TRUMP AGENDA - Making Your Internet Life LESS Safe

"Before you lament the end of your internet privacy, read this" by Iman Smith, PBS NewsHour 3/31/2017

aka "Selling Your Private OnLine Habits"

Excerpt

Top Republicans pushed a measure through the House on Tuesday that overturns Obama-era regulations intended to protect consumers' data from being shared with advertisers without consent.  If you're reading this story on a computer or internet-connected device, that obviously includes you.

The bill, which passed 215-205 in the House, pulls back legislation passed by Congress in 2016.  Originally proposed by the Federal Communications Commission, the measure would have broadened FCC privacy rules so they also applied to broadband internet service providers.  In other words, it required companies like AT&T, Verizon and others to get consent from customers like you before sharing (or selling) your personal data and web browsing history with advertisers.

A companion bill passed 50-48 last week in the Senate.  President Donald Trump signed the bill Monday.

Now, before you lament the end of your internet privacy — take a deep breath.

As Wired reporter Klint Finley told the NewsHour, those FCC rules never actually went into effect, meaning technically, Tuesday's measure doesn't change anything.  The rules to protect customer data were passed in October of last year but wouldn't have taken effect until December 2017, Finley said.  So the bill passed on Tuesday simply blocks those rules from taking effect, Finley said.

That said, Tuesday's measure does create some wrinkles in the debate over consumer privacy in the rapidly growing Internet of Things.  Namely, the measure blocks the FCC not only from implementing the 2016 rules, but pursuing others like them.

“Mostly it means that internet service providers now have the go-ahead to sell data,” Finley explained.  “It was already technically legal, but if any companies were holding off on doing it while they waited to see if the laws went into effect or not, they don't have to wait anymore.”

"How will a new law blocking internet privacy rules affect you?" PBS NewsHour 4/4/2017

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  New legislation signed by President Trump blocks the implementation of internet privacy rules that would have stopped service providers from collecting and selling information about your web browsing to advertisers without your permission.  William Brangham gets two views from Gigi Sohn of the Open Society Foundations and Scott Cleland, chairman of NetCompetition.org.

SECURITY - eMail Domains

Just have to comment on paying attention to the domains you receive eMail from.

Got an eMail reminding me 'to confirm your account' on a site I never heard of.

The domain was "@zainiraq.net"

IRAQ.net!

Ya, like that's a safe site, .....NOT.

You need to pay close attention to eMail domains when the eMail looks suspicious or from a site you never heard of.

Suspicious eMail may even claim to be from a site you do deal with.  I and an eMail that claimed to be from AARP but the text didn't look right, it was from a domain ending in ".top"

If you get eMail that does look like it's from a site you deal with but has a link to update you account info, DO NOT use the link in the eMail.  If you deal with the site, you should have it bookmarked in your browser, use that to access the site.  Also, many sites will have a Support contact, you should copy the eMail and Headers, and paste that into their message system so they know someone is trying to spoof them.

All suspicious eMail domains should be added to your SPAM filter.  In my case, my eMail provider has a very good system for that.  Then your eMail client should also have a way to filter eMail domains.

DRONES - Film "Eye in the Sky"

"‘Eye in the Sky’ film puts the use of drones in the spotlight" PBS NewsHour 3/18/2016

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  One of the most controversial elements of President Obama’s national security policy is the use of drones to kill terrorists.  The newly released movie "Eye in the Sky" provides a front-row seat to the debate taking place among national security officials.  Jeffrey Brown reports on the movie and the implications of the use of drones.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  A movie thriller being released nationally today delves into the practical, legal and moral issues surrounding drone warfare.

Jeffrey Brown is back with that.

ACTOR:  What’s the plan, Captain?

HELEN MIRREN, Actress:  We need to put a Hellfire through that roof right now.

JEFFREY BROWN (NewsHour):  It’s a new kind of warfare, advanced technology that tracks, identifies, and has the power to destroy enemies by remote control from thousands of miles away.

HELEN MIRREN:  We have two suicide vests with explosives inside that house.

JEFFREY BROWN:  But as the film “Eye in the Sky” asks, should it be used?  If so, when, especially if innocent lives may also be taken?

HELEN MIRREN:  Harold, this is a very time-sensitive target.  Do I have authority to strike?

ACTOR:  The rules of engagement you’re operating under only allow for a low collateral damage estimate.

ACTRESS:  Yes.  Yes.

JEFFREY BROWN:  The film follows British military commanders, including Helen Mirren as Colonel Katherine Powell, as they debate with Cabinet officers and politicians over a strike against Al-Shabaab terrorists in Nairobi, Kenya, who appear to be on the verge of a suicide bombing.

ACTOR:  I told you, they came to witness a capture, not a kill.  Give me a capture option.

HELEN MIRREN:  We no longer have a capture option.  Any action on the ground will lead to an armed confrontation, which we will not be able to contain.

JEFFREY BROWN:  Director Gavin Hood, who joined us recently at the E Street Cinema in Washington, has the action play out in real time.

Official Trailer: