Privacy Flashcards

All 8 cards in this deck

What is a privacy issue in computing?

A concern about personal data being copied, transmitted or accessed without authorisation, e.g. tracking, data collection or surveillance.

What is internet surveillance?

Monitoring what people access and do online.

Give two examples of online surveillance.

Any two of: government agencies scanning traffic for words linked to crime or terrorism; ISPs keeping records of the sites customers visit; packet sniffers monitoring network traffic; parents or schools using monitoring software.

Why do many citizens object to governments and security services having access to their private data?

They value their privacy and don't want the state to have too much access: it could be misused, or used to monitor innocent people's messages and movements.

What argument do governments give for having access to citizens' private data?

That they cannot keep citizens safe from terrorism and other attacks unless they can access private data, such as people's communications.

Give one privacy risk of a mobile phone app tracking its user's location.

Any one of: it shows where the user lives, works and goes, and when their home is empty; it may be shared with or sold to advertisers without the user realising; if stolen, it could help criminals stalk or burgle them.

Why is the health data collected by wearable devices, such as fitness trackers, a privacy concern?

It is very personal. It could be shared with or sold to companies such as insurers or advertisers, or stolen in a hack, and users often don't know what is collected or who sees it.

Why is using an open (unsecured) public wireless network a privacy risk?

Data sent over it may not be encrypted, so other people within range could intercept it and read personal data such as passwords or messages.