Category: Computer and Software Law
Naked on the Bus
September 5, 2018 | Carole Clark IsaksonThe less catchy title of this blog is “DON’T USE OPEN PUBLIC WIFI!!!” Doing so may expose you, quite literally, to the world. I am the mother of a teenager– a really smart teenager who is proficient at Snapchat®, Instagram®, WhatsApp® and a host of other applications (Facebook® of course has been left for we older folks). I vainly tried to explain the dangers of open wi-fi to this smart person a few days ago, to be met with an eye roll and a “c’mon mom, it’s no big deal. Free wi-fi is everywhere if it weren’t safe I would know”. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] Well, dear reader and dear daughter, it is indeed true that open wi-fi (i.e. wifi that you don’t need a password to access) is EVERYWHERE, and this is likely why the many warnings of danger have been so ignored. We love our free wi-fi, and the free public wi-fi has been a magnet for business for every café and coffee shop around. But the dangers ARE real. And if your phone is set (as many are) to automatically connect to available wi-fi, you are literally walking naked down the aisle of a big bus, in full view of every person you pass. Now that I have your attention, let’s…
Read MoreEMAIL CONFIDENTIALITY/DISCLAIMERS – use, or don’t use?
July 2, 2018 | Carole Clark IsaksonWe see them every day, that notice at the bottom of an email stating something to the effect that the contents of the email are confidential and that if you have received it in error you should alert the sender immediately and not use the information you have received. The use of confidentiality/disclaimer footers is so common that most of us do not even notice them anymore. They appear below the sender’s signature block and may be emphasized by colored text or capital letters. But regardless of appearance I think we can all agree that few of us actually read them. And even when we do? From a practical standpoint we already read the contents of the email before we get to the disclaimer. One wonders then, is there any point to it? A misdirected email has already been read by the wrong person by the time that person gets to the bottom of the email. So, should your business use a confidentiality footer or not? Does the use of a footer actually protect your information if you send an email to the wrong person? Understandably there are few court cases that address this specific issue, but the themes in the few cases that exist are consistent. A court in Georgia in 2011,…
Read MoreYep, it’s true, the Russians actually ARE after you!
May 14, 2018 | Carole Clark IsaksonIf you’ve been following the news lately you have heard that warnings have been issued concerning Russian hackers’ coordinated attacks on US data. The latest activities are not directed at the CIA or NSA or FBI… they are directed at people just like you. By intercepting the data from your router, for instance, a hacker has access to literally everything you’ve done on your home PC or other device. What can you do to protect your family data? This article has a few pointers. Check for updates and advice from the router manufacturer! Start with your Wi-Fi provider. Continue to follow these rules, which you hopefully implemented at your house long ago: a. No one downloads software without you knowing (for instance, many free games seem fine, but in fact are cover for companies wanting access to your computer) b. When opening an email, NEVER click on a link unless: i. You know the person who is sending you the email AND after looking at the actual email address, you recognize it (a hacker will copy your friend’s name, but the email address will now be different if you look at it). ii. The email sounds like the person you know. If it just says “Hey Carole you should check this out”…
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