Cloud computing and mobile apps have put the power of the Internet everywhere from our laptops to our pockets, but they also continue to raise concerns about privacy, the security of our personal information and even national security. We explore the ongoing conflicts between convenience and safety.
by Steve Henn
The new Google Maps features tailor-made results based on users' habits and search histories. The features were made possible by the revisions Google made to its privacy policies last year, a change that removed most of the barriers between its various services.
by Steve Henn
Facebook is expected to pay out $20 million in a settlement over its "Sponsored Stories" advertising service, after placing user images in personalized ads. But the settlement doesn't stop the service, and a legal expert says Facebook's option to let users opt out creates more problems.
by NPR Staff
Your inbox overflows with spam, so what else is new? But have you ever wondered how junk email got its name? And where all of it comes from? Finn Burton, author of Spam: A Shadow History of the Internet describes the spam business, how it's become a criminal enterprise and how you can protect yourself online.
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by Steve Henn
The Associated Press, NPR and the BBC have all had their Twitter accounts hijacked in recent weeks. Hacks of high-profile accounts have real-world consequences, and the security at Twitter is coming under increased scrutiny.
by NPR Staff
Is it naive to believe that improved Internet access can help open up truly autocratic regimes like North Korea? Google executives Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen, authors of The New Digital Age, say the power of information is underrated.
by NPR Staff
Big Data is considered a tool for finding correlations amid vast amounts of information. But without the ability to unearth causation, Big Data can only reveal so much.
by Elise Hu
By virtually hacking into flight management systems, a German IT consultant showed he can take remote control of planes in the air. The proof-of-concept software raises questions about efforts to secure global flight systems.
by Steve Mullis
Google's yet-to-be-released wearable computer sounds amazing, like something out of science fiction. But not everyone is in awe, and some groups, and even one lawmaker, say the technology raises concerns that need to be addressed.
by Martin Kaste
Most newer cars have recorders that collect data at the moment of a crash and preserve key information. The data is meant to improve safety, but it's also useful in court. The federal government now wants to make the recorders mandatory on all new cars, but privacy advocates say people should have the option of turning their cars' recorders off.
by Steve Henn
Internet networks control more and more of our environment every day. And many of these things can be hacked. That's because over the past decade, the Internet and the mobile phone network have been layered on top of all kinds of technologies that weren't built with security in mind.
by NPR Staff
For a fee, Silent Circle erases messages from both the receiver and the sender's phones. The app's creators got the idea after hearing an all-too-familiar story: A friend of theirs inadvertently read a text meant for someone else.
by Laura Sydell
The "graph search" feature, which will let users comb their friends' pages for everything from travel tips to restaurants they like, gives the company a path to grow its revenue but could also add to privacy concerns. Most analysts don't see the new feature as a direct threat to Google — for now.
by Heidi Glenn
The wildly popular photo-sharing site Instagram nearly caused a user revolt when it revamped its terms of service and privacy policy to suggest it could allow uploaded photos to be used in ads without users' permission. Instagram later clarified its position in an effort to quell concerns.
by Avie Schneider
Customer loyalty programs offering discounts in exchange for a bit of personal information are nothing new. But now Verizon and AT&T are launching programs allowing customers to receive rewards based on information their smartphones share with the carriers. Not surprisingly, privacy advocates are alarmed.
by Laura Sydell
Facebook has a long history of upsetting its users by suddenly announcing a change to its privacy settings. In 2009, as a way to quiet the critics, Facebook set up a system for its customers to vote on changes. If enough of them were unhappy, the company would back down. Now, Facebook wants to get rid of the voting.
