ACOMSDave

Community Journalist

Surveillance without request on Tubes

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surveillance on the tubes tube surveillance

Obviously we would all like the transport systems to work more efficiently, be safer, cleaner and cheaper, however if TfL required this information on passenger travel, why was it necessary to be secretive about it, and initiate a surveillance by stealth of its passengers?

This is just another example of an organisation following the government’s lead with regard to our privacy and rights, and riding roughshod over them.

Explaining that all data will be anonymous is not good enough, they should have said something long before their planned exploitation, and not withstanding their protestations, this will not be a one off, and I do not trust them to make the data anonymous if pressurised by government in the light of necessity to fight terrorism or some such other reason (that’s if they even bother to give a reason).  Dave McFarlane, Community Journalist

If you used the tube this morning, it’s highly likely that TfL used your Wi-Fi connection to find out information about your journey. The data collection initia

Source: TfL is tracking tube passengers through their phones

Cyber Secure – Are You Secure?

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no-hiding-place johnny-briggs nohidingplacetvtimes__

Security was just as much a problem  in the 50s and 60s and back in 1959 a Rediffusion television ‘No Hiding Place’ came into being and was immediately successful.  No Hiding Place was one of television’s most successful series, and a tremendous amount of hard work and research went into it.  Today we have numerous television programmes which cover every aspect of the police genre, but what does stand out it those that work, are those that are well researched, appear real and care for the both the characters and the story.

So why am I now writing about ‘No Hiding Place’ in relation to cyber security – well, in a convoluted way cyber crime now means we have ‘hiding place’ from those who wish to either control us to those who wish to steal from us.

I urgently ask that everyone read the following article, if you don’t understand it, then ask someone who does and who can explain it to you.  Look after your security, because the currently government int e UK isn’t and won’t

cyber security - keep it safe

Encryption matters for your security

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cyber security and encryptionEncryption matters – as someone who regularly writes about ‘Big Brother’ and the intrusion by state and other agencies into our private lives, I have to also point out that we as individuals owe a duty to ourselves and society to protect ourselves.  The first step is being careful with your passwords, do not use simple ones easily fathomed out from your personal details.

Secondly, whenever possible, encrypt your data.  A lot of message systems do so automatically now, but don’t use one if it doesn’t.  Also, check your email service and how secure your emails are from the point they leave you until they arrive at their destination.

Security is our problem, and we can’t complain if we don’t do whatever we can ourselves to ensure our own safety!cyber security and encryption

Encryption needs you! Sign Mozilla’s pledge to stand up for encryption and a more secure Web at advocacy.mozilla.org/encrypt

Source: Encryption matters

Is the British Government Spying On Us?

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Like most governments, the British government has played fast and loose with the legalities, and has often broken the spirit of the law if not the actual law (probably because there wasn’t one that was up to date!).
 
The latest element to come out is that USA bases in Britain are still governed by laws and agreements made in 1951, and which therefore do not take into account the developments in technology that have occurred in relation to snooping.
 
A group of British MPs have called for American military bases in the UK to be properly scrutinized under cross-party proposals after evidence emerged that they are being used for mass spying activities and drone attacks – it has been discovered that RAF Croughton – a US Air Force base and CIA relay station in Northamptonshire in southern England – was used last year to funnel data back to Washington from the network of diplomatic spy posts across Europe, known as the Special Collection Service.It also has a secure link with a US counter-terrorism facility in Djibouti, which is used for drone strikes in Yemen. Meanwhile, RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire is a National Security Agency (NSA) listening facility.
 
Kat Craig, legal director of Reprieve, has said that “It is a scandal that there is so little oversight by the British government of potentially criminal activities taking place on our own soil. Moves to ensure the current unquestioning support is brought out of the shadows are therefore very welcome”
 
What is also interesting is that Tony Blair’s government gave America permission to store and analyse the email, mobile phone and internet records of potentially millions of innocent Britons. At the same time US security officials drew up plans to spy on British citizens unilaterally, without the knowledge of the UK government.
As I have said before, our civil liberties have been eroded, and are being eroded, and liberties are being taken – tell the government to stop at the next election.
 
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