank account/credit card details • It can cause system crashes • It can make your computer run slower • You can be targeted by banner adverts/pop-ups, etc. © Folens 2008

How to prevent/remove spyware • Install a security suite which includes antispyware software • Install specialist antispyware software • Use software provided by your Internet service provider (ISP) © Folens 2008

Cookies • Small text files put onto your computer by a web server • Each time you access a page from the web server a message is sent back • Used to monitor how you use a site (which pages you visit, how long you spend, etc. ) • They erode your privacy © Folens 2008

Loyalty cards • Used by supermarkets, petrol stations, etc. • Give points/vouchers for your loyalty • Link you to your shopping • Erode privacy © Folens 2008

What you buy tells so much about you What can you tell about the person from this shopping? © Folens 2008

Here is what they know • champagne – drinks alcohol – expensive tastes • smokes • whether they have a petrol or diesel vehicle • have a pet – a cat in this case • which credit card they use © Folens 2008

This is what the store knows about them if they pay by cash without a loyalty card Nothing! © Folens 2008

Monitoring at work Your boss could easily monitor: • webpages you have visited • the amount of time you spend surfing the Internet • e-mails sent, including personal ones • phone calls you make at work © Folens 2008

Keeping banking details private Encryption is used to keep the following private: • account numbers • credit card details (numbers, expiry date, etc. ) • on-line banking details © Folens 2008

Encryption Definition – the coding of data before sending it over a network or before storing it on a hard drive © Folens 2008